Marvel Cinematic Universe, Phase 4 & Beyond (and a chance to change your vote)

'I could have just avoided the thread altogether but because clicking through to spray the room down with needless haterade is an addiction akin to the most raging of junk habits, allow me to just state for the 457,017,381st time that the MCU is the nadir of Western culture.'

There, I saved some of you some time if you know how to copy + paste.

Crazy to think we're now 15 months and counting with no new MCU (unless you count the final season of Agents of SHIELD, which even I don't anymore).

the Helstrom TV show started on Hulu this week

which apparently sort of counts

Oh. Well, that was a stealth-ass debut.

it looks, and by all accounts is, absolutely terrible

I could have avoided the thread but it's fun to talk shit about garbage every once in a while

anyway, dud

Simon, I left you a present upthread. Please use it in good health.

you forgot "fascist"

Sorry, I very quickly fell asleep, what was that you were saying?

ANNNNNNYway.

I could have avoided the thread but it's fun to talk shit about garbage every once in a while

new board descrip pls

Glad this thread is here to get you to stop social distancing, bg! Adopt herd immunity!

work on yr nerd immunity imo

ok ok I'm actually done for now enjoy folks

Gentlemen you can’t needlessly rehash something for the 457,017,381st time in here, this is the marvel cinematic universe phase 4 and beyond thread

Looool

Did u know that if your eyes roll with enough force that they can actually detach from their stalks and fly out u face? I wish I hadn't had to discover that first-hand just this very moment. Dang.

is this the thread where we can talk about andrew garfield and tobey maguire maybe appearing as spider-men in the third tom holland spider-man movie? because i can't be fucked looking to see if it's been mentioned elsewhere

Hadn't read that. I did read that Jamie Foxx will be playing Electro again, which certainly suggests some multiversal fuckery.

I liked the look of Jamie Foxx's Electro, while hating the electric eel origin / Max Dillon as social misfit portrayal. Andrew and Tobey were good, before we knew Marvel could do better. I've compartmentalized Sony's properties from the MCU, so the last two Spider-Man have far exceeded expectations.

Phase 4, most looking forward to Shang-Chi, and hoping they nail the Paul Gulacy visual tone. Expecting to be most surprised by Eternals. If/as the movies go cosmic/magical/horror, looking forward to how they ground them.

Beyond - FF and X-Men. About damn time.

Are we allowing MCU television in these threads as well? Cuz it looks like the Maslany She-Hulk was just a rumor that she debunked in a recent interview, sadly.

most looking forward to Shang-Chi, and hoping they nail the Paul Gulacy visual tone.

Yeah the credits are going to say "based on the character created by Steve Englehart and Jim Starlin" and I'm going to be sad because it's not "based on the character in that holy-shit awesome run by Doug Moench and Paul Gulacy, DUUUUUDE."

Pretty sure I first "heard" "Rhiannon" thanks to Master of Kung Fu.

So much character fleshing-out that was lovable but verged on dumb...Black Jack Tarr becoming a big Frank Frazetta fan, lol. (This might have been in the Mike Zeck or Gene Day days, can't remember.)

okay lol @ "nerd immunity"

it looks like the Maslany She-Hulk was just a rumor that she debunked in a recent interview, sadly.

I don't know, I smell a rat. Kind of like when Taika denied he was making a Star Wars movie and then was all, psych, I'm making a Star Wars movie.

I assume she's still negotiating her contract, and Ruffalo's tweet improved her payday/terms.

Oh I hope it's a feint, makes sense since she called it a "press release that got out of hand", which doesn't come across as quite the strong denial the article I read implied. I'm still hopeful she shows up in it.

maybe she plays jennifer and somebody else plays she hulk? and she plays "the voice in her head"? it's a weird bit of pr thus far.

https://www.vulture.com/2020/10/oscar-isaac-moon-knight-marvel-series.html

Just negotiating phase/tactics. Though I'd love to see his take on the character.

it's a meaty fuckin' role!

lol oscar isaac hated working for disney so much during Star Wars, wonder what kind of sweetheart deal they’re offering him for this

Well, much like Finn his role got worse and worse as the series went on, so I don't blame him

Is this the right thread for this(?) Kate Bishop on-set images have surfaced: https://www.comicbookmovie.com/tv/marvel/hawkeye/hawkeye-set-video-gives-us-a-much-better-look-at-hailee-steinfeld-and-jeremy-renner-a180551#gs.mgnaf1

The casting announcements for Spider-Man 3 make it really look like they are just going to repeat the multiverse thing that worked so well in Into the Spider-Verse with a live action version. Even for the MCU this seems really lazy. Happy to be proven wrong, but I really liked watching the first two with my son and this makes me way less excited for a third one.

I mean, given the Dr. Strange sequel’s subtitle, the multiverse was already long planned, but this seems like a questionable move.

Even for the MCU this seems really lazy.

McKenna was nominated for both an Emmy and a Hugo, for writing a multiverse story, seven years before Spider-Verse came out tbfttl

A bunch more Kate Bishop set pics circulating today; Steinfeld looks like a great casting choice.

Just misread that as 'Seinfeld' and I'm still laughing from that mental image.

McKenna was nominated for both an Emmy and a Hugo, for writing a multiverse story, seven years before Spider-Verse came out tbfttl

Oh I don't have any issue with McKenna and, again, this is total speculation just based on the casting, it's more just surprise that they'd use the Spider-Man film to redo the Spider-verse think so soon again.

It may be wise to speculate with caution, as you may recall that a lot of the pre-release assumptions about the last Spidey flick were upended (ie the thing about Mysterio dropping in from a different earth).

they'll need to add more Spiders-Man and Girls if they're going to sorta hit the key diversity theme

Maybe this is Mysterio running the same scam again. Maybe every future Marvel movie will end by revealing that actually it was Mysterio.

iirc doesn't Mysterio make that multiverse claim himself in the movie, as part of his ruse? Between the timeline resolution of the Avengers, Spider-verse and Dr. Strange title, and possibly what they hinted at with the Vision/Witch show, they're definitely leaning in to this. Someone versed in the comics could maybe make a good guess as to the overarching plot or big bad. I have no idea. Does Captain Marvel 2 have a title or casting? They've hinted at introducing Adam Warlock a few times now, I think. Certainly a multiverse scenario could allow, say, the Fantastic Four to just pop in as a deus ex reboot at the end of a movie. Lots of ways Marvel can go, assuming they even want another giant overarching crossover scenario.

Yeah, I have no issue with the multiverse idea and that's clearly where we are heading, I was just saying that it seems kinda lazy to launch into it with a do-over of the multiple Spider-Men thing. Especially since the Spider-Man flick is slated before the Dr. Strange sequel, which will obviously lean heavily into the multiverse too.

I just have no idea why they'd want to maintain any association with the awful Andrew Garfield movies

there's (un)surprisingly a small, vocal fanbase online who grew up with and liked those movies

i can't lie though - i am excited to see all those jabronis in one big battle royale. even the characters who died! let's get Topher Grace in there while we're at it

hoping they insert Mulaney's Spider-Ham Who-Framed-Roger-Rabbit-style

It could be cool if they do it right.

It’s kind of funny that a generation will grow up thinking of multiple Spideys as a basic “Spider-Man” feature, when for most of Marvel’s history, there was only one Parker, he was a very singular hero... even while there were a few different Caps, Thors, Captain Marvels, etc. (I’m talking back in the ’80s, long before there were a zillion versions of every character.)

I mean, a generation already has grown up thinking multiple Spideys are a basic Spider-Man feature; Ben Reilly, although created in the 70s, came into his own circa 1994.

(poop)

i grew up watching the saturday morning cartoon and this definitely has those vibes for me

The Thing can do whatever tf he wants!? including cook? idg what the problem is unless you know zero abt him
like sure the lava deal makes it awkward but he’s totally capable anyway sorry i just love The Thing and felt the need to defend my guy

Josh from Chicago Clancy Street

https://www.comicsrecommended.com/images/sixteen/thing-mtio-39-pizza.jpg

https://superheroeseatingfood.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/FantasticFourAnnual-1998-crop-768x332.jpg

THANK you

All I know is that homeboy must use a bidet like a power washer.

:(

https://nikdirga.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/screen-shot-2022-04-14-at-8.44.16-am.png

I was mostly wondering how he could pick up a fork. I guess he does have his robot buddy. I just googled, and not surprisingly, I am not the only one who has ever asked about the inner workings of the Thing (who I love!). Others have asked about Mr. Fantastic's guts, too...

So I get that the cells of his body were altered after the accident, so now can can stretch and stuff. But what about when he puts food and liquids into his body? We have seen him eat on many occasions so his body still does need nutrients. And I assume that the food and liquids being broken down would not receive the same stretchy treatment. Shouldn't the contents of his intestines be squeezed out like toothpaste when he flattens out his abdomen? What about urine? His bladder should be squeezed empty every time he stretches.

Think about the mechanics behind pushing and pulling on your muscles. It is a series of expanding and contracting movements. When you stretch your arms out, you are just letting your muscles expand to their furthest point. Somehow Mr. Fantastic can dial that shit up to 11, which means that he is operating on a level mechanically that is so far removed from even most mutants.

For all we know, as soon as food enters his body it is broken down incredibly rapidly and efficiently that it never turns into any waste.

As for urine - he is wearing essentially a space suit. Probably pees in it.

You're assuming the movement is a physiological process.

I'd submit it's more likely to ultimately be the result of having one body staying in a normal shape, yet being able to alter the shape and volume in which it manifests. Thus, to his body, everything remains in position squeezed, no matter what it spears like form the outside.

This would also explain how he can move his body with strength in ways that are clearly independent of his musculature and exoskeleton.

Knowing Reed, he probably dumbs it down because he knows it's out of concept for most people, who are satisfied with "I'm super-stretchy."

When Sue Storm was pregnant could everyone see the fetus when she turned invisible or did it get amniotic invisibility powers?

When she ate food, could you see it in her stomach, like a floating ham sandwich?

Perhaps if she ate things that were still alive.

Stoked that it highlights they’re explorers and a family, as much as being superheroes.

xpost "Be on the lookout for a flying cat!"

xpost yeah same!! i am def hopeful for this reboot for that reason

honestly they had me at Herbie

Rare Footage of Josh Meeting Stan Lee:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YFLlwtqHINs

Jesus, I'm suddenly reminded of a dirty super hero joke that I once knew but forgot ages ago. Kids really have the most horrifying sense of humor.

I am slightly surprised that the Thing needs to use oven gloves.

You don't know where those mitts have been! It's probably easier to get Johnny to burn them after each dinner than figure out how to clean Ben's hands.

Right, so.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hUUszE29jS0

(At least it wasn’t “We Built This City.”)

Hope the Black Widow movie gets more respect as it ages. Florence Pugh is so good in it, and in the Hawkeye series. Looks that'll continue here.

I think Thunderbolts and Fantastic Four both look fun. Could we possibly be on the rebound?

Between Disney tightening the purse strings and Fiege taking a hit for a few of the movies, I think so.

Early Captain America reviews are ... not so positive, or at least pretty thoroughly meh. There's been no MCU entry since "The Marvels" back in fall 2023, right? (Not counting Deadpool here.) And now we've got three seemingly unrelated films in the first half of this year, this one, Thunderbolts in May and FF in July? Plus Daredevil and Ironheart in between on TV? Don't know what they all add up to to justify a renewed flood the zone strategy.

I'm guessing they'll start teasing Dr. Doom in the post-credits of the first two films, then introduce him in FF.

I have a feeling they'll introduce Doom in the post-credits of FF. FF already has Galactus (and Silver Surfer) in what is clearly a different timeline. They have to wrap that up and get the timelines fixed, then have Doom or whomever drop some sort of "excellent, everything is going according to plans" shit. Dunno where or if any mutants will fit, though. At the end of Marvels wasn't what's her name, Monica, stuck in a different dimension with Beast?

And where is Vision? Or any of the would-be Young Avengers? And Agatha finally brought up Mephisto, he goes well with Doom. So much stuff going (not going?) on and as yet no narrative connecting all these threads and loose ends.

Avengers: Doomsday is supposed to come out in a little over a year. I figure they need to set up Doom a bit more than just one post-credit scene.

Well I'm guessing this upcoming relative flood is because they're finally back on track after dealing with the strike and, probably more significant, completely retooling around Doom instead of Kang.

Is anything on the sked for the second half of 2025? These next couple movies and shows seem more like placeholders, lotta kicking and punching and shooting but no lasers or potential epic magic or space/time set-ups. Not until FF.

I think it's just some tv shows-- Ironheart, Eyes of Wakanda, Wonder Man, Marvel Zombies

The Cap movie feels like the last dregs of the old post-Endgame plan. I’ll see it with low expectations.

FF feels like the official reboot.

Thunderbolts looks fun but also flexible—if it’s a hit they could keep going, if not, they could probably all go away.

CA seems like the follow-up to Falcon and the Winter Soldier, but it shouldn't have come out 5 years later.

Man, there are so many characters introduced in the last five years they have never gone back to. Shang-Chi was 2021! So was Eternals (including Black Knight origin story and Starfox tease). Nevermind Moon Knight, She-Hulk, new Hawkeye… probably others I’m forgetting. Are any of these characters ever coming back or do you think they’re all getting binned?

Oscar Isaac always made it sound like Moon Knight could easily be a one and done, end cliffhanger as such aside, and I still think it's a smart effort precisely because it was just a story on its own in the wider MCU.

Kit Harrington said he doesn't think there are any plans for the Black Knight.

The first trailer for Thunderbolts seemed so bad I couldn't quite believe it was real.

It also looked like they were setting up a team of young heroes--with Kamala and new Hawkeye etc. but who knows if that will happen.

Yeah, that's Young Avengers laying their groundwork. Also, son of Hulk, Riri/Ironheart, Wiccan and his brother in WandaVision, etc.

Shang-Chi 2 supposed to start filming next year. I get really annoyed with "NEW TRAILER FOR..." on YouTube and it's old-footage clickbait.

Not sure Eternals will continue, but they're addressing the Celestial body in the new Falcon/Cap movie, so I imagine they'll be back in some way.

I think they went back to their own planet like Poochie

I feel like we went over this stuff recently (tho on checking it was back in November) - at the moment we've seen maybe 5 minutes less of Doom than we had of Thanos at the start of Infinity Wars, and we probably shouldn't expect to see anything introduced in the TV world appearing in the cinema for a while, after The Marvels.

I was going to say that it's odd not to have an Avengers film to introduce everyone to everyone, but actually all of that last time (Ant-man, Spider-man, Black Panther) was in a Captain America film.

New Cap movie is a little on the nose

https://variety.com/lists/marvel-credits-scenes-cameos/power-broker-falcon-and-winter-soldier/

link name aside, this has nothing to do with the new movie.

I think maybe that version of her was revealed to be a Skrull in Secret Invasion. Or not. Idk or care

I honestly enjoyed Brave New World -- all the trashing in advance had me lowballing expectations but it's a good mid-tier effort, solid performances, and yeah, rather particular resonances about now, shall we say.

Found this a thoughtful read

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/captain-america-brave-new-world-black-hero-1236138419/

Is that a criticism that people have been making of the movie?

I'm back from seeing BNW earlier today. I'm (sorta) with Ned... it was OK, which is better than I was expecting it to be. But still, it's greatly flawed.

Flaw #1 is that it expects you to remember characters and events from the TV show (now four years old), plus two of the least-regarded films in the entire MCU franchise, and it doesn't go to many lengths to recap any of that. For instance the introduction of Isaiah is super fast, "oh yeah, the forgotten Cap!" so good luck on buying that entire character if you didn't watch F&WS first. I literally could not remember that the "celestial island" was fallout from THE ETERNALS, nor can I remember *any* of the details from the 17-year-old HULK movie--a movie so old multiple actors have been recast.

The stunts and action sequences were all pretty solid, and mostly are what made the film enjoyable, although the climax with Red Hulk was too short and too low-stakes.

I guess for better or worse you can tell that this movie had a shit-ton of reshoots, so one would hope that it's at least better than whatever the first draft was. Still, there are a handful of weird camera shots from a distance--I assume so you don't notice it's all body doubles? And a few odd cameos in small, enclosed spaces. What was up with Winter Soldier suddenly being a viable political candidate??