Marvel Boss 'Heartbroken' About Black Panther's Oscar Loss

Marvel Boss 'Heartbroken' About Black Panther's Oscar Loss

A decade after the injustice of The Dark Knight’s Best Picture snub, a superhero movie was finally nominated for the Academy Awards’ highest honor. That film was Marvel Studios’ Black Panther, a box office behemoth and cultural phenomenon that went on to collect three golden statues, but missed out on Best Picture. That was a disappointment to many, including Avi Arad, the former Marvel Studios CEO and Chairman and longtime Marvel producer. Speaking about Black Panther’s Oscar loss, Avi Arad said:

I was heartbroken that Black Panther didn’t get the Academy. It could have, but you know, [the voters] they always looked at superheroes like it was a ‘Yabba dabba doo’ kind of a thing versus something that mattered or something that was going to last.

Despite no longer being with Marvel Studios, Avi Arad was still rooting for Black Panther to get the win for Best Picture at the 2019 Academy Awards, so much so that he was heartbroken when the statue went to Green Book instead. Avi Arad clearly believed that Black Panther was deserving of the award, but as he told Deadline, he thinks that Academy voters still look at superheroes as some Fred Flintstone silliness that is beneath more traditional Oscar films.

That Academy bias against from superhero movies is well established, but the tide has slowly begun to turn, especially after The Dark Knight, with movies like Logan earning an Oscar nomination and Black Panther’s 7 nominations. Nevertheless, Avi Arad still seems to believe that some voters feel that superhero movies don’t matter and won’t stand the test of time.

You can certainly understand Avi Arad’s investment in comic book movies and desire to see them not only succeed, but also be recognized as art with value that is deserving of the kind of recognition that films considered more highbrow receive. Avi Arad has been working on Marvel projects for decades and believes in the brand.

Avi Arad was an executive producer on the beloved 90s X-Men animated series, and the 2000 X-Men film that began the comic book movie age. He’s had his hands in the genre’s highs like Spider-Man 2 and its lows like Fantastic 4: Rise of the Silver Surfer. It must mean a lot to him to see the genre come so far, and it makes sense that he would want it to finally attain the respect and legitimacy that a Best Picture win rightfully or wrongly confers.

Alas, Black Panther did not win Best Picture, but it did win three other Oscars: Best Costume Design, Best Original Score and Best Production Design. Avi Arad wanted it to win more, but Best Picture was always a long shot and it is certainly a trend in the right direction. And he is far from the only one who is disappointed with how Best Picture turned out.

The night wasn’t a total loss though, far from it. Through his Avi Arad Productions, Avi Arad was a producer on Sony’s Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, which took home the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature.

The next Marvel film Avi Arad is a producer on is this summer’s Spider-Man: Far From Home, continuing the producer’s long tenure with the web-slinger. Far From Home hits theaters on July 5. Check out our 2019 Release Schedule to keep track of all the biggest movies coming your way this year.

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6 Reasons Alita: Battle Angel Deserves A Sequel

6 Reasons Alita: Battle Angel Deserves A Sequel

Warning: Spoilers for Alita: Battle Angel are in play. If you haven't seen the film yet, please bookmark this article and come back once you're current.

While it hasn't set the world on fire at the box office, Alita: Battle Angel also hasn't done terribly for itself. So far, the movie has made nearly $400 million worldwide -- not enough that the film's overall profitability can't be brought into question. In addition, the Disney and Fox merger is now complete, and that feels like another factor that might work against this prospect. Still, there's no denying that a vocal corner of the internet would still like to see another adventure come to theaters in the near future. Despite the issues Alita: Battle Angel 2 might face, there are also reasons it should happen.

In the face of such odds, there are still reasons why this new Disney entertainment production force-to-be-reckoned-with should consider pursuing a second Alita: Battle Angel film. If you're a true believer in the battle angel's cause, or if you're sitting on the fence and waiting for a good case to be made for this fledgling franchise to take off, here are all the reasons Alita: Battle Angel should get another opportunity to tell more of its story.

People Want A Sequel

While Alita: Battle Angel has put in a solid effort at becoming a blockbuster hit, it still isn't a mega-success on the level of something like a Marvel Studios film. Yet, if you poke around on the internet, there's no shortage of people who want to take a return trip to the world of Iron City. With a built in overseas fanbase that's rabid for more material, the quicker a potential sequel to Robert Rodriguez's living breathing anime can be made will mean a better chance of retaining this strong following for another film. Which could also lead to more newcomers being brought to the fold as well.

Sequels Are An Easier Sell To Moviegoers

One of the major obstacles that Alita: Battle Angel had to overcome with its release this past February is the fact that it was somewhat of an unknown quantity to movie fans by and large. It's true there was a pre-programmed following comprised of people who'd read the original manga the film was based off of, but again, that's not enough to create the meteoric hit studios crave these days. By time this first film hits home video, there shouldl be more exposure given to Alita: Battle Angel's story, and with that a potential for even more fans hungry returning for future helpings. It wouldn't, and shouldn't be as hard to sell Alita: Battle Angel 2 – Zalem or Bust as it was this initial film.

The World Is Ripe For Exploring

Much like Alita's first exposure to the world that is Iron City, people witnessing this far-flung future's metropolis for the first time in Alita: Battle Angel were stunned by what they saw. As the film revealed to all, there is a broader universe to be explored, ranging from battles on the Moon to the floating sky city of Zalem. With the keen eye for detail that Robert Rodriguez has shown in his director's eye, as well as the scripting talents of James Cameron and Laeta Kalogridis laying out the setting that gave us Alita: Battle Angel's exhilarating finished product, seeing more of these surroundings through these particular lenses is a concept too wonderful to say no to. So maybe the studio shouldn't.

The Sequel Has Already Attracted Admirable Talent

Looking at the cast of Alita: Battle Angel, there is a list of notable stars that is pretty impressive. But amidst the already stacked deck that included Mahershala Ali, Jennifer Connolly, and Chrisoph Waltz playing in an anime- inspired playground are a couple of other actors that would be perfectly served by a sequel. In particular, more flashbacks involving Michelle Rodriguez's Gelda, as well as a presumed starring role for Edward Norton as Nova, the big bad/ultimate target of Alita, are the big hooks that could bring Alita; Battle Angel's second chapter into living color. This would raise the stakes and fill in key details regarding the character's past, as well as the history of the world at large, setting the scene for the final installment to be an all-out action masterpiece.

Production And Marketing Costs Could Be Lower

Blending practical sets and computer generated vistas, Alita: Battle Angel feels like the type of series that could very easily save itself some money in the future – as the basic bones of this world are already built. With Robert Rodriguez still retaining the physical sets used in the film, and the digital constructs for anything that wasn't physically crafted also being on stand-by, it shouldn't cost that much to return to a world that has already been built. Furthermore, with an audience more familiar with Alita: Battle Angel's potential as entertainment, even the marketing spend could be eased back, so as to save some room in the budget for any and all new worlds to conquer in Part 2. A lot of times sequels go bigger, but I'm not sure Alita 2 would have to, although there's a fine line between cheaper and cheap.

Thanks To The Perfect Cliffhanger, Alita: Battle Angel Sets Up For A Sequel

Any potential film series tends to set up a lot of the world the franchise will walk or sprint through in other installments during its first chapter. Alita: Battle Angel perfectly sets up the big tent of a story arc that the entire trilogy would cover, leaving the audience wanting more. By time the film's finale kicks in, you want to see Alita take her fight to Zalem, and witness her kick the series' big bad, Nova into the next solar system in climactic fashion. Most films wish they had a sign off as powerful as Alita: Battle Angel does; however,  not all of them get it.

So there you have it: the case for why Alita: Battle Angel deserves to continue on as a series. Of course, time will tell if this is all just a pipe dream or if the Disney and Fox juggernaut will put another bet on the battle angel supreme and her mission to bring down the sky city. Though if this film has a chance in Iron City of actually happening, it'll depend on the movie viewing public's demand.

As such, if you've not yet seen Alita: Battle Angel, or want to see it again, it's currently still in theaters. Also, if you've got an opinion on the fate of this franchise, share your feelings in the poll and comments section below!

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Even Though Zac Efron's Ted Bundy Movie Is Heading To Netflix, It's Getting An R-Rating

Even Though Zac Efron's Ted Bundy Movie Is Heading To Netflix, It's Getting An R-Rating

Netflix has had a weird history with rating its original movies, but now we know for certain that one of its big upcoming movies will be Rated R. The movie in question is Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile. Given the serial killer subject matter of the upcoming Netflix flick, an R rating for the Ted Bundy-based flick makes sense.

The MPAA has given Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil, and Vile an R-rating and, as you can probably guess, one of the reasons cited is for “disturbing” content. More specifically, the MPAA says:

Rated R for disturbing/violent content, some sexuality, nudity and language.

While the R rating is not a giant surprise (or at least shouldn’t be given the subject matter), what is interesting is that the film has been rated at all.

We’ve reported previously on Netflix’s inconsistencies with rating its movies. Some flicks in the past have been given TV-MA or similar TV guideline-based ratings while some have been given MPAA ratings. It hasn’t always been consistent regarding whether or not a project has gotten a brief theatrical release, either.

However, just a couple of weeks ago, Netflix joined the MPAA. Hopefully, this means that a larger percentage of movies will actually be getting the types of ratings people in the U.S. are familiar with. I know it probably doesn't seem like a big deal given that Netflix has been letting people know whether or not something is "mature" content, but to me the fact that some projects have been rated more like TV projects while others have been rated like real movies made it clear that Netflix didn't really know what space it was occupying in the business.

By signing on with the MPAA, Netflix has shown that it sees its movies as competing with other movies and not with the stuff that cable and network TV is putting out. It also means the MPAA is now showing more of a willingness to work with Netflix, which has often been at odds with the movie industry at large.

Extremely Wickedy, Shockingly Evil, and Vile has dealt with some press recently for casting Zac Efron as a “hot Ted Bundy,” especially given the serial killer nature of the movie. However, Ted Bundy was notorious for being a good-looking guy while on death row long before Zac Efron was ever cast in the role. Plus, Netflix has already reminded people that if they are really looking for "hot" characters, there are plenty of other options on the streaming service.

It’s certainly a unique choice for Zac Efron at this point in his career to tackle a serial killer period drama. However, he has taken projects with an R rating before, most notoriously with the Rated R version of Baywatch. (Although the movie went on to be panned, the cast defended the move.)

Hopefully, Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil, and Vile won’t suffer the same fate. Netflix, in fact, has had some struggles with producing critically-acclaimed content, although this past year’s Roma from Alfonso Cuaron was a notable exception.

Ultimately, 2019 should be an interesting year for the streaming service, and not just because it has joined the MPAA. You can catch Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil, and Vile sometime soon on Netflix. While we wait for an official date be sure to check out what is coming this month on Netflix.

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Hobbs And Shaw Just Re-Wrapped After Filming Some Major New Scenes

Hobbs And Shaw Just Re-Wrapped After Filming Some Major New Scenes

Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson posts so many "wrap" photos he could stack them under a Christmas tree. (I'll see myself out.) He just wrapped Jumanji 3 and now he has announced another wrap for Hobbs & Shaw.

That Fast and Furious franchise spinoff is coming out August 2, not even three months from now, so it would be strange to see it just wrap filming this week. Dwayne Johnson previously shared an emotional wrap video in mid-February, when initial filming was complete. But it's common to head back to set for reshoots and "additional photography," and it looks like Hobbs & Shaw did just that for a few key scenes -- including a massive showdown with Idris Elba's criminal mastermind Brixton Lore.

Here's The Rock's first of three posts on re-wrapping Hobbs & Shaw, with this one teasing the fight ahead as the "Biggest showdown the FAST & FURIOUS franchise has ever seen":

After that, The Rock -- aka Pig Daddy? -- showed off his ride before filming one last scene for the movie.

Finally, he shared an official this-is-it production wrap post, sharing this photo to tease "a fun final touch for our movie":

Nice! Hobbs & Shaw takes place two years after The Fate of the Furious. Dwayne Johnson's "ice cold can of whup-ass" Luke Hobbs has to team up with "champagne problem" Jason Statham's Deckard Shaw to take down Idris Elba's former MI6 agent Brixton, who is now a "super-human" terrorist (aka "Black Superman"). Vanessa Kirby co-stars as MI6 field agent Hattie Shaw, who happens to be Deckard's sister, with Helen Mirren as Magdalene Shaw.

The official title of this thing is Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw, but that still sounds like a variety show to me. Hobbs & Shaw opens its can of whup-ass in theaters on August 2, as one of the many movies worth keeping track of in 2019.

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Apparently Avengers: Endgame's Second Half Is Mind-Blowing

Apparently Avengers: Endgame's Second Half Is Mind-Blowing

Thanks to the intense secrecy of Avengers: Endgame, fans know very little of what to expect when they eventually sit down to watch the film later this month. Spectacle and tears have been assured by the filmmakers and cast, but specific plot details are locked in the vault. We still only have broad statements to work off of, but fans are apparently in for a treat, because a source claims that the second half of Endgame is "mind-blowing."

In Avengers: Endgame, the surviving members of the team must band together and find a way to reverse the damage done to the universe by Thanos -- or at least get revenge on the Mad Titan. That's already one epic logline that promises drama and action, and fan theories have risen up to try and plug the various holes. People have pitched everything from time travel to Ant-Man jumping up Thanos' butt, but whatever it ends up being, it will be absolutely wild.

Endgame is projected to have a record-breaking domestic opening that could earn as high as $300 million. As we get closer to the release date, that number could change depending on the reviews of the film. While a bad review can hurt box office performance, Deadline doesn't think Endgame has to worry about bad reviews. A reliable source who has seen the movie told the publication that the second half of Endgame is mind-blowing.

Deadline doesn't go any more specific than that, but mind-blowing feels like it's an accurate word for Endgame based on what we know already. Marvel has been hyping that it pulled off all the stops for this one, and while I think being overhyped is generally a bad thing, all evidence so far suggests Endgame will be a movie to remember.

And it's not just shadowy industry insiders who like the film. Test audiences apparently loved it, too! Per co-director Joe Russo during an interview with BoxOfficePro, Endgame had one of the highest test scores of any Marvel movie.

We’re vigilant about using test audiences to tell us whether we’re on the right track or we’re making bad decisions. With Endgame, it had one of the most incredible audience responses in Marvel history. Irrespective of the length, it’s been consistently embraced by the test audiences.

Butts likely won't be leaving seats during Endgame's wild runtime of three hours. Expect a lot more hype over these next coming weeks and be careful of the leaks that will inevitable arrive online. Something tells me going in as dry as possible will yield the best experience for everyone.

We'll finally have all of our questions answered when Avengers: Endgame arrives in theaters on April 26. To learn all the information that we do know, here's our helpful guide.

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No, Keanu Reeves Is Not In Hobbs And Shaw

No, Keanu Reeves Is Not In Hobbs And Shaw

The new Fast and Furious spinoff movie already had an immense amount of star power thanks to the likes of Dwayne Johnson, Jason Statham, and Idris Elba, but last month a new rumor implied that the movie was going to be even bigger thanks to the addition of Keanu Reeves to the cast of Hobbs & Shaw. Unfortunately, it was not to be, as the John Wick star has not put the rumor to bed. He's not in the movie.

The rumor landed about a month ago and it claimed that the new film would reveal that Idris Elba's character, who is presented as the film's villain in the trailers, is actually working for an even bigger bad guy, who would be played by Keanu Reeves. While the role was being described as a significant one, it was also suggested that Reeves might only appear in a post-credits sequence that would set up a Hobbs and Shaw sequel.

While Reeves admits to Variety that there were conversations with the Hobbs & Shaw team, he is very clear that nothing happened and he's not in the film. According to Reeves...

I don’t know how that happened. I really honestly do not know how that happened… I’ve been contacted, but yeah, I have no idea how that part of the story happened.

So, while it sounds like the original rumor had some basis in fact, as Keanu Reeves apparently could have had a role in the new Fast & Furious spinoff, it wasn't strictly true because no deal was ever reached. Keanu has nothing but good things to say about Dwayne Johnson and Jason Statham and it sounds like he'd love to work with them if the opportunity ever came along.

The idea of Keanu Reeves appearing in a Fast & Furious movie wasn't entire crazy on its face. The movie is being directed by David Leitch, who was one of the co-directors on the first John Wick film alongside Chad Stahelski.

It does make one wonder if the description of the character Reeves was rumored to play might then turn out to be true. Perhaps another A-list actor will be appearing in the film in the role of the power behind the throne.

While there have been a handful of times that people behind a new movie have outright lied in an attempt to prevent a reveal, it doesn't feel like that's the case here. Instead it seems that conversations behind-the-scenes got misinterpreted as a done deal when things were far from that.

While The Rock versus Keanu Reeves is certainly a big screen battle I'd love to see, it appears I'll have to wait for another time and another place. Although, now that Reeves is on board for a fourth John Wick movie, he may be too busy himself to fit into the Rock's equally busy schedule.

Hobbs & Shaw hits theaters August 2. John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum is in theaters now

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The 10 Best Morgan Freeman Movies, Ranked

The 10 Best Morgan Freeman Movies, Ranked

This is a tough list to make. The list of Morgan Freeman movies that stand out above all the rest. He has had so many great performances and played so many beloved characters over the years, is it even possible to break them down and pick a top ten?

Of course it is! For a man who didn’t really have his big break happen until he was 50 years old, Morgan Freeman has put together an amazing career. His dedication to acting shows in every role he takes and the world -- or at least Hollywood --is much better for it. He can be funny or serious and his God-like voice is both powerful and soothing.

So here it is, the best of the best – and it is the best of the best, his filmography was difficult to cull down, but in the end, we did and here are the choices!

10. Robin Hood: Prince Of Thieves (1991)

This version of Robin Hood gets trashed these days, but unfairly so. It probably has something to do with Kevin Costner’s accent, which is admittedly terrible, but there are some amazing performances in the film, like Alan Rickman as the Sheriff Of Nottingham and certainly including Morgan Freeman’s role as Robin Hood’s faithful friend, Azeem.

Robin Hood: Prince Of Thieves was a really big deal when it was released. Mel Brooks even made a parody of it, and though it doesn’t get much respect today, it’s worth a second watch if it’s been a while since you last saw it. Especially for the great cameo at the end that the movie managed to keep a secret from most people in those halcyon pre-Twitter, spoiler-free days.

9. Invictus (2009)

Morgan Freeman’s brilliant portrayal of South African President Nelson Mandela in this not-really-about-sports sports movie is what elevates Invictus. It doesn’t matter you don’t like sports movies, or rugby, this is a movie about redemption and overcoming the suffocating history of apartheid in South Africa.

Morgan Freeman’s co-star, Matt Damon, is also masterful in this film. Both were deservedly nominated for Oscars and Golden Globes for their performances. Clint Eastwood’s direction is, as usual, excellent and also elevates the performances, but it’s really all about Freeman’s performance as the beloved South African leader that keeps audiences entranced.

8. Driving Miss Daisy (1989)

Morgan Freeman credits Street Smart (below) as his breakout role, but for most audiences it was his performance as the chauffeur to Miss Daisy (Jessica Tandy) that really put him on the movie star map. Driving Miss Daisy won four Oscars and was nominated for another five, including Best Actor for Freeman, though he didn’t win.

Driving Miss Daisy is another example, like Robin Hood, of a performance and a film that is often overlooked today, but it’s a really well made film with wonderful acting performances from Jessica Tandy, who won an Oscar for her role as Miss Daisy and Morgan Freeman, as well as Dan Aykroyd, who were also nominated!

7. Street Smart (1987)

Morgan Freeman considers this his breakout role and he's also has said that Street Smart is his favorite movie that he has made (sorry Shawshank fans). In the film, Freeman plays a pimp named Fast Black who is suspected by the police of murder. Morgan Freeman’s co-star Christopher Reeve plays a struggling newspaper reporter who fabricates a story about a pimp the police believe is Fast Black and Fast Black believes is about him as well, setting up the conflict between Morgan and Reeve.

Street Smart resulted in Freeman’s first Oscar nomination and set him on the path to stardom. At age 50, it's remarkable this was the movie that really got his career going like gangbusters. It's hard to image there was a time when Morgan Freeman movies were the norm! Everyone can thank Street Smart for all the Morgan Freeman in our lives. Thank you Street Smart!

6. Batman Begins (2005)

Batman Begins is really just the best way to represent Morgan Freeman’s role as Lucius Fox, the loyal employee of Wayne Enterprises who works with Bruce Wayne (Christian Bale) to develop and reconfigure all kinds of technology for Wayne’s alter ego, Batman in the Christopher Nolan directed Dark Knight Trilogy.

In Batman Begins, Freeman’s character has been demoted in Bruce’s absence. He is stuck in the Applied Sciences division where the current bosses think he’ll be out of the way, but it turns out that it’s the perfect position for Fox to help Bruce Wayne/Batman. Morgan Freeman’s signature calm-but-firm demeanor is perfect for the loyal and dedicated Fox and his inclusion in the film, while it may be fleeting, is perfect.

5. Glory (1989)

Glory is an incredible and powerful movie. It toes the line between being important and fun brilliantly and Morgan Freeman’s role is critical to that. Freeman understood how important a movie like Glory was from the beginning and he gives it his all in his performance. Glory, believe it or not, was the first time, even in 1989, that many people ever heard the story of African-American soldiers fighting for the Union during the Civil War.

While all the actors in the film played their roles well, not surprisingly it was the two African-American leads, Morgan Freeman and Denzel Washington, who were at the heart of this cast. Washington won a richly deserved Academy Award for his performance as a disillusioned private under Mathew Broderick’s command and it would have been perfectly acceptable had Freeman won one too.

4. Seven (1995)

Seven, was a big film for a lot of big stars. While it wasn’t Brad Pitt’s breakout role, it was the first time he was taken seriously as a lead actor. The movie is, however, Gwyneth Paltrow’s breakout role and behind the both of them, like a rock keeping calm in a sea of crazy, is Morgan Freeman's Detective Somerset.

Directed by David Fincher, the film is masterful and Morgan Freeman excels in his performance as a detective on his last case, catching a serial killer. That is the kind of role (and trope) that many actors would phone in or overact in, but not Freeman, he doesn’t overplay the “I gotta get out of here” vibe, but you can feel the pain in his character as he deals with one last psychopath.

3. Unforgiven (1992)

In Unforgiven, Morgan Freeman plays sharpshooter Ned Logan, a loyal and longtime friend to Clint Eastwood’s Will Munny in this epic western. Logan joins up with Munny to help a young man called “The Schofield Kid” track down a gang a vial cowboys accused of torturing a prostitute.

In a film filled with some of the best actors of their day, including Clint Eastwood (who also directed), Gene Hackman, and Richard Harris, Morgan Freeman more than holds his own with his brilliant performance. In fact, Unforgiven might just be his best performance that he WASN’T nominated for any major awards for.

2. The Shawshank Redemption (1994)

Ah yes, that TNT Sunday afternoon special. A movie so important, you can find it somewhere on cable at almost any time of the day or night, every single day. If you took a poll on the street of people asking them for their favorite Morgan Freeman movie, it’s a safe bet that The Shawshank Redemption would far and away be the most popular answer. For a movie that was a disappointment at the box office, that is pretty amazing.

Freeman plays Red, a man whose been in jail for a long time when Andy Dufresne, played by Tim Robbins arrives after he is sentenced to life for murdering his wife and the man she was having an affair with. Red mentors Andy and their friendship grows. It’s a wonderful movie and Morgan Freeman’s portrayal of the convicted criminal with a heart of gold made millions of Gen Xers and Millennials who grew up watching the movie on cable consider Freeman one of the most beloved actors of all-time.

1. Million Dollar Baby (2004)

If you are counting, Million Dollar Baby is the third time a Morgan Freeman performance in a Clint Eastwood-directed film is on the list. It has been one heck of a partnership over the years, to say the least. Million Dollar Baby and its story of redemption is everything viewers could want from a serious and personal movie.

The acting in the movie, by Eastwood, Hilary Swank, And Freeman are as good as you will find in any movie, anywhere, in any time in Hollywood history. It’s a masterclass by all three and it makes even this sad, tragic story a true joy to watch.

It’s amazing to think of how many other movies and performances aren’t on this list also. Great films like The Power Of One and Lean On Me or powerful films like Amistad. Morgan Freeman’s remarkable career also, of course, includes his stellar voice over work in documentaries like March Of The Penguins.

At 81-years-old, Morgan Freeman is still going, still playing roles that audiences will appreciate for years to come. He is truly a remarkable actor.

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Spider-Man: Far From Home Promotion Is Off To A Ridiculous Start

Spider-Man: Far From Home Promotion Is Off To A Ridiculous Start

Now that Captain Marvel and Avengers: Endgame have been checked off the 2019 list, the Marvel Cinematic Universe is gearing up for Spider-Man: Far From Home. The Sony/Marvel movie comes out in early July, and it just started its world press tour. All I can say is, if watching Far From Home is as much fun as watching Tom Holland (Peter Parker/Spider-Man) and Jake Gyllenhaal's (Quentin Beck/Mysterio) press tour video from Mexico, we're in for a real treat. Look at these two goofballs:

They really are having too much fun out there. Director Jon Watts said they got along so well on set, they would crack each other up and ruin takes. I can believe it. And if the Mexico press tour footage is this ridiculous, I can only imagine the Spider-Man: Far From Home Blu-ray gag reel will be longer than Avengers: Endgame.

It's worth noting that Jake Gyllenhaal posted the same video, taking credit for it himself with "Quick video I edited together for @tomholland2013." I don't trust either Gyllenhaal or Tom Holland to do anything but make each other laugh, so Tom's brother Harry Holland must be the one really responsible.

So far, it does seem like Tom Holland and Jake Gyllenhaal will be the faces of Spider-Man: Far From Home promotion. They were joined by Jacob Batalon (Ned) at Brazil Comic-Con several months ago, but now that the real press tour push is starting, it looks like the MCU is putting the focus on the tag-team of Spider-Man and Mysterio.

Tom Holland previously shared a photo of Spider-Man and Mysterio with the caption "The Dream team!"

Jacob Batalon replied, "It’s okay everyone... I’m used to being forgotten." Poor Ned. (At least Jacob and Tom will always have that hotel fire alarm.)

Tom Holland followed up with more love for Peter Parker's real BFF:

Spider-Man: Far From Home is indeed set after the events of Avengers: Endgame, which was already revealed before Endgame came out. That left many fans confused, wondering how Peter Parker could be getting another movie after Avengers: Infinity War. Now, if you've seen Endgame, you have some answers (but possibly still a few big questions).

In the sequel to Spider-Man: Homecoming, Peter goes on a school trip to Europe with his friends. He's recruited by Nick Fury -- who is also back -- to team up with new character Mysterio and battle the Elementals.

So Spider-Man and Mysterio work together in this movie, which is new for the Marvel character, although fans can probably expect more twists on top of that.

Spider-Man: Far From Home moved up its release date by a couple of days, and now it arrives in theaters on July 2. That gives us not quite two months of Tom Holland and Jake Gyllenhaal taking their comedy act around the world, as Jacob Batalon and Zendaya and the rest of the Spidey cast presumably watch the bromance bloom from afar.

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Captain Marvel Almost Included A Tie-In To Thor: Ragnarok

Captain Marvel Almost Included A Tie-In To Thor: Ragnarok

Spoilers ahead for Captain Marvel. If you haven't seen the latest Marvel blockbuster, turn away!

The Marvel Cinematic Universe has been on a serious roll in Phase Three, as every blockbuster has been a critical and financial success. While all eyes are on how the narrative will conclude with the apocalyptic story Avengers: Endgame, Carol Danvers was finally given her origin story last weekend with Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck's Captain Marvel. With plenty of familiar faces in the cast, the movie has an interesting connection to the greater MCU, although it almost included a great reference to Thor: Ragnarok.

With the movie finally in theaters, Captain Marvel's pair of directors can get a bit more chatty about the film's contents. After all, Marvel security is no joke. When crafting the film's conclusion and end-credits scene, they almost put Jude Law's villainous Yon-Rogg on the scrap planet of Sakaar from Ragnarok. As Ryan Fleck recently revealed:

There was an idea on the table about having Jude Law […] emerge from his pod on Sakaar and then have him look around and see the Devil's Anus behind him and wonder, 'Where the hell am I?'

Is anyone else's FOMO going through the roof right now? Because while Captain Marvel had its own quirky end credits scene, this scrapped connection to the Thor threequel would have sent fans through the roof. Especially the inclusion of the Devil's Anus.

Ryan Fleck's comments to Empire Online shows how collaborative the process at Marvel Studios actually is. While fans see a streamlined finished product and phases of new releases, the filmmakers still have the opportunity to play and mold each individual blockbuster. This includes the credits scenes, which have become a beloved tradition in the MCU.

Thor: Ragnarok was a game changer for Chris Hemsworth's franchise, a Taika Waititi brought a ton of comedy and new cosmic locations to the table. Sakaar was a major setting in the threequel, as the God of Thunder and Hulk were trapped on the trash heap planet, and forced to start a revolution to escape and return to Asgard. The Devil's Anus (lol) was a massive wormhole on Sakaar, which would have served as the perfect setting for Yon-Rogg to end up on if the original plans for Captain Marvel's ending came to fruition.

Ultimately, Yon-Rogg's fate was left unclear, likely so Jude Law's character might pop back up in a potential sequel. He was sent back to Hala to warn the Supreme Intelligence, with that conflict presumably keeping Carol Danvers busy for the decades until she pops up in Avengers: Endgame. And Goose was given one final gag during the post-credits scene.

Captain Marvel is in theaters now, and Brie Larson will return to the MCU when Avengers: Endgame arrives on April 26th. In the meantime, check out our 2019 release list to plan your next trip to the movies.

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Zack Snyder Says It’s Really Hard When People Are Incorrect About Casting Rumors

Zack Snyder Says It’s Really Hard When People Are Incorrect About Casting Rumors

The DC live-action universe has had a fascinating run in theaters, full of peaks and valleys. While Warner Bros. is currently surfing on Aquaman'_s success and gearing up for the highly anticipated release of _Shazam!, there was a time when thinks appeared a bit more bleak. It all started with Zack Snyder's initial installments, which did a ton world-building and introduced beloved characters like Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman.

Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice had a ton of hype ahead of its release, as fans were eager to see the DC trinity adapted into live-action. Expectations were sky high, as were fan theories regarding what the blockbuster might contain. One of the most popular theories was that Jena Malone was actually playing Barbara Gordon/Batgirl. Her scenes were left on the cutting room floor of the theatrical release, and now Zack Snyder has responded to those Batgirl rumors, saying:

It's hard because I talk about those things with Debbie. 'Hey so I saw this thing and they think Jena Malone is Barbara Gordon'... When people are mad I don't care because they'll find out eventually. When they're hyped and it's wrong it's harder.

Zack Snyder spent a number of years working on the DCEU, starting with Man of Steel. As such, he also spent years sidestepping certain questions, fan theories, and potential controversies. And considering the secretive nature of the superhero genre, he was unable to set the record straight when it came to Batman v Superman reports.

Zack Snyder's comments (via Twitter) come from his recent screening of Batman v Superman's director's cut. A Q&A accompanied the screening, and the director/writer was finally able to address those rumors about Jena Malone playing Batgirl. Malone's role was unnamed and mysterious until BvS arrived in theaters, so the fandom spent months debating who the Sucker Punch actress might be playing. With so many characters being introduced in the blockbuster, it didn't seem out of question that Barbara Gordon might be incorporated.

In the end, Jena Malone played Jenet Klyburn, a scientist who worked at S.T.A.R. labs, and was working to help Lois Lane track analyze the bullets from her conflict in Nairomi. It's a bit part that can be seen in the director's cut of Batman v Superman, although it got cut from the theatrical release. And to date, Batgirl still hasn't been adapted into live-action for the cinematic universe.

Batgirl was set to get a movie of her own, with Joss Whedon behind the camera. But he ultimately dropped the project after failing to lock down a story. And following the release of Justice League, it appears that Whedon has distanced himself from the DC universe as a whole.

The next DC release is Shazam! on April 5, 2019, and Zack Snyder's next project will be Army of The Dead for Netflix. In the meantime, check out our 2019 release list to plan your next trip to the movies.

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Admiral Ackbar Actor Calls His Death In Star Wars: The Last Jedi A Huge Disappointment

Admiral Ackbar Actor Calls His Death In Star Wars: The Last Jedi A Huge Disappointment

The past few years have been very kind to Star Wars fans. Once Disney acquired Lucasfilm, there's been a variety of new and exciting projects hitting theaters, expanding the galaxy far, far away in the process. Standalone films and the upcoming Mandalorian TV series broke new ground for the property, although the main focus on the generations of fans is on the main franchise.

J.J. Abrams' kickstarted the story back up with The Force Awakens, which saw plenty of familiar faces return to the big screen. This includes the always meme-worthy Admiral Ackbar. But the iconic rebel met a swift end in The Last Jedi, and that's a decision that seriously upset the puppeteer who brought him to life over the years. Tim Rose is the man behind Ackbar, and recently expressed his disappointment about the character's handling in the sequel trilogy. He said:

After The Force Awakens -- for whatever reason, length of picture, whatever -- it all got cut out. So after waiting 30 years to reprise Ackbar I was a little disappointed with Ackbar's role in that picture. So in The Last Jedi, I was quite looking forward to maybe them giving him something more juicy. We were only given the script on the day when we were shooting that piece of script, so each day I would come to work going, ‘Is today the day when Ackbar gets something a bit more involving?’ And I looked at my script and I went, ‘Oh, Ackbar's going out of the window. Well, that's that then!’ I wasn’t quite dead yet.

Yikes. It turns out that Admiral Ackbar had a larger role in The Force Awakens, but it ultimately landed on the cutting room floor. There was a decent amount of world building to get through in Episode VII, so Tim Rose understood. At least, until he was killed off in The Last Jedi's opening sequence.

Admiral Ackbar might not have been as popular as franchise favorites like Han Solo or General Leia, but his role in the Star Wars franchise goes back to 1983's Return of the Jedi. As such, Tim Rose was hoping he'd have a meaty role once the sequel trilogy finally happened. Unfortunately, Ackbar's presence was mostly tertiary, and he got an unceremonious death scene.

Related: All The Major Star Wars: The Last Jedi Character Deaths

Ackbar was killed along with the rest of The Resistance Leaders when the First Order attacked the fleet, and a TIE fighter blew up the commanding ship's bridge. Leia was able to use her dormant Force Abilities to save herself, but the rest of the leadership wasn't so lucky.

In his same conversation with Jamie Stangroom, Tim Rose described how salt was rubbed in his wound on the set of The Last Jedi, saying:

We finished all of our bits and they asked me to come down to camera. And I thought, ‘Oh well, maybe they’re going to say thank you for being one of the heritage characters and giving 30 years and all that.’ But what they did was, they gave me a Millennium Falcon sign that had the day and the date on it, the scene number, and they said, ‘Can you look at camera and say "It's a wrap?" Because that would be really funny.’ … I was actually in tears in the suit because I thought - after everything, after hoping there’d be something, after knowing there wasn't going to be anything else, Ackbar's final moment before he went in to the box was a big joke about ‘It's a wrap.’ They just thought ‘Wouldn’t it be funny?’ And that was the sum total of my life as Ackbar.

Ouch. While the Resistance Leaders were killed off in The Last Jedi in order to move the story forward, Tim Rose's feelings were hurt in the process. And when he was asked to film some B-roll for special features/sizzle reels, there was an extra level of betrayal for the puppeteer.

As a reminder, you can check out the scene below. Ackbar isn't featured, but can be seen behind Leia before the bridge is destroyed.

Aside from his onscreen appearances, Admiral Ackbar has had a life on the page and small screen. Plus, his iconic "It's a trap!" line from Return of The Jedi has been meme-d more times than one can count. So while Tim Rose might have been disappointed with his tenure as the character, Ackbar will still live on forever with the generations of Star Wars fans.

The next installment in the Star Wars franchise is The Rise of Skywalker on December 20th. In the meantime, check out our 2019 release list to plan your next trip to the movies.

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Everything You Need To Know About Black Panther Going Into Phase 4

Everything You Need To Know About Black Panther Going Into Phase 4

If it was not already obvious, the Black Panther movie is getting a sequel we can expect to see in Phase Four of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, which mean's we'll be spending plenty of time with T'Challa post Avengers: Endgame.

Originally, Chadwick Boseman’s portrayal of the King of Wakanda made his first appearance in 2016’s Captain America: Civil War, before returning in his solo Black Panther movie in 2018, which grossed over $1 billion worldwide and became an Oscar-nominee for Best Picture. Now that we have seen him fight alongside the Avengers in two movies over the past year, we are anxious to see what is next in store for T’Challa in his homeland.

Speaking of, as of now, there is still very little known in regards to what we can expect. Will we see Heart Shaped Herb regrow? Will Wakanda be equipped with extra security measures meant to keep out large, purple men? Could we see Michael B. Jordan reprise his role as a resurrected Erik Killmonger?

Let's take a peek behind the scenes and between the pages of Marvel comics and see what else we could see from the titular Black Panther and the rest of the Wakandan key figures moving forward. As always, there are some minor spoilers from recent Marvel movies that can be found throughout this piece. Only keep reading on if you are caught up!

Ryan Coogler Directing Black Panther 2

We would proudly make the claim the Black Panther movies are destined for a bright future as long as Ryan Coogler is there to guide them. Thankfully, he is not going away anytime soon.

The young, yet illustrious, movie-making wizard is returning to the Marvel Cinematic Universe to direct his first sequel, a chance he actually opted out of previously, choosing Black Panther over the follow-up to his acclaimed 2015 Rocky spin-off, Creed.

Ryan Coogler has a lot to expand on with the next chapter of his most successful venture yet, following the rise, fall, and rise of T’Challa in battle against Thanos in Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame. There are very few plot details available yet to see what RyanCoogler’s vision will give us in the next film.

Fortunately, as we tend to do as fans, we have come up with a few ideas for him in mind.

T’Challa Is Still The Ruler Of Wakanda

T’Challa never yielded and, as we could see in the conclusion of Avengers: Endgame, he is not dead.

Yes, Chadwick Boseman’s T’Challa returned to Wakanda after Hulk snapped him back to life with the Avengers’ homemade Infinity Gauntlet to continue his reign as the country's leader and protector. Of course, based on the first post-credits scene in Black Panther, the African nation is due for some big changes.

T’Challa announced to the United Nations that Wakanda would be going public with its super advanced technology and plentiful resources, which has us curious about what sort of sociopolitical commentary Ryan Coogler will use as a jumping-off point in the Black Panther sequel.

My biggest questions regard how T’Challa plans to move forward following the Decimation. The king has five years of absence to make up for and we imagine the newly resurrected Wakandans have a lot of questions about the state of their country in a post-Thanos world. What sort of issues are there left to solve and what changes is Wakanda destined to go through?

Regardless, we are just as excited to see more of T’Challa the leader as we are to see more of T’Challa the Black Panther. However...

T’Challa Is Not The Only Black Panther In The Marvel Universe

Shuri, T’Challa’s sister and princess of Wakanda brought to life by Letitia Wright, has proven herself to be one of the best Black Panther characters as a heroine on the battlefield and in the lab. A brilliant scientist, she has designed many of Wakanda’s most innovative creations, improved her brother’s Black Panther suit with nano technology, and came closer to saving Vision from death by Mind Stone removal in Avengers: Infinity War than Bruce Banner did.

As we have seen in Black Panther and Avengers: Endgame, she can kick butt just as well as her brother. Her comic book persona is no exception, given that Shuri would eventually inherit his title.

When T’Challa suffers critical injuries from battle, Shuri must assume the role of Wakanda’s leader and as the Black Panther, as her brains and brawn have proven her worthy. Currently, we have no way of knowing that such a situation will occur with the Black Panther characters in the sequel, but we would love to see at least a hint about this heading into Phase Four.

Furthermore, given that we have seen a rise in more female-centric films in the Marvel Cinematic Universe with the success Captain Marvel and the anticipation for Scarlett Johansson’s solo Black Widow movie, we would not be surprised to see Shuri get her own moment in the spotlight.

A Fun Idea For The Next Black Panther Villain

There has been much speculation over who T’Challa will face off against in the Black Panther movies moving forward, particularly in Black Panther 2.

Rumors say Michael B. Jordan might reprise his role as Black Panther villain Kilmonger (somehow). There have been reports that Ryan Koogler has spoken to Donald Glover about appearing in the film, perhaps as his Spider-Man: Homecoming character if we don’t want to mess with continuity. There is even support for Black Panther soundtrack producer Kendrick Lamar to be the bad guy.

I may have a better idea.

Black Panther has fought many adversaries throughout the Marvel universe in the comics, among them is the ruthless Latverian leader Victor Von Doom. Not only does that concept give us the perfect set up for a battle between two warriors of royal authority, but also paves way for another group of superhero favorites to finally make an introduction into the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Since Doctor Doom is the archenemy of the Fantastic Four, why not see a team-up between Black Panther and Marvel’s first superhero family? Given the Black Panther character's first appearance was in a Fantastic Four comic, we cannot think of a better way to introduce them into this world now that Disney holds the keys to serve them justice. Still, given rights are still a complicated issue and it may be years before Fox's Marvel characters are shuffled into continuity, this may just be wishful thinking on my part.

Speaking of the Disney taking control of Fox characters…

Could A Future Black Panther Movie See Wakanda Getting A New Queen?

The end of the first Black Panther movie hinted that T’Challa would not rule Wakanda alone, taking Nakia (Lupita N’Yongo) as his wife and queen. Yet, the Wakandan covert operative was absent from both Avengers: Infinity War and Endgame.

So, either she has just been carrying out her royal responsibilities behind the scenes and has yet to return in the Black Panther sequel, or maybe she and T’Challa broke up. While we would love to see the great Lupita Nyong'o reprise her role, if she were to exit the franchise, this would also leave room for another Marvel character to accept the throne.

In the comics, T’Challa befriends and eventually marries Ororo Munroe, better known under her X-Men alias, Storm. The Avenger and the mutant rule hand-in-hand and fight alongside in battle. What better way to kick off the X-Men’s role in the Marvel Cinematic Universe following the Disney-Fox merger but with Storm as Queen of Wakanda?

While it may seem like overkill in passing to have the Black Panther sequel as a jumping off point for this many characters to become a part of the MCU (and Dark Phoenix’s Storm actress Alexandra Shipp has already voiced against this idea), to many fans, this would a sweet trip to Nerdvana if at some point during Phase Four the Black Panther universe got a storyline of this ilk.

What would you like to see from Wakanda in future Marvel movies? Let us know in the comments below and be sure check back for more updates here on CinemaBlend. Oh, and Wakanda forever!

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Creed 3 Likely Would Not Feature Conor McGregor

Creed 3 Likely Would Not Feature Conor McGregor

While Michael Jordan has made it clear he would like to continue making Creed movies, at this point we have no idea what form such a sequel could take. Who would be the new opponent for Adonis Creed? It seems that now the only thing we can guess right now is that it probably won't be MMA star Conor McGregor. Michael B. Jordan was recently asked what he thought of the idea of bringing in McGregor for Creed III and the actor seemed less than thrilled with the concept, saying...

Eh, I don't know about that man.

Not exactly a ringing endorsement.

The idea of Conor McGregor making the jump from the octagon to the silver screen has come up before. He was apparently in talks to star in The Predator at some point, though director Shane Black insists he was never actually offered the lead.

It seems like only a matter of time before the MMA fighter parlays his celebrity into something that doesn't include as many shots to the nose. Most recently McGregor has said that he's done with MMA, so if he wanted to try his hand at movies, now is as good a time as any.

However, one assumes that Michael B. Jordan is a guy who largely gets to determine his own fate in the Creed franchise so if he's not sold on the idea, it's unlikely to happen. Since his comment to TMZ is far from excited, perhaps the next movie should look elsewhere for an idea.

Following the success of Creed II many have suggested that a future Creed film could bring back other previous Rocky opponents as Creed II did with Ivan Drago. The suggestion that Rocky III's Clubber Lang, as played by Mr. T, could return has been made, but it's far from certain that a future sequel would go back to the well like that once again.

With Sylvester Stallone indicating that he's done playing Rocky Balboa after Creed II, it would seem to make a lot more sense for Creed III to go off in a new direction and find a more original opponent. There's certainly the opportunity to tell more of Adonis Creed's story, but how he moves on without his mentor and surrogate father seems like the most interesting way to do it.

Of course, I'm not sure anybody has asked Conor McGregor if he's like to co-star in Creed III and if he does, it's always possible something could be worked out. If there's a good enough story anything is possible.

Creed II out grossed the first film in the franchise, which would seem to make a third entry a pretty strong possibility considering all the creative forces are also interested in returning to the series.

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Sylvester Stallone Is Bloody And Packing Heat In New Rambo: Last Blood Image

Sylvester Stallone Is Bloody And Packing Heat In New Rambo: Last Blood Image

It's been over 10 years since we last saw saw Sylvester Stallone play one of his most well known characters, John Rambo. While 2008's Rambo could have functioned as the finale of this particular franchise, it seems there is one more story left to tell. Rambo: Last Blood is set to hit theaters later this year, and Stallone has continued to tease us with more images for the movie, including this one, which is a picture of a picture being taken of Rambo, armed with a bow and arrow. Check it out.

The picture posted to Sylvester Stallone's Instagram is taken from a much safer position than the one we can see being taken in the image. The woman is standing right in the path of a drawn arrow, which probably makes for an awesome picture, as long as Sly doesn't lose his grip, of course.

In addition to the bow and arrow, we see that Sly's arms are covered in blood. Whatever Rambo has been doing, it's been messy work.

As far as what he's been doing, based on what we know of the plot, what Rambo has been doing is killing members of a Mexican drug cartel. Rambo: Last Blood will see John Rambo living a quiet life on his family ranch in Arizona when a friend's daughter runs a fowl of the cartel and Rambo goes in to rescue her.

Based on the premise, and the title of the film, we can expect Rambo: Last Blood to be a movie much more in line with the first Rambo story than any of the sequels that came after. All of the previous Rambo sequels were about sending a one man army into hostile foreign territory to save one group of people, or maybe just kill another group of people.

First Blood was a movie about a former Vietnam vet who came up against corrupt police officers in a small town, and how that small town became a war zone. Last Blood certainly wants to remind us of that much smaller story, and while there will surely be no lack of action, the stakes her are much more personal for Rambo.

Of course, the title is also fairly ominous. It doesn't imply anything good happening to John Rambo.

As somebody who never felt the Rambo sequels ever lived up to the visceral feeling of the first film, I'm actually a lot more interested in this one than I ever would have guessed. Sylvester Stallone's Rocky movies were always better when they were character stories about a man and not actually about who won a boxing match. In a similar vein, Rambo movies are better when they're about the man and not about the battle.

Rambo: Last Blood has been given a release date of September 20.

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The Russo Brothers Confirm That Hulk's Avengers: Endgame Damage Is Permanent

The Russo Brothers Confirm That Hulk's Avengers: Endgame Damage Is Permanent

A lot of things changed for a lot of our favorite heroes in Avengers: Endgame. Some heroes died, others exited the main stage in other ways. We knew the future of the Marvel Cinematic Universe was going to be something quite different, and now we know many of the ways those changes will manifest. However, one often overlooked Avengers is Bruce Banner/The Incredible Hulk, and the events of Endgame have also changed his life in a major way.

The Hulk is the one who risks his life by being the one to use the Infinity Stones to return life to the universe. The act very nearly kills him, and leaves him with one severely damaged arm. Endgame directors the Russo brothers have now confirmed that Hulk won't simply heal from this damage, instead, it's permanent damage that Bruce Banner will have to deal with going forward. According to Joe Russo...

He’s lost an arm. He lost Natasha. That’s not coming back. He’s damaged himself. I don’t know. It’s interesting. That’s permanent damage, the same way that it was permanent damage with Thanos. It’s irreversible damage. His arm, if you noticed, is a lot skinnier. It’s blackened. So, he loses a lot of strength there.

An Incredible Hulk who has lost a lot of strength is certainly a very different Incredible Hulk. Mark Ruffalo's character is one who we expect will continue forward in the MCU, but this change will go with him.

Joe Russo admits to ComicBook.com there's really no such thing as truly "permanent" when it comes to this sort of thing in Marvel movies. In a world of magic and super advanced science, the possibility for Hulk being healed is certainly there, but the point is that Hulk will need to be actively healed in some way for this damage to go away, he's not simply going to heal if he puts some ointment on it and wraps it in a cast. Also, as Joe Russo puts it, for him the damage is permenant, because it's somebody else's job to figure out what happens next...

Maybe someone helps him repair that. Maybe someone gives him a new arm. I have no idea where that character goes from here. The nice thing is we didn’t have to pay attention to where it goes after this, we just try to tell a satisfying ending.

Joe Russo draws something of a parallel between Hulk's arm an Natasha Romanov. Both are gone, seemingly forever. One has left physical scars, the other has certainly done some emotional damage. While the relationship between Bruce Banner and Black Widow was never fully explored on screen, it was made clear that there were feelings there, and Bruce will now have to deal with them without her.

Of course, how the future of the MCU will deal with Hulk is a significant question on its own. Hulk has only been a supporting players in the various Avengers movies and Thor: Ragnarok since Mark Ruffalo took on the role. The only Hulk solo movie in the franchise was the second MCU movie made, and there has been no indication that a Ruffalo-led Hulk movie is even being considered. Marvel Studios shares the film right to the character with Universal, so making a Hulk focused movie is a bit tougher than it is with other characters.

Since the future of Avengers movies is also a big question mark, we have basically no idea wen we'll see Hulk again, or how this change in the character could manifest if and when we do.

Hopefully, we will see more of Mark Ruffalo and the Incredible Hulk very soon. Hopefully Marvel will give us a hint when that might be soon, since the entire future of the MCU is a big black box right now

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7 Changes The Sonic The Hedgehog Movie Should Make So He Looks More Like The Video Game Character

7 Changes The Sonic The Hedgehog Movie Should Make So He Looks More Like The Video Game Character

On Tuesday, Paramount unveiled the first official trailer for Sonic the Hedgehog, the long-gestured live-action film adaptation of Sega's beloved video game creation. On social media, it caused a commotion. And the fan response was far from flattering.

Fans have been hesitant about this Sonic movie ever since it was first announced. And the movie's weird first poster — which featured the character hidden in shadows, but sporting a pair of very beefy legs — was received with more trepidation than anticipation. Sure enough, what they got from this trailer wasn't great. And people didn't take kindly to the changes made to Sonic's iconic design.

Video game lovers worldwide revolted at the sight of Movie Sonic, while even casual movie fans were left puzzled by the anthropomorphic blue hedgehog's look and its unfamiliarity. This new Sonic the Hedgehog movie is the culmination of years of fandom and wavering appreciation for the video game series. As a result, this new Sonic design felt personally insulting to their their long-standing fandom, and the fans voiced their distain online loudly.

But in a surprise turn of events, director Jeff Fowler announced publicly to Sonic fans that he would make it up to them by changing the look of Movie Sonic before it debuted in theaters this November. Whether you consider it constructive criticism or damage control, Jeff Fowler is taking the negative word-of-mouth to heart, and Paramount and Sega want to win fans over again. With that, here are seven changes that could (and should) be made to make the animated speedster a little more likable to the fans.

Change Sonic's Eyes

It's often said that the eyes are the window into one's soul. If that's true, then people drew the curtains on Sonic, refusing into glance into his pixelated perspective. In the games, Sonic has one distinctively interloping eye.

While it would be hard to make that look realistic, it does disappoint fans of the long-running video game series to see Sonic with two little beady, well-parted eyes staring back at them. It's one of those things that instantly makes this design wrong to people. If there's one thing that should be changed, it's making the eyes bigger and more reflective of the well-accustomed, well-established character design of the video game persona.

No Human Teeth

It sounds weird to say (or, rather, type out), but Sonic the Hedgehog shouldn't have human-style teeth. One of the main reasons why many people were immediately off-put by the reworked design of Movie Sonic is because every time the character opened his tiny CG-ed mouth, fans bore witness to those strange little choppers.

At best, they were weird. At their worst, they were utterly terrifying. And they instantly turned some viewers away from appreciating this new character design. It's a hard fix, to be sure, but something that's even a little less... life-like would be preferable.

Extend The Head

Simply put: Movie Sonic's head is a little too small. In addition to the number of issues with his face and figure, his noggin could use a size adjustment or two. Of all the things listed so far, Movie Sonic's head size is probably the closest to accurate when it comes to how it looks in the original games and cartoons.

But it's still a smidge too small. Inflate his ego a bit and make his head a few sizes larger. As someone with a small head myself, I realize this might be a bit of a sensitive topic. But if the animators have the means to change it, they should definitely fix it.

Rework The Torso

In some of the games, Sonic the Hedgehog is rather barrel-chested. His stomach sorta rounds out compared to the rest of his features, and it looks like Sonic is a little too thin in this trailer. If they want to make him look a little more in-line with the character's design in the games, Movie Sonic could afford to run to a McDonald's or two to beef up his size.

Right now, he's looking a little too skinny. Side note: this one is up-for-date since Sonic's figure in some games is skinner than others. So, if he remains skinny, it's not the end of the world, but if he wants to look closer to some of the past designs, it might help to beef him up just a touch.

Widen The Hands

While Sonic is often using his feet to jog great distances, one of the character's most distinctive features remains his oversized hands. Often standing out with his distinctive white gloves, his hands are a key feature to his general design. And the weirdly smaller fists that were seen in the trailer don't quite cut it, frankly.

It seems like it would be a pretty minor tweak, from what I can gather, but it'd definitely be beneficial. At the very least, it would certainly help to have a firmer, ahem, grasp of the character. But also, don't get out of hand! Let's move on from my corny jokes.

Fix The Legs

Considering how Sonic is super-runner and all, one of the most crucial elements of Sonic the Hedgehog is his legs. His quads have been a source of controversy from the get-go when it comes to his film personification. As mentioned earlier, his beefy-looking limbs in the poster left many people completely puzzled. And when it came to his look in the trailer, while it wasn't quite as jarring as that first poster reveal, it still wasn't quite right.

In the video games, Sonic's legs are long and thin. In comparison, his legs in this trailer looked nothing like what we're used to seeing from the character. It would definitely help to change the runner's lower half.

Different Shoes

In the video games, Sonic's footwear is pretty solid and compact. They need to be. He's constantly running, after all, and this speed-loving hedgehog needs a pair of kicks that are pretty durable. Particularly during his usual high-energy sprints. In the trailer we saw, however, he appears to be wearing a fairly plain pair of sneakers. Those would not come in handy when he's running at over 700 miles an hour.

In the broad scheme of things, this is a minor nitpick. But if they're changing things, it's worth considering. Sonic shouldn't be running around in subpar shoes. And please, for the love of God, avoid the temptation to give him product placement-friendly footgear in lieu of these tennis shoes. Though, if the film's budget is gonna balloon through these last-minute changes, I understand if you need the extra cash.

Will any of these changes be made? Only time will tell. But one thing was made evident here: the fans were not the least bit happy about Sonic's new look, and the filmmaker responded in kind, promising to fix Sonic the Hedgehog before the film's November 8 release date. We'll have to wait and see if he is true to his word.

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