Marvel has adopted a practice first used by the producers of the James Bond franchise, who’ve ended every 007 adventure for decades with the phrase “James Bond Will Return” in the credits. (For many years, they even specified which novel the series would adapt next; when they ran out of Ian Fleming books and stories, they shortened it.) Just last night I saw Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.2, and sure enough it concludes with the words “The Guardians of the Galaxy Will Return. (I think we can all agree this is not a spoiler.)
No bubble can last forever — it must eventually pop, as is the nature of bubbles. Marvel has built a vast media empire on the strength of such stars as Chris Evans, Robert Downey Jr., Scarlett Johansson, and Chris Hemsworth, but no actor would be content with playing and re-playing the same role forever. All good (and obscenely lucrative) things must come to an end, and Evans has begun the long and painful process of consciously uncoupling from Captain America’s star-spangled shield and cowl. But a new quote from the actor suggests that he may not be the first big name to make a departure from the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Controversy continues to swirl around Marvel’s Netflix Iron Fist, but even as cast and crew go on the defensive from bad reviews, many are intrigued to see the more fantastical elements of Danny Rand’s origin story in K’un L’un. Well, bad news on that front, as Iron Fist becomes the second series in which Finn Jones never gets to meet a dragon.
The latest issue of EW offers our first official look at the cast of Thor: Rangarok, and it’s certainly different — which actually might be a pretty good thing. The previous two films are widely considered lesser MCU entries, but with Taika Waititi behind the camera and promising a more humorous god of thunder, we’re looking forward to seeing a different side of Thor. That side is definitely present on this magazine cover, which also features Cate Blanchett as the villainous Hela and Tessa Thompson as the warrior Valkyrie.
FYI dudes, a new Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 trailer is premiering tomorrow night on Jimmy Kimmel Live! (that guy sure is having a good week), and even though it’s only a day and some change away, Marvel has generously offered up a short teaser for James Gunn’s highly-anticipated sequel. In addition to showing off what appears to be the space-equivalent of a campfire, the new sneak peek reveals our first look at the return of Nebula, played by Karen Gillan.
Groot has proven wildly popular in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, thanks in no small part to the introduction of Baby Groot, and even though Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 doesn’t hit theaters for another four months, he’s already become everyone’s favorite character. And while such intensely beloved characters often work better in slightly smaller doses within an ensemble (like the Guardians movies), Vin Diesel, the number one source for breaking Vin Diesel news, seems to think a solo Groot spinoff is “inevitable.”
You feel that? That tingling Spidey sense? That can only mean one thing: The very first Spider-Man: Homecoming trailer has finally arrived. Two trailers, actually — the official domestic trailer and an international trailer with even more footage, featuring our first look at Michael Keaton’s Vulture, helpful life advice from Tony Stark, some fake Avengers, and all the awkward pain of high school.
Whatever holiday you celebrate in December, it comes with a lot of pressure. If you get that special someone the wrong gift, watch out. Things can get pretty ugly. That’s particularly true for pop-culture fans. They know what they want, and they probably have most of it already. Perhaps you know someone like this. Perhaps you are someone like this. (Perhaps I am someone like this.)
Reptilian thespian Benedict Cumberbatch scored a true box-office smash this past weekend as the headliner of Doctor Strange, a long-time-coming solo film for one of Marvel Comics’ most outré heroes. In addition to the distinction of being the first performer in the history of cinema to successfully pull off a cape-and-goatee combo, Cumberbatch proved his bona fides as an honest-to-god movie star with this pivotal role. But a new piece from IGN today reveals that in addition to the Sorcerer Supreme, Cumberbatch also played a second, uncredited role in the Doctor Strange production. (Here be SPOILERS. Continue at your own risk.)