El nuevo tráiler de Thunderbolts ha revelado un grupo sin precedentes de héroes del Universo Cinematográfico de Marvel que se encuentran en la incómoda posición de ser la última defensa de Nueva York contra la amenaza del Vigilante. Este conjunto de personajes incluye a Yelena Belova, Bucky Barnes, Red Guardian, John Walker, Ghost y Supervisor
The new trailer for Thunderbolts* has revealed an unprecedented group of heroes from the Marvel Cinematic Universe who find themselves in the uncomfortable position of being the last defense of New York against the threat of the Watcher. This group of characters, which includes Yelena Belova, Bucky Barnes, Red Guardian, John Walker, Ghost, and Supervisor, showcases a diversity of skills and backgrounds, but the uncertainty about their ability to protect the city is palpable.
¿Por qué los Thunderbolts*? Porque los Vengadores no están disponibles
An interesting detail from the trailer is the symbol that appears on the movie poster, which indicates that “the Avengers are not available.” This humorous nod reinforces the notion that the Thunderbolts* are the most viable option in the crisis, which also highlights a shift in the dynamics of the heroes, who seem to have a lower level of confidence. In one of the scenes, Alexei mentions that they should call themselves Thunderbolts*, only for the Winter Soldier to respond that “we can’t call ourselves that,” an exchange that can be interpreted as a reflection of the discontent within the group.
The premiere of Thunderbolts* is scheduled for May 2, 2025, amidst other major releases from the MCU, such as Captain America: Brave New World and The Fantastic Four: First Steps. This context creates expectations regarding the film’s box office performance, especially given the public’s interest in how this new figure of the MCU will compare to previous installments. As the release dates approach, the success or failure of Thunderbolts* could significantly influence the future direction of the MCU.
Despite the uncertain direction that Marvel has taken in recent years, the new Thunderbolts trailer has sparked notable interest by presenting a more everyday and less epic approach than its recent productions. With only three movies left before Avengers: Doomsday, this film seems to mark the beginning of the formation of a new superhero team that promises to integrate key characters from the Marvel Universe. The trailer, which was released during the Super Bowl, suggests that Marvel is making a strong bet on the movie, as evidenced by a clear interconnection between the characters of Black Widow, […]
Despite the uncertain direction Marvel has taken in recent years, the new Thunderbolts trailer has sparked notable interest by presenting a more everyday and less epic approach than its recent productions. With only three movies left before Avengers: Doomsday, this film seems to mark the beginning of the formation of a new superhero team that promises to integrate key characters from the Marvel Universe.
The trailer, which was released during the Superbowl, suggests that Marvel is making a strong bet on the movie, as evidenced by a clear interconnection between the characters of Black Widow, Falcon and Winter Soldier, and Ant-Man and the Wasp. This contrasts with previous attempts to create standalone films that did not seem necessary to connect with the rest of the cinematic universe. By introducing elements like The Sentinel, one of the most iconic characters from the comics, the film is designed to attract both fans and a new audience.
A new approach for the MCU after the recent setback?
Additionally, the new trailer evokes comparisons to Suicide Squad, suggesting a shift in the tone of superhero narratives towards something more street-level and less pretentious. However, fans should be cautious, as productions often reveal more than they should, as is the case with many trailers in Hollywood; it is speculated that details of the third act may have been hinted at, which, while intriguing, may not reflect the complete experience of the film.
Marvel intends to release three movies in the next six months, a risky strategy that could culminate in a resurgence of superheroes or result in questionable decisions. With that premise, the industry will be closely watching to see how these upcoming releases unfold and how the audience will react to this new direction.
Scarlett Johansson, known for her iconic role as Black Widow in the Marvel universe, is generating rumors about her possible return to the MCU by being the executive producer of Thunderbolts. This role has fueled speculations about a possible reconciliation with Marvel and the possibility of her making a cameo in new Avengers installments. However, currently, Johansson seems to be focusing her career on new projects, leaving behind her superhero phase. After a couple of years dedicated to smaller films like Asteroid City and Fly Me to the Moon, Johansson will make a big return in […]
Scarlett Johansson, known for her iconic role as Black Widow in the Marvel universe, is generating rumors about her possible return to the MCU by being the executive producer of Thunderbolts. This role has fueled speculation about a possible reconciliation with Marvel and the possibility of her making a cameo in new Avengers installments. However, currently, Johansson seems to be focusing her career on new projects, leaving her superhero phase behind.
After a couple of years dedicated to smaller films like Asteroid City and Fly Me to the Moon, Johansson will make a big return in Jurassic World: The Rebirth, which premieres on July 2. The film marks her leading debut in the successful franchise, something that has been a childhood dream for the actress. In a recent interview with Vanity Fair, Johansson revealed the deep fandom she feels for the original saga. She recalls sleeping in a ‘Jurassic Park’ tent in her room and even contacting her agent repeatedly every time a new film in the franchise was announced, insisting that she wanted to be part of it.
A passion that led him to request a tour of a previous movie set
During the filming of Black Widow in London, Johansson had the opportunity to be near the set of Jurassic World Dominion and did not hesitate to ask her team to show her the sets, expressing her enthusiasm at the idea of participating. Her passion for the saga is real and not just a publicity strategy, as she even went so far as to request a role, even if it was as a character who dies five minutes after appearing.
As the premiere of Jurassic World: The Rebirth approaches, fans of Johansson and the series are eager to see her performance and the fulfillment of a dream that has accompanied her since childhood.
Fans of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) are engaged in an intense debate about the possible return of Wanda Maximoff, known as the Scarlet Witch. Since her last appearance in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, Wanda has been isolated and dealing with serious mental health issues, leaving her future in the franchise up in the air. Although her return has not yet been confirmed, many believe it’s only a matter of time before she rejoins the universe. What are the reasons for her return? WandaVision Wanda was part of the original team […]
Fans of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) are engaged in an intense debate about the possible return of Wanda Maximoff, known as the Scarlet Witch. Since her last appearance in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, Wanda has been isolated and dealing with serious mental health issues, leaving her future in the franchise up in the air. Although her return has not yet been confirmed, many believe it’s only a matter of time before she rejoins the universe.
What are the reasons for its return? WandaVision
Wanda was part of the original Avengers team, but after the events of Endgame, her path has been more focused on her own personal development, especially after the events of WandaVision. Fans have divided opinions on whether she should return to the Avengers team or if she would find a place in a group related to the X-Men, such as the Brotherhood of Mutants. “I don’t think the point of WandaVision was for her to embark on a dark path and abandon the Avengers. Rather, it was about a complex transformation that, although it presents her with many challenges, still keeps her connected to her former family of heroes,” commented a user on Reddit.
Some suggest that it could be narratively effective if Wanda returns at a crucial moment, similar to Thor’s spectacular appearance during the battle of Wakanda. This presentation could allow her to redeem herself while maintaining an emotional distance due to her past actions. However, there are those who believe that Wanda deserves a break after everything she has endured throughout her stories, arguing that her best option would be to reintegrate into a group where she can find support and connection.
As fans continue to speculate, the next release in the MCU, Captain America: Brave New World, is scheduled for February 14, as part of Marvel’s Phase 5.
Marvel Studios has had a remarkable journey over the past 15 years, bringing numerous stars to the big screen who have elevated the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). However, despite its long track record, the company still has great actors and actresses who could join its ranks in future projects, seeking to bring a new dynamism to the established narrative. Its condition is not far-fetched for someone like Brody. One of the names that has recently caught attention is Adrien Brody, recognized as one of the most outstanding actors of […]
Marvel Studios has had a remarkable journey over the past 15 years, bringing numerous stars to the big screen who have elevated the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). However, despite its long history, the company still has great actors and actresses who could join its ranks in future projects, seeking to bring a new dynamism to the established narrative.
His condition is not far-fetched for someone like Brody
One of the names that has recently captured attention is Adrien Brody, recognized as one of the most outstanding actors of his generation. In an interview with journalist Josh Horowitz, Brody did not rule out the idea of joining Marvel, as long as certain conditions are met: playing an interesting character and working under the direction of a filmmaker who allows him to explore his artistic potential. “If I were given the opportunity to play an interesting character with a filmmaker who elevates me and gives me space to do something very different in that world, it would be incredible,” the actor stated.
Brody also shared an interesting detail about his career: he was close to playing the iconic Joker in Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight. However, after seeing Heath Ledger’s performance in the role, he decided not to take on the challenge, feeling that he could not match that level of acting. This acknowledgment of others’ talent highlights the actor’s humility and his commitment to the quality of his work.
With several promising projects on the horizon, Brody’s words raise expectations about possible future collaborations in an ecosystem that continues to attract significant talent. The combination of his creative influence and his desire for a meaningful character suggests that there could be a viable opportunity to see Brody in the MCU, although this remains in the realm of speculation for now.
Robert Downey Jr. has been a central figure in the success of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) since the release of Iron Man in 2008, transforming a initially unpopular character into the franchise’s icon. His portrayal of Tony Stark not only cemented his career but also helped elevate Marvel to a dominant status in Hollywood, generating billions at the box office and extensive merchandising. However, the relationship between Downey Jr. and Marvel has not been without tensions. Robert Downey Jr.: an actor with demands As the popularity […]
Robert Downey Jr. has been a central figure in the success of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) since the release of Iron Man in 2008, transforming an initially unpopular character into the franchise’s icon. His portrayal of Tony Stark not only cemented his career but also helped elevate Marvel to a dominant status in Hollywood, generating billions at the box office and extensive merchandising. However, the relationship between Downey Jr. and Marvel has not been without tensions.
Robert Downey Jr.: an actor with demands
As the actor’s popularity grew, so did his salary demands and his influence over the company’s creative decisions. Various sources indicate that his behavior began to complicate the development of new installments, including a fourth solo Iron Man movie, as the rising popularity of other superheroes led Marvel to rethink its narrative strategy.
Particularly, his participation in Captain America: Civil War became a critical point. The inclusion of Iron Man as a rival to Captain America generated internal tensions, almost putting the project at risk. The intervention of Kevin Feige, president of Marvel Studios, was key to consolidating the direction of the film, which set a precedent in the collaboration between Marvel and Disney.
The death of Iron Man in Avengers: Endgame not only marked an emotional closure for fans but also freed the studio from the creative challenges associated with Downey Jr.’s character. Now, Marvel is in a phase of exploring new narratives and characters, demonstrating that, while Iron Man will always hold a special place in the hearts of followers, there is a vast universe to discover beyond Stark.
It’s a blast getting to be a superhero, but let’s be honest – it’s way more fun to be the bad guy. You get to blow stuff up, watch the good guys scatter and run, laugh maniacally as your army invades planets, and sit back on the throne of a new empire. With the villains of the Marvel Cinematic Universe the scariest part is that oftentimes they’re not even wrong. So which one of these vindictive villains are you?
Happy with your choice? If not, we suppose you could go and wreck the nearest planet in a frustrated tantrum. Or at least you could turn out the lights and let out an evil cackle. Come on, you know you want to.
There are good DCEU movies? You’ll have to read to find out!
While Marvel kept making hit after hit with its cinematic universe, DC just never seemed to get it right. While some of the films have small, cult followings, most people agree that pretty much every film in the DC Extended Universe is hot garbage.
From bad casting, to bad writing, to REALLY bad special effects, there is a lot of muck to sift through. However, the DCEU does have a shining light amongst all of the trash. What is that shining light you may ask? You’ll just have to read to find out.
This movie is about as far from “squad goals” as you can get.
“Suicide Squad” was a movie that was ruined by its production team. Basically, the MCU was making tons of money with movies that were universally loved. The DCEU was turning into a laughing stock after “Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice” deflated any interest fans had in the series.
What was the result? One of the worst superhero movies ever created.
The movie made next to no sense. It’s about Amanda Waller (played by Viola Davis) wanting to create a league of meta-humans that would be able to take down a Superman-level threat. The problem is that her plan is stupid!
First off, trying to make a team of heroes out of a bunch of villains is a horrible idea. Aside from Enchantress, none of the members of the Suicide Squad really seem that threatening. The rest of the members just feel like a typical Tuesday for Batman.
Also, adding Harley Quinn to the squad (who has nothing to bring to the table) just means that you will have Joker on your tail. Speaking of the Joker…
This was the worst on-screen Joker we have ever seen. When we first saw him with his tats and grills, we knew something was wrong. Think about it: can you picture the Joker, the most clinically insane individual on the planet, sit perfectly still for multiple tattoos? The answer is “absolutely not.”
From the awful story, to the poorly executed characters, to the sub-par action, “Suicide Squad” failed to be DC’s saving grace and instead became their ultimate nightmare.
Let’s go back to 2012 when “The Avengers” was coming to theaters. At the time, it was one of the most highly anticipated movies in history. For the most part, it lived up to the hype. However, when looking back on the MCU as a whole, it was a bit middle-of-the-road. Despite all of that, the movie still made a boatload of money and was the MCU’s highest-grossing film at the time.
When “Justice League” came to theaters, it had one of the worst box offices in the entire DCEU. This was absolute proof that the hype was dead. Fans have been begging for a Justice League movie for years. Even though we finally got one, fans knew that these filmmakers were going to screw it up. As much as the fans didn’t care, the filmmakers clearly cared even less.
The movie was awful. It had an incredibly forgettable villain, a forgettable story, and beloved characters played by forgettable actors. Heck, when crafting this list, we actually forgot this movie was even made!
The movie just seemed incredibly poorly timed. Only half of the members of the Justice League had prior movies establishing their characters. Flash, Cyborg, and Aquaman had none of that. Instead, the filmmakers had to hope that the people that actually came to see this trash were all fans of the comics and had done their research. Unfortunately, even if you read the comics, you were going to still be confused throughout the movie.
It’s not as unwatchable as “Suicide Squad,” but it’s two hours of your life that you’ll never get back.
5. “Aquaman”
I didn’t know Shredder from Ninja Turtles was in this movie!
“Aquaman” felt like it was made by a bunch of frat boys one step away from flunking out of school. The movie is basically just one-liners and Jason Momoa smoldering for the camera. Just watch this:
The acting is absolutely atrocious. If “Game of Thrones” taught us anything about Jason Momoa, it’s that he is at his best when he isn’t talking. Every line out of the lord of the bro-cean’s mouth is ridiculously cheesy.
That’s not to say that the movie isn’t garbage. It’s painfully hard to get through. Do yourself a favor let this flick sink to the bottom of the ocean.
4. “Man of Steel”
The S stands for “Sucks,” because this movie really really sucks.
Superman is a hard character to get right.
He’s a god living among men and he’s trying to find out how to fit in the world. To be fair, that’s what “Man of Steel” explores. The only problem is that it gets everything wrong in the process.
While Superman struggles to find his purpose in “Man of Steel,” we as the audience struggle to get through the movie. “Man of Steel” was the first movie in the DCEU, and boy-oh-boy did it give it a rocky start. Need an example? Watch the most pointless death in any superhero movie:
The movie is infamous for being overly dark, joyless, and even colorless.
The main problem with the movie is that they hired the brainless robot Henry Cavill to play Superman. He’s definitely no Christopher Reeve, but he’s also just not a very good actor. Granted, the writers don’t give him much to work with:
If you think Cavill’s acting as Superman is hokey, just take a look at Michael Shannon as General Zod:
Director Zac Snyder watched that line delivery and said, “Yeah, that was good. Let’s go with that take.”
“Man of Steel” could have been the start of DC’s golden age of comic book movies. Instead, it was the start of a long series of disappointments.
Could you imagine what would’ve happened if HIS mother’s name was Martha?!?!
It’s really easy to hate this movie.
From start to finish, “Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice” is poor decision after poor decision. From casting Jesse Eisenberg to play Lex Luthor, to the world’s greatest detective falling for a middle school level scheme, to… “Martha,” the movie is awful.
You’re probably asking yourself, “If this movie is so bad, then why is it so close to the top?” Well, a lot of it has to do with the fact that it doesn’t have much in terms of competition. Secondly, the movie does have a few redeemable qualities. First off, Ben Affleck does a phenomenal job as Batman. The character’s worst qualities clearly aren’t Affleck’s fault, but the fault of the writers.
Secondly, although a lot of the action is pretty lame, this scene is awesome:
This one scene of Batman kicking butt is the best action scene in the entire DCEU.
What made this movie rub so many people the wrong way is because this could have been the greatest superhero movie ever created. Buried beneath all of the bad CGI and awful writing there is a good movie somewhere in here. Those who watch DC’s animated movies will tell you just how good “The Dark Knight Returns” is. The two movies contain what most agree is the best on-screen confrontation between the Son of Krypton and Bat of Gotham.
Dawn of Justice couldn’t even channel a fraction of that film’s energy, and instead became the living meme we all know today.
The film’s biggest issue lies in how much it tries to cram in. It has to establish Batman, establish Lex Luthor, create the Batman versus Superman story, set up the Justice League, introduce Wonder Woman, introduce and execute Doomsday, and then play out the Death of Superman storyline. It fails on all accounts and just comes off as a bloated mess.
Eat some chocolate, Professor Lupin. You’re not you when you’re hungry.
“Wonder Woman” is far from a perfect film. However, it does deserve most of the praise it gets.
The story and characters were the best the DCEU had given us by far up until this point. Wonder Woman was likable, and she was thrown into a story that made perfect sense for her character.
The movie plays a lot like “Captain America: The First Avenger,” as it takes place during a World War with the main character out to defeat the overwhelming German forces. However, it is also a fish-out-of-water story as Wonder Woman struggles to learn how to live in our world after being raised with the Amazons. In this sense, it’s a lot like “Thor.”
The movie does have two pretty big issues. The first is the special effects. A lot of the action scenes look pretty bad.
Gal Gadot’s fight choreography is fine, but when she jumps around fighting people, the special effects look about as convincing as middle school theater.
The second worst part is the villain. Wonder Woman believes that the God of War Ares (sorry, Kratos) is the cause of all the suffering going on in the world. At first, it looks like Ares isn’t real. At this point, you think the movie is going to actually be pretty smart by showing that humans are flawed and that there aren’t always supernatural causes for our misdoings. However, Ares then reveals himself resulting in quite possibly the worst villain casting of all time.
Who was chosen to play the God of War? Why, Professor Lupin from Harry Potter, of course!
He isn’t the least bit threatening. He looks like a complete dork throwing a hissy-fit. Rather than feeling scared, you just laugh at the screen as the poindexter tries to act all-powerful.
All in all, “Wonder Woman” is a decent flick by DCEU standards, but it is far from a great superhero movie.
My face when I made a better movie than Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Joker, and Aquaman.
If you were to have gone back in time to when we were in elementary school and would’ve told us, “In the future, there is going to be an Aquaman movie, a Batman vs. Superman movie, and a Justice League movie, but they’re all going to suck. However, there is going to be an awesome Shazam movie,” we would’ve called you insane.
However, that was exactly the case. “Shazam!” is a blast from start to finish. The DCEU filmmakers decided that rather than trying to make a cinematic universe, a dark film, or a something monumental, they would just make something fun. “Fun” is the best way to describe this flick.
If we had to nitpick at one part of the movie, it would be the special effects. Sometimes the movie looks like a PlayStation 2 game.
However, it doesn’t take away from the rest of the film.
Zachary Levi does a great job of playing a child in a superhero’s body. He’s believably cocky and arrogant while also being hilariously awkward when trying to interact with people.
The main character Billy Batson is a likable kid with a rough past. It’s very easy to get invested in him and to root for him to succeed. When he gets his powers, he does what any other kid with superpowers could do; he tests them and makes YouTube videos. This results in quite possibly the best scene in the entire DCEU:
If “Shazam!” were an MCU film, we would probably put it between “Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol. 2” and “Spider-Man: Far From Home” on our list. The fact that we think this movie is better than almost half of the movies in the MCU is crazy given the fact that pretty much everything else on here would plummet to the bottom of the list.
“Shazam!” is far from a perfect movie, and it is nowhere near the level of movies like “Avengers: Endgame.” However, it is easily the best movie the DCEU has to offer.
Wrapping up
If you happened to like one of the movies we ripped apart, more power to you. We’ll just agree to disagree. There are a ton of Marvel movies with issues, but the DCEU just seems to get it wrong over and over again. With that being said, we would like nothing more than to see great movies involving these characters.
The main thing DC needs now is time. The movie industry is so saturated with superhero flicks that DC needs to wait for things to die down before throwing their hat back into the ring. Once some time has passed, they should be able to get some fresh ideas on what to do with these beloved characters.
Far From Home opened up a huge can of worms for the MCU that we can’t wait to dive into!
“Avengers: Endgame” was a climactic wrap-up of the story that began 10 (almost 11!) years ago with director Jon Favreau and Robert Downey Jr’s Tony Stark forging the first Iron Man suit in a cave with a box of scraps. Fans were dubious, however, to hear that Endgame was not the end of Phase 3, but that that honor instead belonged to “Spider-Man: Far From Home.”
The story is about the young webslinger-turned-Avenger struggling to fill the shoes (or in this case the glasses) that Iron Man left him. The film takes place in the shell-shocked aftermath of “Avengers: Endgame,” and its falling action does a lot to prepare us for the wild ride that’s awaiting us in Phase 4. The clues are in the details:
Get your glasses on, and read the fine print!
(SPOILERS BELOW!)
1. Even in death, he’s still the hero
Audiences felt the heavy loss of Iron Man at the closing of “Endgame” (we love you 3000, RDJ!), and the kid standing at ground zero of the power vacuum is the young webslinger from Queens played by the energetic and engaging Tom Holland. For many of us, the MCU looked to be a darker, sadder place without Iron Man, and “Far From Home” was a spoonful of sugar to help the medicine go down. While Tony Stark may have died, his legacy is ever-present in the MCU. He’s a topic of bittersweet conversation among his friends, a hated name between his rivals, and his image is on graffiti at every other street corner.
Iron Man’s presence is still felt in the MCU
Moreover, Tony’s awesome tech is still all over the place. E.D.I.T.H (even dead I’m still the hero) is the Jarvis-like AI whose new home is the pair of glasses Tony Stark bequeathed to Peter Parker. From the looks of it – for better or for worse – Stark Tech isn’t going anywhere, either.
2. True love
‘Spidey and MJ’ has been a thing for practically as long as the comic series has been written. Unless you’re a fan of Gwen Stacy, MJ’s always been the gal for Peter. Thankfully the MCU has given Mary Jane (played by Zendaya) a much-appreciated revamp, making her less of a damsel in distress and more of a quirky, eccentric, fun character. She plays well off the quippy and often awkward Peter Parker.
MJ is super cool
Whether MJ will make appearances outside of Spider-Man’s solo films is unclear, but we’re excited to see more of what the studio has planned for her!
3. Spider-Man’s a menace!
One of the cornerstones of Spider-Man is that he’s the quintessential misunderstood superhero. No good deed goes unpunished, and there’s no one out to get our webslinger like newspaper tycoon, J. Jonah Jameson. In the wake of the destruction Mysterio (Jake Gyllenhaal) left behind, JJ finds the perfect angle to frame Spider-Man and set the stage for a city that not only feeds off hate mail for the wall-crawler but also knows his secret identity.
“I want him strung up by his webs! I want Spider-Mannnnn!”
The best part is a surprise return to the iconic role of fan-favorite J.K. Simmons! That’s a good thing because no one shouts “Spider-Man!!!” quite like the guy.
4. The real sting
The funny thing about J. Jonah Jameson is that he is also the guy who initially hired Mac Gargan to become the Scorpion, one of Spider-Man’s most classic villains. Spidey’s got quite the impressive rogues gallery, but whether it’s from Sam Raimi, Sony, or Marvel Studios we’ve already seen some of the biggest names in it (Venom, Sandman, Doc Ock, Green Goblin (twice), Lizard, Vulture, and Electro). Scorpion’s another big one, and they already set up for it back in “Spider-Man: Homecoming.”
He’s on-screen for under a minute and he’s already terrifying
With Jameson introduced to the mix and the post-credits from Homecoming already hinting at the character, we think Scorpion’s likely to make an appearance pretty soon.
5. “People will believe anything”
‘Multiverse’ is a dangerous word to throw around when Marvel is involved, and the studio knows it. The comics have been playing in that ballpark for years and it’s a wonderfully confusing mess that can be daunting and inaccessible to anyone trying to catch up. The MCU has taken a different approach to the phrase and it’s opened up a can of worms that today’s audience has been awaiting. Turns out, that’s the exact thing Mysterio was hoping to hear.
Which end is up? What is real?! Is anything real??
Mysterio’s a villain that likely wouldn’t have been a threat to the MCU back in 2008. The world back then wasn’t ready to believe in extra-terrestrial shapeshifters, superhero civil wars, gods from another realm, or sorcerers who could stroll through different realms and return in time for tea. Mysterio preyed upon a wounded world, one in which “people will believe anything,” as he said with his dying breath.
We’ve got a sneaking suspicion that this could be the tagline for Phase 4, with madcap adventures like a Doctor Strange sequel, “Thor: Love and Thunder,” Blade, and the Fantastic 4 soon to come. Heck, the Doctor Stranger sequel is even called “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.” And that’s without even getting into Marvel’s biggest game of smoke and mirrors …
If you loved the baffling illusions and misdirection of “Far From Home,” you ain’t seen nothing yet. If you stayed for the post-credits (which every loyal Marvel fan should have learned to do by now) then you were treated to a bizarre scene. Nick Fury and Maria Hill were not who they appeared to be. Instead, Fury was Talos (Ben Mendelsohn), the Skrull we were first introduced to in “Captain Marvel.”
The Skrulls look like they might be the MCU’s take on Fury’s Life-Model Decoys
Talos was keeping an eye on things for Fury back on Earth, while Fury was elsewhere (we’ll get to that in a second)! Contrary to other Marvel media, the Skrulls ended up being the good guys in “Captain Marvel,” so whether the MCU plans to eventually tackle the Skrull Invasion is unclear, but the option is there. It’s also worth pointing out that a lot could have happened since the Skrulls’ introduction back in the ’90s, and alliances can shift …
7. SWORD
If there’s one guy who’s had just about enough of shifting alliances, back-stabbing, murder attempts, and betrayal it’s Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson). While Talos was covering for him back planetside, the former Director of the now-defunct SHIELD really was ‘far from home.’ Specifically, he was on a space station with presumably covert intentions. ‘How can a space station be covert?’ you might wonder. Well, Fury thought the same thing before he met the Kree in “Captain Marvel.” It wouldn’t surprise us if he’s taken his paramount paranoia and personal projects to the skies.
SWORD (as opposed to SHIELD) reflects Fury’s more aggressive stance on Earth’s security
In the comics SWORD is the Sentient World Observation and Response Department that deals with the same threats on a galactic level that SHIELD used to deal with on the ground. Now that we’ve been introduced to the Guardians of the Galaxy, Thanos, Captain Marvel, the Kree, the Skrulls, and all manner of other dimensions (thanks to Doctor Strange) it makes sense that Fury wants to take security to the next level.
Guide to Marvel Phase 4: Everything you need to know
SWORD could also have some pretty exciting tie-ins to several upcoming items on the Phase 4 docket, particularly the “Captain Marvel” sequel, “Guardians of the Galaxy 3,” “What If,” and, perhaps most exciting of all, a great way to introduce the space-faring Fantastic Four.
Wrapping up
Let us know in the comments below what you think the future holds for Marvel’s Phase 4, and we’ll keep you posted as more information is made available. We’ll see you in theaters!
Can Marvel’s original superteam survive a third reboot?
Marvel shared a ton of news with us at Comic-Con last week: A handful of new TV series, some of the upcoming movies in Phase 4, and a bunch more. One promise that raised some eyebrows was the announcement of another Fantastic Four reboot.
Yes, another one.
We’ve had three movies with these guys in the past 15 years, and they were all pretty … well, they weren’t fantastic.
Guide to Marvel Phase 4: Everything you need to know
One of their more remarkable feats is time and again bringing long-forgotten characters into the glorious spotlight. Who could have foreseen the popularity of Iron Man over a decade ago? The same can even be said of the Avengers. How many people had even heard of the Guardians of the Galaxy before 2014 (seriously, comment below if you had; kudos to you)?
If you told a Marvel fan back in 2005 that the Guardians of the Galaxy would rake in more cash than the Fantastic Four, he’d laugh in your face through his vintage issue of Alpha Flight. That’s because the Fantastic Four weren’t a long-lost offshoot in the overlooked annals of comic book history – they were at the epicenter of the Marvel universe, and had tie-ins to virtually everything involved inside it.
Why the Fantastic Four are so important
These guys have been on more adventures than anyone else in the Marvel Universe!
Historically the Fantastic Four were the group that propelled the Superhero genre into the modern era. It did so by capitalizing on what were, at the time, very atypical angles of narrative: Though they got their start in space, the problems they shared were very down-to-earth.
The four teammates did not get along like the members of the original Justice League; The Thing despised his monstrous appearance and wished he’d never gotten his super powers; and Reed Richards struggled with decidedly non-super problems – overspent budgets, stock market crashes, failures in his personal projects, and struggles to lead his team. Instead of an unapproachable hero figure, Lee and Kirby created a relatable family of misfits:
It was at this point (in 1961) that Stan Lee convinced Martin Goodman to rename the company Marvel, and the team really started finding their own voice. It’s sad to see such a flagship of comic book history fail to meet the mark again and again with a modern audience, and it would be a welcome change if Marvel were to redeem their golden four.
The Fantastic Four might be the most important team in the original Marvel comics
The Fantasic Four are also hugely important to several story arcs and characters that the MCU could tackle soon, most notably Galactus, Silver Surfer, Kang the Conqueror, the Negative Zone, Annihilus, and of course the infamous Doctor Doom. So it’s not just about Marvel’s fab four looking shiny on-screen, it’s about what it could mean for the direction of the cinematic universe on a macro level.
Question: How do you go bigger than Thanos? Answer: Galactus.
That brings us to the big question: The Fantastic Four have been done before and it’s bombed every time. How can they be done better? When asked why the latest Fantastic Four did poorly at the box office, Stan Lee’s response was pretty legendary: “It was probably because I didn’t have a cameo in it,” he joked.
Unfortunately the MCU can’t rely on the same selling point that pushed the Fantastic Four comics to stardom, this notion that superheroes weren’t too dissimilar from us, or that they dealt with everyday problems; the MCU has already covered that in spades, and it wouldn’t make them stand out from characters like Hawkeye, Spider-Man, or Hulk.
So what can make this story work? First off, we’re all dying to see Doctor Doom, but maybe it’s best that we don’t – at least not right away. Spider-Man’s biggest villains are the Green Goblin and Doctor Octopus, and the MCU wisely chose to veer away from them in favor of the less famous, less scary Vulture and Mysterio (both of whom they did really well). Instead they might be better off focusing on the Skrull, Terrax, or Annihilus, the latter two being characters we’ve never seen on film before.
Introduce the Negative Zone early, and bring in Annihilus as their first big villain!
Besides picking the right villain, it’s also important that the film tell the right story. We don’t need another origin story. Please. We didn’t need one for Spider-Man, we didn’t need one for Black Panther, and we don’t need one here.
Instead, focus on the family dynamic that made the team likable to begin with, and then pick a conflict for them to face together. The Negative Zone is an especially powerful plot thread that could have a huge impact on the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and a Fantastic Four reboot is the best chance to introduce it in a big way.
We’re anxious to see how Marvel and Feige plan to handle the Fantastic Four, but tbh we’re still biting our nails; we’ve been burned three times. Let us know in the comments below if you agree with our points, and what you’d like to see the company do with the Fantastic Four!
