This might have a little something to do with expectation vs. reality. Like Captain America: Civil War, Secret Invasion is named after a well-known storyline from the comics. However, the series never reached the heights of its comic book counterpart, as the tense tale of paranoid espionage we hoped for ended up being a muddled exercise in testing how long viewers would stay tuned before bowing out.

#5 – The Marvels

Hopes were high for the debut of Ms. Marvel on the big screen after the success of her series, and to her credit, Kamala Khan was the bright spot of this movie. Unfortunately, the shortest movie in the MCU ended up feeling rushed, never leaving enough time to properly explore the relationships between Carol and Kamala or Carol and Monica. Pair that with one of the most boring villains from Marvel Studios and you end up with a movie that never reaches its potential.

#4 – Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania

When I think of the prior two Ant-Man movies, I think of street level action and humor. Unfortunately, Quantumania throws a wrench in that formula. Sure, there are a decent amount of laughs, but the scale gets much larger, resulting in this entry in the Ant-Man franchise losing a lot of its charm. Kang makes his big debut, which should have been more exciting than it was, reducing the next “big bad” of the MCU to another disposable villain.

#3 – What If…? Season 2

Like the first season of What If…?, there are highs and there are lows, depending on the episode that you’re currently watching. While there are definitely some fun concepts to explore here, What If…? continues to be bogged down by its desire to create a connected plot through a lot of the season. I’d prefer that they ditch the connected plot and start exploring more outlandish ideas.

#2 – Loki Season 2

Season 2 of Loki had a lot to live up to after a stellar first season. While the first half of it dragged a little slower than I cared for, the latter half picked up and concluded with one of the best visuals we’ve ever seen in an MCU project to date. I also can’t talk about Season 2 of Loki without bringing up how great Ouroboros is.

#1 – Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3

Guardians 3 is perhaps the only project from 2023 that felt like it delivered on everything that we used to expect from the Marvel Cinematic Universe. It honored the journey of a group of characters we’ve grown to love while also making us laugh, cry, and keeping us engaged with its many needle drops and action sequences. It even had one of the most interesting antagonists in the MCU that we’ve seen in awhile. More of this please, Marvel.

For the first time in the cinematic history of Spider-Man, our friendly neighborhood hero’s identity is revealed, bringing his Super Hero responsibilities into conflict with his normal life and putting those he cares about most at risk. When he enlists Doctor Strange’s help to restore his secret, the spell tears a hole in their world, releasing the most powerful villains who’ve ever fought a Spider-Man in any universe. Now, Peter will have to overcome his greatest challenge yet, which will not only forever alter his own future but the future of the Multiverse.

You can discover over 80 minutes of amazing extras including bloopers, behind-the-scenes moments with your favorite heroes and villains, and more immersive featurettes while uncovering every incredible Easter egg.

The 4K Ultra, Blu-ray, and Digital versions include:

• Bloopers and a Gag Reel
• Alternate Reality Easter Eggs
• 7 Behind the Scenes Featurettes
• 2 Special Panels
• 3 Stories from The Daily Bugle
• 2 Stunt Scene Previsualizations

The DVD version includes:

• 2 Behind the Scenes Featurettes

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Disney delays several MCU release dates

Disney has delayed five of their upcoming announced Marvel movies. Eternals and Spider-Man: No Way Home, however, are both still committed to their respective November and December release dates.

The delays begin with Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, which has now moved from March to May 6, 2022. That spot was previously held for Thor: Love and Thunder, which has been bumped to July 8, 2022, taking the spot of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. That sequel is now scheduled for November 11, 2022. The Marvels has shifted out of 2022 and will now release on February 17, 2023. Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quatummania is the last film receiving a delay, which is now planned for July 28, 2023.

Unlike the other post-2021 MCU films, Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol. 3 will maintain its originally announced release in May 2023.

Updates from DC FanDome

In addition to a new trailer for The Batman, there were several other announcements for upcoming projects from DC FanDome.

Director Patty Jenkins and Lynda Carter confirmed that a third Wonder Woman movie is currently in the works, and Carter will be in the film.

The first footage from Black Adam was shown, giving the world a look at Dwayne Johnson in the titular role.

A trailer for The Flash movie leaned heavily into teasing the return of Michael Keaton’s Batman, with the former Dark Knight providing voice over while we got a look at Supergirl and multiple versions of the Flash.

The directors of the upcoming Blue Beetle film, as well as star Xolo Mariduena, spoke about the film before debuting some concept art of Blue Beetle’s costume.

Season 3 of the Harley Quinn animated series will release on HBO Max in 2022, and a sizzle reel gave a quick early look.

Finally, both Titans and Doom Patrol have been renewed for their respective fourth seasons on HBO Max.

Y: The Last Man series cancelled after one season

Y: The Last Man showrunner Eliza Clark has announced via Twitter that the series will not be getting a second season on FX on Hulu, even before the first season has finished airing. The news is a crushing blow to fans of Brian K. Vaughan and Pia Guerra’s original comic, many of whom waited more than 10 years for an adaptation to materialize.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, sources say that execs at FX had to make a decision on the series by Oct. 15^th, and production costs from a showrunner change, multiple recastings that led to reshoots, and delays caused by the pandemic may have led to the cancellation decision.

Despite the early cancellation, Clark remains hopeful for the future of Y: The Last Man, as she expressed their team’s commitment to finding a new home for the series as there’s much more story left to tell.

Let’s run down the line-up, shall we? First, the movies…

Black Widow will arrive May 1, 2020. Directed by Cate Shortland, the film stars Scarlett Johansson as Natasha Romanoff, David Harbour as Alexei, Florence Pugh as Yelena, Rachel Weisz as Melina, O-T Fagbenle as Mason. Taskmaster has been confirmed as the villain of the upcoming prequel.

Eternals will arrive November 6, 2020. Directed by Chloe Zhao, the film stars Angelina Jolie as Thena, Richard Madden as Ikaris, Kumail Nanjiani as Kingo, Salma Hayek as Ajax, Bryan Tyree Henry as Phastos, Lia McHugh as Sprite, Lauren Ridloff as Makkari, and Don Lee as Gilgamesh.

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings will arrive February 12, 2021. Directed by Destin Daniel Cretton, the film stars Simu Liu as Shang-Chi, Tony Leung as The Mandarin (the real one), and Awkwafina as a currently unannounced character.

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness will arrive May 7, 2021. Directed by Scott Derrickson, the film stars Benedict Cumberbatch as Doctor Strange and Elizabeth Olsen as Scarlet Witch. Derrickson claims it will be the first scary MCU film, and the events of the Disney+ series WandaVision will tie directly into it

Thor: Love and Thunder will arrive November 5, 2021. Chris Hemsworth and Tessa Thompson are returning as Thor and Valkyrie, with Taika Waititi once again directing. Natalie Portman will also return as Jane Foster, the female Thor.

Now, onto the series coming to Disney+…

The Falcon and the Winter Soldier will arrive on Disney+ in August 2020 and sees the return of Anthony Mackie as Sam Wilson and Sebastian Stan. Details are still under wraps, but the series will run for 6 episodes on the streaming service.

WandaVision will arrive on Disney+ in Spring 2021 and sees the return of Elizabeth Olsen as Scarlet Witch and Paul Bettany as The Vision. Teyonah Parris joins the cast as the grown up Monica Rambeau, who appeared as an 11-year-old in Captain Marvel. Kevin Feige confirmed the events of the series take place after Avengers: Endgame.

Loki will arrive on Disney+ in Spring 2021 and sees the return of Tom Hiddlestone as Loki, the God of Mischief. However, this is the version of Loki that escaped from the past in Avengers: Endgame, so he hasn’t gone through the same growth of the Loki we’ve watched before.

What If…? will arrive on Disney+ in Summer 2021 as the MCU’s first animation. Jeffrey Wright will voice The Watcher among a huge cast of MCU actors reprising their roles. Like the comics, the animated anthology series will explore how the MCU might have unfolded if key moments in its history had not occurred as they did in canon.

Hawkeye will arrive on Disney+ in Fall 2021 and sees the return of Jeremy Renner as Clint Barton/Hawkeye. It’s said the series will explore more of his time as Ronan. His protege Kate Bishop will also be introduced in the series, though no casting has yet been announced for that role

Aside from the announced movies and series for Phase 4, a few other tidbits were thrown into the panel.

For one, Mahershala Ali has been confirmed as the MCU’s Blade! No other details were confirmed other than the casting.

Feige also confirmed the development of several sequels on the way, including Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, Black Panther 2, Captain Marvel 2, as well as casually dropping the name of the Fantastic Four! Before he was done, he also mentioned that there was “No time left to talk about mutants.”

Host: Rob Logan
Co-host: Mike Volpe

312 – Avengers: Endgame

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• Got feedback??
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• The Spoiler Room
  • Avengers: Endgame

Sony Pictures and Marvel Studios have released a new trailer for Spider-Man: Far From Home.

Peter Parker returns in Spider-Man: Far From Home, the next chapter of the Spider-Man: Homecoming series. Our friendly neighborhood Super Hero decides to join his best friends Ned, MJ, and the rest of the gang on a European vacation. However, Peter’s plan to leave super heroics behind for a few weeks are quickly scrapped when he begrudgingly agrees to help Nick Fury uncover the mystery of several elemental creature attacks, creating havoc across the continent!

Confirmed Spider-Man: Far From Home cast members include Tom Holland as your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man, plus Zendaya as “MJ,” Jacob Batalon as Ned, with Marisa Tomei as Aunt May, and Jake Gyllenhaal as Mysterio. New additions include comedian J.B. Smoove and Numan Acar as Dimitri. MCU veterans Samuel L. Jackson and Cobie Smulders will also join Holland’s Spider-Man sequel as Nick Fury and Maria Hill respectively.

Spider-Man: Far From Home is directed by Jon Watts and written by Chris McKenna and Erik Sommers, all returning from Spider-Man: Homecoming. The movie will hit theaters on July 2.

Confirmed cast members for the untitled fourth Avengers film so far include Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo, Scarlett Johansson, Chris Hemsworth, Tom Hiddleston, Anthony Mackie, Paul Bettany, Elizabeth Olson, Jeremy Renner, Chadwick Boseman, Sebastian Stan, Don Cheadle, Chris Pratt, Dave Bautista, Zoe Saldana, Pom Klementieff, Benedict Cumberbatch, Benedict Wong, Sean Gunn, Tom Holland, Paul Rudd, Jon Favreau, Brie Larson, Karen Gillan, Gwyneth Paltrow, Evangeline Lilly, Katherine Langford, and Josh Brolin.

Avengers: Endgame is set to hit theaters on April 26, 2019.

Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige previously confirmed the 2019 sequel will take Peter Parker out of New York for a European adventure in London that will reflect the global aftermath of Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame.

Confirmed Spider-Man: Far From Home cast members include Tom Holland as your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man, plus Zendaya and Marisa Tomei as “MJ” and Aunt May. Jake Gyllenhaal will play Mysterio while Michael Keaton is set to return as Adrian Toomes/The Vulture. New additions include comedian J.B. Smoove and Numan Acar as Dimitri. It was also reported that MCU veterans Samuel L. Jackson and Cobie Smulders have signed on to join Holland’s Spider-Man sequel as Nick Fury and Maria Hill respectively.

Spider-Man: Far From Home is directed by Jon Watts and written by Chris McKenna and Erik Sommers, all returning from Spider-Man: Homecoming. The movie will hit theaters on July 5, 2019.

Marvel Studios has released the teaser trailer and revealed the title for the next chapter in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Avengers: Endgame.

Confirmed cast members for the untitled fourth Avengers film so far include Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo, Scarlett Johansson, Chris Hemsworth, Tom Hiddleston, Anthony Mackie, Paul Bettany, Elizabeth Olson, Jeremy Renner, Chadwick Boseman, Sebastian Stan, Don Cheadle, Chris Pratt, Dave Bautista, Zoe Saldana, Pom Klementieff, Benedict Cumberbatch, Benedict Wong, Sean Gunn, Tom Holland, Paul Rudd, Jon Favreau, Brie Larson, Karen Gillan, Gwyneth Paltrow, Evangeline Lilly, Katherine Langford, and Josh Brolin.

Avengers: Endgame is set to hit theaters in April, 2019.

Captain Marvel follows Carol Danvers (Brie Larson) as she becomes one of the universe’s most powerful heroes when Earth is caught in the middle of a galactic war between two alien races. Set in the 1990s, the feature is an all-new adventure from a previously unseen period in the history of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

It is directed by the writing/directing team of Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck, whose credits include Mississippi Grind and Half Nelson. An all-star collective of accomplished writers penned the screenplay, including Meg LeFauve, Nicole Perlman, Geneva Robertson-Dworet, Liz Flahive & Carly Mensch, and Anna Boden & Ryan Fleck.

Kevin Feige is the producer of Marvel Studios’ Captain Marvel. Louis D’Esposito, Victoria Alonso, Jonathan Schwartz, Patty Whitcher, and Stan Lee are executive producers, with Lars Winther serving as co-producer/first assistant director and David Grant serving as co-producer. Composer Pinar Toprak will be composing the score for the film.

Captain Marvel soars into theaters on March 8, 2019.

You can enter to win a copy of the film on Blu-ray by completing the tasks below.

Ant-Man and the Wasp Blu-ray

Exclusive extras provide an inside look at some of Marvel Comics’ most celebrated characters and the consummate, comedic actors who portray them in Ant-Man and The Wasp. Featurettes spotlight Paul Rudd, who returns as good-hearted thief turned hero, Scott Lang, and delivers big laughs both on set and in theaters; Evangeline Lilly, who transforms into The Wasp, the first female character to be featured in the title treatment of a Marvel Studios film; and iconic actors Michael Douglas and Michelle Pfeiffer as super couple Hank and Janet Van Dyne. Viewers can explore more about the visual development artists and effects used to bring the characters to life and drastically alter the size of the Super Heroes and their surroundings. Additional extras include deleted scenes, bloopers, outtakes, and audio commentary by Ant-Man franchise director Peyton Reed.

An unprecedented cinematic journey ten years in the making and spanning the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe, Marvel Studios’ Avengers: Infinity War brings to the screen the ultimate, deadliest showdown of all time. As the Avengers and their allies have continued to protect the world from threats too large for any one hero to handle, a new danger has emerged from the cosmic shadows: Thanos. A despot of intergalactic infamy, his goal is to collect all six Infinity Stones, artifacts of unimaginable power, and use them to inflict his twisted will on all of reality. Everything the Avengers have fought for has led up to this moment – the fate of Earth and existence itself has never been more uncertain.

Confirmed cast members for Avengers: Infinity War so far include Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo, Scarlett Johansson, Chris Hemsworth, Tom Hiddleston, Anthony Mackie, Paul Bettany, Elizabeth Olson, Jeremy Renner, Chadwick Boseman, Sebastian Stan, Don Cheadle, Chris Pratt, Dave Bautista, Zoe Saldana, Pom Klementieff, Benedict Cumberbatch, Benedict Wong, Sean Gunn, Tom Holland, Paul Rudd, and Josh Brolin.

Anthony and Joe Russo direct the film, which is produced by Kevin Feige. Louis D’Esposito, Victoria Alonso, Michael Grillo, and Stan Lee are the executive producers. Christopher Markus & Stephen McFeely wrote the screenplay.

Marvel’s Avengers: Infinity War is opening in theaters on April 27. Then, the Avengers assemble again for the still-untitled fourth film, set for May 3, 2019.

From the Marvel Cinematic Universe comes Ant-Man and The Wasp, a new chapter featuring heroes with the astonishing ability to shrink. In the aftermath of Captain America: Civil War, Scott Lang grapples with the consequences of his choices as both a super hero and a father. As he struggles to rebalance his life with his responsibilities as Ant-Man, he’s confronted by Hope van Dyne and Dr. Hank Pym with an urgent new mission. Scott must once again put on the suit and learn to fight alongside the Wasp as the team works together to uncover secrets from the past.

Ant-Man and The Wasp stars Paul Rudd, Evangeline Lilly, Michael Peña, and Academy Award winner Michael Douglas, who all return to the roles they originated in the 2015 box office hit Ant-Man. Bobby Cannavale, Judy Greer, Abby Ryder Fortson, Tip “T.I.” Harris, and David Dastmalchian also reprise their supporting roles. The highly-anticipated follow-up has also added Academy Award nominees Michelle Pfeiffer and Laurence Fishburne, along with Hannah John-Kamen, Walton Goggins, and Randall Park to the ensemble cast.

Marvel’s Ant-Man and The Wasp is directed by Peyton Reed and produced by Kevin Feige, with Louis D’Esposito, Victoria Alonso, Stephen Broussard, Charles Newirth, and Stan Lee serving as executive producers. The sequel will open in theaters on July 6, 2018.

An unprecedented cinematic journey ten years in the making and spanning the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe, Marvel Studios’ Avengers: Infinity War brings to the screen the ultimate, deadliest showdown of all time. The Avengers and their Super Hero allies must be willing to sacrifice all in an attempt to defeat the powerful Thanos before his blitz of devastation and ruin puts an end to the universe.

Confirmed cast members for Avengers: Infinity War so far include Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo, Scarlett Johansson, Chris Hemsworth, Tom Hiddleston, Anthony Mackie, Paul Bettany, Elizabeth Olson, Jeremy Renner, Chadwick Boseman, Sebastian Stan, Don Cheadle, Chris Pratt, Dave Bautista, Zoe Saldana, Pom Klementieff, Benedict Cumberbatch, Benedict Wong, Sean Gunn, Tom Holland, Paul Rudd, and Josh Brolin.

Anthony and Joe Russo direct the film, which is produced by Kevin Feige. Louis D’Esposito, Victoria Alonso, Michael Grillo, and Stan Lee are the executive producers. Christopher Markus & Stephen McFeely wrote the screenplay.

Marvel’s Avengers: Infinity War is slated for a release in theaters on May 4, 2018. Then, the Avengers assemble again for the still-untitled fourth film, set for May 3, 2019.

Marvel Studios’ Black Panther follows T’Challa who, after the death of his father, the King of Wakanda, returns home to the isolated, technologically advanced African nation to succeed to the throne and take his rightful place as king. But when a powerful old enemy reappears, T’Challa’s mettle as king—and Black Panther—is tested when he is drawn into a formidable conflict that puts the fate of Wakanda and the entire world at risk. Faced with treachery and danger, the young king must rally his allies and release the full power of Black Panther to defeat his foes and secure the safety of his people and their way of life.

Black Panther stars Chadwick Boseman, reprising his Captain America: Civil War role, alongside Michael B. Jordan, Lupita Nyong’o, Danai Gurira, Martin Freeman, Daniel Kaluuya, Letitia Wright, Winston Duke, with Angela Bassett, with Forest Whitaker and, returning from Avengers: Age of Ultron, Andy Serkis.

The film is directed by Ryan Coogler and produced by Kevin Feige with Louis D’Esposito, Victoria Alonso, Nate Moore, Jeffrey Chernov, and Stan Lee serving as executive producers. Ryan Coogler & Joe Robert Cole wrote the screenplay, based on the Marvel Comics character who made his debut in 1966 during Stan Lee and Jack Kirby’s epochal Fantastic Four run.

Black Panther will debut in theaters on February 16, 2018.

In Marvel Studios’ Thor: Ragnarok, Thor is imprisoned on the other side of the universe without his mighty hammer and finds himself in a race against time to get back to Asgard to stop Ragnarok – the destruction of his homeworld and the end of Asgardian civilization – at the hands of an all-powerful new threat, the ruthless Hela. But first he must survive a deadly gladiatorial contest that pits him against his former ally and fellow Avenger – the Incredible Hulk!

Thor: Ragnarok will feature the return of Chris Hemsworth as the God of Thunder himself, with Tom Hiddleston as Loki, Mark Ruffalo as the Hulk, Idris Elba as Heimdall, and Sir Anthony Hopkins again portraying Odin. The film also stars Cate Blanchett as the death-obsessed Hela, Tessa Thompson as hero Valkyrie, Jeff Goldblum as the eccentric Grandmaster, and Karl Urban as Skurge. Also among the cast is Sam Neill, reuniting with Taika Waititi, who directed him in his previous film Hunt for the Wilderpeople, and his Jurassic Park co-star Jeff Goldblum. Finally, as teased at the end of his solo film, Benedict Cumberbatch’s Doctor Strange will team with the God of Thunder to deal with Loki.

Kevin Feige will produce the film, joined by executive producers Louis D’Esposito, Brad Winderbaum, Victoria Alonso, Thomas M. Hammel, and Stan Lee. The screenplay hails from Stephany Folsom, Craig Kyle, Eric Pearson, and Christopher Yost.

Thor: Ragnarok will smash its way into theaters on November 3, 2017.

A young Peter Parker / Spider-Man (Tom Holland), who made his sensational debut in Captain America: Civil War, begins to navigate his newfound identity as the web-slinging super hero in Spider-Man: Homecoming. Thrilled by his experience with the Avengers, Peter returns home, where he lives with his Aunt May (Marisa Tomei), under the watchful eye of his new mentor Tony Stark (Robert Downey, Jr.). Peter tries to fall back into his normal daily routine – distracted by thoughts of proving himself to be more than just your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man – but when the Vulture (Michael Keaton) emerges as a new villain, everything that Peter holds most important will be threatened.

Spider-Man: Homecoming also stars Zendaya, Jon Favreau, Donald Glover, and Tyne Daly and will swing into theaters on July 7, 2017.

A young Peter Parker/Spider-Man (Tom Holland), who made his sensational debut in Captain America: Civil War, begins to navigate his newfound identity as the web-slinging super hero in Spider-Man: Homecoming. Thrilled by his experience with the Avengers, Peter returns home, where he lives with his Aunt May (Marisa Tomei), under the watchful eye of his new mentor Tony Stark (Robert Downey, Jr.). Peter tries to fall back into his normal daily routine – distracted by thoughts of proving himself to be more than just your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man – but when the Vulture (Michael Keaton) emerges as a new villain, everything that Peter holds most important will be threatened.

Directed by Jon Watts, the film also stars Zendaya, Jon Favreau, Donald Glover, and Tyne Daly. Spider-Man: Homecoming will swing into theaters on July 7, 2017.

The Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 cast includes the return of Chris Pratt as Star-Lord, Zoe Saldana as Gamora, Dave Bautista as Drax, Vin Diesel as the voice of Groot, Bradley Cooper as the voice of Rocket, Michael Rooker as Yondu, Karen Gillan as Nebula, and Sean Gunn as Kraglin. New cast members include Pom Klementieff, who plays Mantis, Elizabeth Debicki, Chris Sullivan, and Kurt Russell as Ego, the Living Planet.

Set to the backdrop of Awesome Mixtape #2, Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 continues the team’s adventures as they traverse the outer reaches of the cosmos. The Guardians must fight to keep their newfound family together as they unravel the mysteries of Peter Quill’s true parentage. Old foes become new allies and fan-favorite characters from the classic comics will come to our heroes’ aid as the Marvel cinematic universe continues to expand.

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 is set to arrive on the big screen on May 5, 2017.

Here are some examples of the similarities I heard. First, the main theme of Star Trek…

Then, compare that to these two tracks from the Doctor Strange soundtrack that highlight the main theme…

(start around 2:11 if the video doesn’t jump there)

(start around 0:30 if the video doesn’t jump there)

Are you hearing what I’m hearing? Please tell me I’m not crazy.

Sony Pictures and Marvel Studios have announced that Tom Holland will play Peter Parker/Spider-Man in their next Spider-Man film, which is set to hit theaters on July 28, 2017. Jon Watts has been set to direct the feature.

Producer Amy Pascal said of the casting, “Sony, Marvel, Kevin [Feige] and I all knew that for Peter Parker, we had to find a vibrant, talented young actor capable of embodying one of the most well-known characters in the world. With Tom, we’ve found the perfect actor to bring Spider-Man’s story into the Marvel Cinematic Universe.”

Sony Pictures will finance and release worldwide the next installment of the $4 billion Spider-Man franchise, in a film co-produced by Kevin Feige and his expert team at Marvel and Amy Pascal, who oversaw the franchise launch for the studio 13 years ago. Together, they will collaborate on a new creative direction for the Web-Slinger.

The next evolution of the Marvel Cinematic Universe brings a founding member of The Avengers to the big screen for the first time with Marvel Studios’ Ant-Man. Armed with the astonishing ability to shrink in scale but increase in strength, master thief Scott Lang (Paul Rudd) must embrace his inner-hero and help his mentor, Dr. Hank Pym (Michael Douglas), protect the secret behind his spectacular Ant-Man suit from a new generation of towering threats. Against seemingly insurmountable obstacles, Pym and Lang must plan and pull off a heist that will save the world.

Also starring Evangeline Lilly, Judy Greer, Bobby Cannavale, Michael Pena, Martin Donovan, Wood Harris, John Slattery, Gregg Turkington, Abby Ryder Fortson, David Dastmalchian,  and T.I., Ant-Man features a script by Edgar Wright, Joe Cornish, Andrew Barrer, Gabriel Ferrari and Adam McKay. Look for it to hit theaters July 17, 2015.

When Tony Stark tries to jumpstart a dormant peacekeeping program, things go awry and Earth’s Mightiest Heroes, including Iron Man, Captain America, Thor, The Incredible Hulk, Black Widow and Hawkeye, are put to the ultimate test as the fate of the planet hangs in the balance. As the villainous Ultron emerges, it is up to The Avengers to stop him from enacting his terrible plans, and soon uneasy alliances and unexpected action pave the way for an epic and unique global adventure.

Looks like million dollar corporations can play nicely with each other. According to a recent post on Marvel.com, Sony Pictures Entertainment and Marvel Studios have officially reached a deal to bring Spider-Man into an upcoming Marvel title and to collaborate on the next installment of the Spider-Man films slated for July 28, 2017. Negotiations had been ongoing since December of 2014 but no official word had been released until now.

Sony Pictures has had control over the Spider-Man movie franchise since Marvel sold the film rights in the early 2000s. While Sony will still have control over the movie rights and thus have the final say regarding future film decisions, it is great to see the possibility of the Friendly Neighborhood wallcrawler swinging into what will likely be Captain America: Civil War. While Spidey served a major role in the source material, it remains to be seen what role he will play in the film adaptation.

The same can be said about other Marvel characters making official cameos or appearances in future Spider-Man films if this friendly relationship is able to thrive. To clarify, Marvel will not be receiving the rights back from Sony at this time.

At last announcement, it was unclear what exactly Sony’s plans are for the next movie in its Spider-Man franchise as both a Sinister Six and a female-centered spin-off (most likely Black Cat) have been said to be in the works as possible titles before The Amazing Spider-Man 3. It is also unclear whether or not Andrew Garfield will be reprising his role of Spider-Man in any future appearance of the character.

While there is certainly a lot of money to be made, it is nice to see what could lead to the biggest movie experience for Marvel fans ever. Could this deal put pressure on Fox to renegotiate bringing the X-Men or the Fantastic Four on screen with their Marvel superhero brethren? Let us know what you think in the comments below.

Host: Rob Logan
Co-hosts: Mike Volpe, Paul O

The Geek Generation – #209 – The Comic Movie Slate Awakens

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Show notes:

• Got feedback??
  • E-mail it to podcast@thegeekgeneration.com
  • Tweet it to @GeekGeneration on Twitter
• Listener Mailbag
• Game: Smash-Up
  • TV Character Pro Wrestling Finishers
• News/discussion
  • Star Wars: Episode VII gets an official title
  • Warner Bros. reveals DC Comics movie slate
  • Marvel Studios announces new movies and release dates for Phase 3
  • Lyndsy Fonseca and Bridget Regan join Agent Carter
  • Guardians of the Galaxy animated series coming 2015
  • Xbox One holiday price drop announced
  • Amazon announces Amazon Echo
  • New Ghostbusters will be a female-centric reboot
  • HBO and CBS to offer stand-alone streaming services
  • LucasArts classics come to GOG.com
  • David Spade set to return for Joe Dirt 2
  • Cast revealed for Quentin Tarantino’s The Hateful Eight
  • Neil Patrick Harris to host the 2015 Academy Awards
  • More movies being adapted for television
  • NBC announces Elf: Buddy’s Musical Christmas TV special
  • Fall TV shows getting picked up

Captain America 3 is now, as speculated, officially titled Captain America: Civil War.

Doctor Strange, starring Benedict Cumberbatch and directed by Scott Derrickson, is officially scheduled for November 4, 2016.

James Gunn’s Guardians of the Galaxy 2 has been moved forward a few months to May 5, 2017.

The next film in the Thor series is now officially titled Thor: Ragnarok. Both Chris Hemsworth and Tom Hiddleston are set to return as Thor and Loki. Feige also says that it will immediately follow the events of Avengers: Age of Ultron with the goal to take Thor to “another level of his own franchise.”

Marvel has officially announced a Black Panther movie, scheduled for release on November 3, 2017. Chadwick Boseman will star as Black Panther in the film. The character will also appear in full costume in Captain America: Civil War.

Two more announcements for characters making their debut in the Marvel Cinematic Universe are a Carol Danvers Captain Marvel movie scheduled for July 6, 2018, and an Inhumans movie set for November 2, 2018.

Finally, as speculated, Avengers 3 has been split into two parts under the official title Avengers: Infinity War.

Avengers: Infinity War – Part I will arrive May 4, 2018 and Avengers: Infinity War – Part II will follow on May 3, 2019.

When Tony Stark tries to jumpstart a dormant peacekeeping program, things go awry and Earth’s Mightiest Heroes, including Iron Man, Captain America, Thor, The Incredible Hulk, Black Widow and Hawkeye, are put to the ultimate test as the fate of the planet hangs in the balance. As the villainous Ultron emerges, it is up to The Avengers to stop him from enacting his terrible plans, and soon uneasy alliances and unexpected action pave the way for an epic and unique global adventure.

An action-packed, epic space adventure, Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy expands the Marvel Cinematic Universe into the cosmos, where brash adventurer Peter Quill finds himself the object of an unrelenting bounty hunt after stealing a mysterious orb coveted by Ronan, a powerful villain with ambitions that threaten the entire universe. To evade the ever-persistent Ronan, Quill is forced into an uneasy truce with a quartet of disparate misfits—Rocket, a gun-toting raccoon, Groot, a tree-like humanoid, the deadly and enigmatic Gamora and the revenge-driven Drax the Destroyer. But when Quill discovers the true power of the orb and the menace it poses to the cosmos, he must do his best to rally his ragtag rivals for a last, desperate stand—with the galaxy’s fate in the balance.

Written and directed by James Gunn, the film stars Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Lee Pace, Djimon Hounsou, Benicio del Toro, John C. Reilly, Glenn Close, Karen Gillan, Gregg Henry, Bradley Cooper, Michael Rooker and Vin Diesel.? Guardians of the Galaxy will hit theaters on August 1.

Guardians of the Galaxy features an unlikely cast of characters who must team up in order to defeat a cosmic force of epic proportions. The August 1 release stars Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista, Lee Pace, Michael Rooker, Karen Gillan, Djimon Hounsou, Benicio del Toro, John C. Reilly, Glenn Close, Gregg Henry, Bradley Cooper and Vin Diesel.

Captain America: The Winter Soldier will pick-up where Marvel’s The Avengers left off, as Steve Rogers struggles to embrace his role in the modern world and teams up with Natasha Romanoff, aka Black Widow, to battle a powerful yet shadowy enemy in present-day Washington, D.C.

Opening in theaters on April 4, the film stars Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, Samuel L. Jackson, Robert Redford, Sebastian Stan, Anthony Mackie, Cobie Smulders, Frank Grillo, Georges St-Pierre, Hayley Atwell, Toby Jones, Emily VanCamp and Maximiliano Hernández.

Marvel’s Ant-Man has found its hero in Paul Rudd, who will star in the new film from director Edgar Wright hitting theaters July 31, 2015.

The casting of Rudd represents the actor that Marvel had long ago identified as its first choice to play Ant-Man, continuing the studio’s desire to cast actors that bring several dimensions to its onscreen heroes. The film’s plot is being kept under wraps.

“When Edgar Wright came to us with the idea of Paul Rudd, we felt a huge sense of relief because the first step in creating any Marvel Studios film is finding the right star,” said Marvel’s Kevin Feige. “We knew early on that we had found the right person in Paul. When he not only agreed to do it but became as enthusiastic as any actor we’d ever met with about doing the work, we knew we’d found the right guy. We couldn’t be more excited for our audiences to see what he’s going to do to bring Ant-Man to life.”

Rudd brings a diverse background to the role having become one of the industry’s most known actors with a reputation for smart, funny and creative performances. Rudd can currently be seen in Anchor Man 2: The Legend Continues, as well as past roles in Anchorman, This Is 40, I Love You, Man, Role Models, Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Our Idiot Brother, Knocked Up, and The 40-Year-Old Virgin among numerous other films and television shows.

After the cataclysmic events in New York with The Avengers, Marvel’s Captain America: The Winter Soldier finds Steve Rogers, aka Captain America, living quietly in Washington, D.C. and trying to adjust to the modern world. But when a S.H.I.E.L.D. colleague comes under attack, Steve becomes embroiled in a web of intrigue that threatens to put the world at risk. Joining forces with the Black Widow, Captain America struggles to expose the ever-widening conspiracy while fighting off professional assassins sent to silence him at every turn. When the full scope of the villainous plot is revealed, Captain America and the Black Widow enlist the help of a new ally, the Falcon. However, they soon find themselves up against an unexpected and formidable enemy—the Winter Soldier.

Releasing on November 8, Thor battles to save Earth and all the Nine Realms from a shadowy enemy that predates the universe itself. In the aftermath of Thor and Marvel’s The Avengers, Thor fights to restore order across the cosmos…but an ancient race led by the vengeful Malekith returns to plunge the universe back into darkness. Faced with an enemy that even Odin and Asgard cannot withstand, Thor must embark on his most perilous and personal journey yet, one that will reunite him with Jane Foster and force him to sacrifice everything to save us all.

Host: Rob Logan
Co-hosts: Mike Volpe, Anna Zifcak, and Jen Janet

The Geek Generation – #141 – Annamantium

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Show notes:

• Got feedback??
  • E-mail it to podcast@thegeekgeneration.com
  • Tweet it to @GeekGeneration on Twitter
• Creative Listening Contest
• Geek Outs:
  • Xbox connected to YouTube
  • Fourth of July
  • Comedy Central Radio
  • The Heat
  • Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman
  • Classic Doctor Who
  • Standing desk
  • Rob on Geektime
  • Leisure Suit Larry Reloaded
  • The LEGO Movie
  • Instagram video
  • Scribblenauts Remix
• Freak Outs:
  • Broken AC
  • Overheating electronics
  • Everyone’s seen This Is The End
  • Internet infiltration
  • Cracked rib
  • No Star Trek: TNG season 4 cinematic event
  • Kidney stone issues
• News/discussion:
  • Marvel Studios sets two mystery films for 2016 and 2017
  • Robert Downey Jr. set to return for The Avengers 2 & 3
  • Sony Pictures plans Captain Planet movie
  • Release dates set for The Amazing Spider-Man 3 & 4
  • Mary Jane role pushed to third Amazing Spider-Man film
  • William Fichtner confirms he will play the Shredder in Ninja Turtles
  • Ryan Reynolds drops out of Highlander reboot
  • The Muppets… Again now titled Muppets Most Wanted
  • Dumb and Dumber To is happening
  • Sin City: A Dame to Kill For pushed back to 2014
  • Injustice: Gods Among Us adds General Zod
  • Locke & Key is coming to the big screen
  • State of Decay sequel currently in limbo

Additional links:

• Kristen Bell’s sloth meltdown on Ellen
• Captain Planet fan-made trailer

Opening in theaters on November 8, Thor: The Dark World continues the big-screen adventures of Thor, the Mighty Avenger, as he battles to save Earth and all the Nine Realms from a shadowy enemy that predates the universe itself. In the aftermath of Marvel’s Thor and Marvel’s The Avengers, Thor fights to restore order across the cosmos… but an ancient race led by the vengeful Malekith returns to plunge the universe back into darkness. Faced with an enemy that even Odin and Asgard cannot withstand, Thor must embark on his most perilous and personal journey yet, one that will reunite him with Jane Foster and force him to sacrifice everything to save us all.

Michael Rooker has joined the cast of Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy. Most recently seen as Merle Dixon on The Walking Dead, he will play the role of Yondu, a founding member of the team.

Yondu was a game hunter of a primitive tribe native to Centauri IV, the first planet system to be colonized outside of the Sun’s solar system.

Pepper Potts will suit up… in armor… in Iron Man 3.

If you think my prediction has no merit, allow me to present my case…

Exhibit A: She already had a suit of her own in the comics.

After an explosion, Pepper gets trapped under rubble with shrapnel stuck in her (sound familiar?). To deal with the severe internal injuries, Tony embeds a strong magnet in her chest, similar in appearance to the arc reactor, but not weapon-based.

Soon after, Pepper discovers a suit of armor that Tony had planned to give to her, and uses it to escape a group of S.H.I.E.L.D. agents following Norman Osborn’s orders. While wearing the suit, Pepper ends up saving a group of students in a collapsing school, catching and landing a distressed commercial jet, and helping the victims of a grain silo explosion. In this armor, she ends up taking the name Rescue.

Iron Man 3 is already pulling other suits of armor from the comics, including James Rhodes wearing the Iron Patriot armor and something near the end of the trailer that appears to be influenced by the Hulkbuster suit. Pulling one more won’t hurt…

Exhibit B: “We do need backup.”

Arguably a toss away line toward the end of the latest trailer, Tony states, “We do need backup.”

The scene that follows is a small army of “Iron Men.” While the Rescue armor (or even any blatant version of female armor) wasn’t clearly seen in this shot, that doesn’t mean it won’t be there. This is CGI we’re talking about and things are easily changed. This render could just be for the trailer to keep things under wraps, while a final render could include the Pepper’s armor. And who’s to say she’s not in one of those suits that we are seeing? Armor doesn’t have to fit the figure to fit a person.

Exhibit C: The bra shot.

I’m trying to imagine a scenario in which Pepper would be standing in front of a giant fire in just her bra. In the context of Iron Man movies, the first thing that popped into my head was that she is either about to get into a suit of armor, or just got out of one. Why not wear something form-fitting that covers the body like Tony normally does? Easy answer… this is Hollywood, baby. We wanna see the underwear.

So there’s my case, now you be the judge. Do I have a solid argument here, or am I looking for clues that don’t exist? Let me know in the comments.

Hitting theaters on May 3, the film pits brash-but-brilliant industrialist Tony Stark/Iron Man against an enemy whose reach knows no bounds. When Stark finds his personal world destroyed at his enemy’s hands, he embarks on a harrowing quest to find those responsible. This journey, at every turn, will test his mettle. With his back against the wall, Stark is left to survive by his own devices, relying on his ingenuity and instincts to protect those closest to him. As he fights his way back, Stark discovers the answer to the question that has secretly haunted him: does the man make the suit or does the suit make the man?

Iron Man 3 pits brash-but-brilliant industrialist Tony Stark/Iron Man against an enemy whose reach knows no bounds. When Stark finds his personal world destroyed at his enemy’s hands, he embarks on a harrowing quest to find those responsible. This journey, at every turn, will test his mettle. With his back against the wall, Stark is left to survive by his own devices, relying on his ingenuity and instincts to protect those closest to him. As he fights his way back, Stark discovers the answer to the question that has secretly haunted him: does the man make the suit or does the suit make the man?

Host: Rob Logan
Co-host: Bryan

The Geek Generation – #097 – Scooby Dooby Woooo

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Show notes:

• Got feedback??
  • E-mail it to podcast@thegeekgeneration.com
  • Tweet it to @GeekGeneration on Twitter
  • Call 508-316-9787 and leave a voicemail
• Total Recall review
• Geek Outs:
  • The Geek Generation Online Store
  • Transformers: Fall of Cybertron
  • Joss Whedon’s Marvel Studios deal
  • Alphas: Season 2
  • iPhone 3G (still no data plan)
  • PS3 YouTube app
• Freak Outs:
  • David Cronenberg bashing The Dark Knight Trilogy
  • Fringe
  • Warehouse 13
• Casting Call: Justice League
  • Martian Manhunter
• News/discussion:
  • Daredevil movie rights reverting back to Marvel
  • John Barrowman joins The CW’s Arrow
  • Raiders of the Lost Ark hitting IMAX for one week in September
  • Injustice: Gods Among Us adds Catwoman
  • WWE Studios involved in upcoming Scooby Doo animated film
  • The Huntsman may spin off without Snow White
  • Kick-Ass 2 release date announced
  • Scott Pilgrim devs Kickstarting Mercenary Kings

He then posted two versions of a video piece that he had pitched to Fox:

This is major news as at San Diego Comic-Con weeks ago, Whedon had said he wasn’t sure about doing another Avengers movie. Obviously things changed quickly. As many speculated with The Avengers becoming the big hit it did (#3 movie of all time), it was imperative to bring Whedon back. The only question was whether or not he would want to do another. Well, our collective fanboy/girl brains can relax. He is coming back! The Avengers 2 doesn’t have an official release date as of yet, but it’s widely assumed that it’ll hit theaters sometime during the summer of 2015.

Marvel Studios has since released the following official statement:

Joss Whedon has signed an exclusive deal with Marvel Studios for film and television through the end of June 2015. As part of that deal, Whedon will write and direct Marvel’s The Avengers 2 as well as help develop a new live action series for Marvel Television at ABC. He will also contribute creatively to the next phase of Marvel’s cinematic universe.

Host: Rob Logan
Co-host: Mike Volpe

The Geek Generation – #096 – Buy Some Maybe

[download] [subscribe in iTunes]

Show notes:

• Got feedback??
  • E-mail it to podcast@thegeekgeneration.com
  • Tweet it to @GeekGeneration on Twitter
  • Call 508-316-9787 and leave a voicemail
• Annual Summer BBQ talk
• The Geek Generation Store launch
• Blu-ray and Video Game releases
  • Jaws (Universal 100th Anniversary Edition)
  • The Raid: Redemption
  • Dexter: The Sixth Season
  • Sleeping Dogs
  • Darksiders 2
  • The Hunger Games
  • The Dictator (Banned and Unrated version)
  • The Rescuers/The Rescuers Down Under
  • Pocahontas/Pocahontas II: Journey to a New World
  • The Aristocats
  • War Games
  • WWE: The 50 Greatest Finishing Moves in WWE History
  • Transformers: Fall of Cybertron
  • New Super Mario Bros. 2
• Listener Mailbag
• News/discussion:
  • Joss Whedon to write and direct The Avengers 2
  • WB eyeing Ben Affleck to direct Justice League
  • Mulder and Scully hooking up?

Additional links:

• SBV High Quality Supplements

Christopher Eccleston has officially been cast as Malekith the Accursed in Thor: The Dark World, confirming rumors that the Dark Elves would play a major role in the sequel. Malekith is the ruler of the Dark Elves who reside in Svartalfheim, one of Asgard’s Nine Realms.

Eccleston played the role of Destro in 2009’s G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra, but he is best known for playing the 9th Doctor in the iconic Sci-Fi series Doctor Who.

Host: Rob Logan
Co-hosts: Mike Volpe, Bryan

The Geek Generation – #092 – SDCC 2012

[download] [subscribe in iTunes]

Show notes:

• Got feedback??
  • E-mail it to podcast@thegeekgeneration.com
  • Tweet it to @GeekGeneration on Twitter
  • Call 508-316-9787 and leave a voicemail
• Geek Outs:
  • Robert Downey Jr. entering Hall H
  • SDCC 2012
  • Ted
  • New diet
  • The Dark Knight Rises
  • Star Trek: The Next Generation on the big screen
  • Our Lady Peace concert
  • Ron Perlman grants Make-A-Wish as Hellboy
  • T-shirts on the way
• Freak Outs:
  • Barbara Gordon replacing Stephanie Brown in Smallville: Season 11
  • Dealing with exes/lack of loyalty
  • Gym deal
  • Max Payne 3
  • The Amazing Spider-Man
• Blu-ray upcoming releases:
  • Lockout
  • The Three Stooges
  • Salmon Fishing in the Yemen
  • Casa de mi Padre
  • Star Trek: The Next Generation – Season One
  • Silent House
  • Undertaker: The Streak
  • Boss: Season One
• Listener Mailbag
• News/discussion:
  • Marvel Studios announces full “Phase Two” plans
  • Man of Steel footage screened
  • Deadpool game announced
  • Injustice: Gods Among Us adds Nightwing and Cyborg
  • Marvel NOW! is coming in October
  • Josh Trank confirmed as Fantastic Four reboot director
  • Godzilla teaser screened
  • Marvel vs. Capcom Origins announced
  • Yvonne Strahovski joins the cast of Dexter
  • Legendary Entertainment acquires Nerdist Industries
  • Avengers Assemble cartoon to replace Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes
  • Street Fighter 25th Anniversary Collector’s Set gets more goodies on PS3
  • Mortal Kombat: Legacy – Season 2 announced