It’ll Reportedly Be Years Before The X-Men Make Their Way To The MCU

It’ll Reportedly Be Years Before The X-Men Make Their Way To The MCU

It's no secret that superhero movies are everywhere. The comic book genre is arguably the most profitable one in the filmmaking world, leading to a variety of studios producing their own installments, and vying for box office supremacy. 20th Century Fox's X-Men franchise was there through it all, starting with Bryan Singer's original 2000 movie. But now that series of films may be coming to an end, as Disney has officially acquired Fox and its various properties.

Marvel fans seem mostly excited about the merger, as it will give the X-Men (and hopefully The Fantastic Four) the opportunity to finally join the massive Marvel Cinematic Universe. But it's unclear when this transition might occur, especially with Dark Phoenix and The New Mutants both in the can. And a new report indicates that the mutants wont join the shared universe for a number of years.

According to THR, the X-Men probably won't appear in the MCU until 2021 or later. If Kevin Feige doesn't already have a completed script for the mutant group, then it should take some time to develop a project for the titular team to star in. Marvel blockbusters don't happen over the night, so 2021 might even be a bit generous. After all, we're already waist deep into 2019, and there's been a ton of attention paid to releases like Captain Marvel and Avengers: Endgame.

With the Fox and Disney deal in ink, the House of Mouse is seemingly moving forward with its plans-- including certain characters previous owned by Fox. While the future of the X-Men is currently unclear, Walt Disney Studios has already prominently featured Ryan Reynolds' Deadpool on its website. It looks like the Merc With A Mouth is going to be left to his own devices, but that probably won't extend to the current X-Men franchise.

There's a ton of star power associated with X-Men movies, and the Marvel Cinematic Universe likely won't want to foot the bill such A-list actors. James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Jennifer Lawrence, and Sophie Turner no doubt require some serious cash for their services. Instead, it seems more likely that Marvel Studios will start fresh, and assemble a new cast of X-Men.

Additionally, most of the starring X-Men cast has been with the franchise since 2011's X-Men: First Class. The actors' star power have grown considerably, and Dark Phoenix will mark the fourth film for the OG cast members who are still on board. As such, they might want to switch it up, and be released from their contracts with the franchise. Jennifer Lawrence has been slowly headed toward the door for years, and it looks like she's being killed off early in Dark Phoenix.

If the current cast of X-Men is let go so Marvel Studios can start fresh, it'll probably be a disappointment for some of the newer additions, including Sophie Turner, Tye Sheridan, Alexandra Shipp, and Kodi Smit-McPhee. Those actors are returning to play their respective X-Men characters in Dark Phoenix, but that upcoming blockbuster might also end up being their swan song.

While ideally Marvel Studios would adopt the X-Men cast, it would be a confusing experience for the fandom, and would seriously break the timelines. There's no reason for the world to hate mutants when The Avengers are celebrated and given great power. Furthermore, it doesn't make sense that the team would have sat out major events like The Battle of New York.

As such, it makes more sense to start fresh, whenever the X-Men finally join the greater Marvel Cinematic Universe. The MCU has a particular way of introducing new heroes, as the ranks of The Avengers were methodically filled out across the past decade of filmmaking. It doesn't make sense throwing an entire group of characters who have their own four movies of history. But that unfortunately means that the X-Men franchise as we know it will likely come to an end with either Dark Phoenix or The New Mutants.

It should be interesting to see how Kevin Feige and Marvel Studios ultimately approach the X-Men. Is it possible that the various members will be given origin stories, before colliding in an Avengers-esque crossover film? With so many of the OG Avengers coming to the end of their contracts, the MCU will need number to fill out its ranks.

Then again, the X-Men work because they're a team who count on each other. As such, the MCU may take a note from James Gunn's Guardians of the Galaxy, and figure out a way to bring the motley crew of superpowered individuals together. But the question is: who will make the team?

Wiping the X-Men slate clean also gives Marvel the chance to bring the most beloved character of them all back: Wolverine. Hugh Jackman retired from his iconic clawed role after completing James Mangold's Logan. The project even earned an Academy Award Nomination for Best Screenplay, with Jackman leaving on a serious high note. The X-Men franchise hasn't recast the role, but it's clear that the fans are hoping he'll return sooner than later. In fact, plenty of fan lists and art have hit the internet regarding who should take on the mantle.

If Disney starts a brand new X-Men cast, they can also find a new Wolverine for the group as well. While there will be endless comparisons to Hugh Jackman's long run as the character, the same can also be said for any potential new actors. After all, the X-Men franchise has been going strong for nearly 20 years. So the comparisons are going to happen regardless.

Aside from the X-Men, Marvel fans are also hoping that the Fantastic Four eventually make their way to the MCU. The last movie was a bit of a disaster, so it should be relatively easy to wipe the slate clean and start fresh. And with the cosmic side of the shared universe becoming a more important setting, it could be the perfect time to bring that quartet of heroes back to theaters.

Dark Phoenix will arrive in theaters (after a few delays) on June 7th. CinemaBlend will keep you updated on the X-Men's inclusion in the MCU as details become public. In the meantime, check out our 2019 release list to plan your next trip to the movies.

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Everything Chris Hemsworth And Tessa Thompson Could Tell Us About Their Men In Black International Agents

Everything Chris Hemsworth And Tessa Thompson Could Tell Us About Their Men In Black International Agents

Why have audiences flocked to Men In Black movies over the years? Some come for the comedy. Others want to see creative alien species, potentially living among us in our over-populated cities. But most want to enjoy the yin-yang chemistry of the lead agents, which was on full display when Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones wore the signature suits and sunglasses of the MiB.

The dynamic will change later this summer when Men In Black International casts Chris Hemsworth and Tessa Thompson as the lead agents on a massive new case. So CinemaBlend traveled to London to visit the set of International and find out exactly how these two Thor: Ragnarok veterans will blend on this new adventure. Hemsworth began by describing his own arrogant agent, Agent H, and explained:

My character certainly kind of does things his own way. He’s pretty reckless in his approach, and... he doesn’t take advice from others. He works alone, usually. And then in this particular instance, [my character and Tessa’s character] sort of teamed up together, I think outside of either of their first choice I think. They’d prefer… she’d probably rather be saddled with someone a little more [laughs] on book. But, as I said it gives us somewhere to go and gives us a nice arc.

Tessa Thompson, in trying to nail down their approach to the partnership, referenced back to the relationship built by Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones in the first three Men In Black movies. She elaborated:

[Our characters] both misunderstand each other and one thing that we’ve talked about a lot, Chris and I, is this idea of what do they teach each other? I think that was something that was so touching about Will and Tommy’s dynamic for the course of the three films is you felt like they really offered each other something. They were able to just be better men, frankly, from being in the company of each other, that they made each other stretch and grow in a way. And that’s played with the easiness that this franchise has, but that it’s inherent. And so, we were talking about that and obviously because, you know... there’s also some other layers of dynamics between it because we’re--he’s a guy and I’m a girl and...and you know. [laughs].

Ah yes, the inevitable romance question. It remains to be seen if Men In Black International will pair Chris Hemsworth and Tessa Thompson that way. That certainly would be a departure from what we’ve seen in this series to date. But Thompson connected the chemistry shared between her and Hemsworth to more iconic duos in Hollywood history. She told CinemaBlend:

These characters, there’s some like Princess Leia/Han Solo in there. There’s Hepburn and Tracy, you know there’s... there’s real sort of texture, and to me, when we’re really singing, it reminds me of some of those iconic duos. And I think with a lot of those, there’s this undercurrent of emotion, but there are so many directions in which the relationship can go and the thing that really is the most exciting about those relationships, I think, is a true meeting of mind and of wit, and a sort of back and forth with that. That creates tension.

The Men In Black International creative team wasn’t done making comparisons to classic on-screen duos as they spoke about the bind being formed by Hemsworth and Thompson. When CinemaBlend got the chance to speak with producer Walter Parkes about this continuation, he compared his leads to the two main characters from James L. Brooks’ classic comedy Broadcast News, and that certainly got our attention. He said:

You know, Holly Hunter was so like, hyper-rational and Bill Hurt was so kind of at ease with the world and sort of bigger than the world and smaller than the world at the same time, and the way they connected was certainly an inspiration for understanding what this character relationship might be.

You can see some of this in action in the main Men In Black International trailer, which we’re happy to share below:

Men In Black International looks to take the action of the series away from New York City (where it primarily rested for three movies) and through several other different global locations. The sequel co-stars Hemsworth and Thompson, though they will be joined by Rafe Spall, Rebecca Ferguson, Liam Neeson and Emma Thompson, reprising her role as Agent O.

The movie hits theaters on June 14. Stay tuned for even more coverage from our visit to the London set up the upcoming blockbuster.

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Yes, J.J. Abrams Consulted George Lucas Over The Rise Of Skywalker

Yes, J.J. Abrams Consulted George Lucas Over The Rise Of Skywalker

The Star Wars franchise has been expanding impressively over the last few years, thanks to Disney's acquisition of Lucasfim. It all started with J.J. Abrams' Star Wars: The Force Awakens, which introduced a new class of characters to interact with franchise favorites like Luke, Leia, and Han. Since then, the galaxy has continued to grow through standalone films and the upcoming Mandalorian live-action TV series. But all eyes are on the main franchise, especially since Episode IX will end the Skywalker Saga forever.

J.J Abrams is back in the director's chair for Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, and there's a ton of pressure to deliver. In addition to wrapping up the current trilogy, the upcoming blockbuster must also end the narrative George Lucas began back in A New Hope. But the generations of fans should rest easy, because Abrams consulted with Lucas early in the process. As he recently revealed:

There have been a lot of ideas since the beginning, since George first came up with this, of where things could go. We had a meeting with him before we even wrote the script about this. So a lot of what we have taken, is really taken to heart, everything that's come before. While it's been obviously significantly challenging, it's been a greater opportunity than a challenge. I cannot wait for you to see what this movie is.

Well, this is exciting. Because although George Lucas isn't intimately involved in the current trilogy of Star Wars movies, it appears he did have some input regarding The Rise of Skywalker. So perhaps we'll all get the ending the beloved space opera deserves.

J.J. Abrams' comments to MTV News are sure to excite Star Wars fans, especially the OG moviegoers who saw Episodes IV-VI in theaters in the 70s and 80s. While the prequel series left something to be desired, Star Wars is only possible through George Lucas' vision and ambition. The last few movies may not have been what Lucas planned for the sequel trilogy, but at least he was consulted ahead of the franchise's big finale.

Related: Let's Talk About That Death Star Shot In Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker's Trailer

From the first The Rise of Skywalker trailer, it does look like J.J. Abrams is taking a more traditional approach to the sequel. While Rian Johnson subverted fan expectations in The Last Jedi, Abrams will have to provide a satisfying conclusion, and wrap up a ton of narrative threads. That includes taking the group of characters on an adventure together, rather than keeping their plots separate.

As a reminder, you can check out the first trailer for The Rise of Skywalker below.

The gang's all there, including Carrie Fisher's Leia, courtesy of unused footage from the last two movies. The movie's trailer and title were released last week at Star Wars Celebration, and set the internet aflame. While anticipation was already high, Palpatine's laugh in The Rise of Skywalker's trailer proved that J.J. Abrams could potentially go anywhere for Episode IX.

More information should come as the movie draws closer. Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker is set to arrive on December 20th. In the meantime, check out our 2019 release list to plan your next trip to the movies.

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Christina Hendrick’s Toy Story 4 Character Sounds Super Creepy

Christina Hendrick’s Toy Story 4 Character Sounds Super Creepy

For a family-friendly franchise all about the cute, adorable and fluffy toys of our childhood, Toy Story has featured some rather spooky characters. Remember Babyface from Sid’s room in the first film? What am I talking about, of course you do – that character’s creepy face is likely singed into the brains of everyone who watched it, especially if you were a kid.

Soon Toy Story 4 will introduce a completely new generation to the emotional damage that comes with being a neglected toy, when Christina Hendricks’ new character Gabby Gabby debuts on screen. The Mad Men and Good Girls actress will be a vintage ‘50s doll who comes complete with a heartbreaking backstory and her own army of dolls to scare the children of today into sticking with video games for good. Here’s what the movie’s director Josh Cooley told Entertainment Weekly of the character:

She can just tell her henchmen of ventriloquist dummies to do her bidding for her, and they do. She’s like the Godfather, where she doesn’t really have to do much to do a lot.

Did I say Toy Story can be creepy yet… because chills. Some of the most powerful villains can just sit back and watch her followers do the dirty work for them, and that looks to be exactly what Gabby Gabby does with the ventriloquist dummies Woody will meet in Toy Story 4. The pull string doll has apparently been collecting dust in an antique store for more than 60 years, and never been held and loved by a child because she was made with a broken voice box.

Because she has a defect in her voice, she sympathizes with the silent ventriloquist dummies and speaks on their behalf. Therefore, they seem to follow her every beck and call without batting an eye. Why did the filmmakers decide to include these eerie dolls in the upcoming Toy Story movie? Josh Cooley said this:

I’ve always loved The Twilight Zone and that Talking Tina-type of thing. We’ve never seen creepy, old dolls like that in Toy Story, and this was an opportunity to do that.

Gabby Gabby and her ventriloquist army will join some of the other villainous characters in the Toy Story universe such as Prospector, Lotso, Emperor Zurg, Sid and Big Baby. Have no fear, the new Pixar film is also introducing a slew of other new characters who seem a bit more delightful.

Keanu Reeves will play Duke Caboom, a Evel Knievel-type daredevil who will assist Woody and Bo Peep in their mission. Key and Peele will play carnival stuffed animals named Ducky and Bunny and the tiniest toy in the franchise Giggle McDimples will be played by Ally Maki. Toy Story 4 heads to theaters on June 21… on the same day the Child’s Play remake will be released. Coincidence? With Gabby Gabby on board, maybe not.

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Bond 25 Is Already Breaking New Ground For The Franchise

Bond 25 Is Already Breaking New Ground For The Franchise

The James Bond franchise is one of the longest running in history, but there are things even it has never done before. However, the new film, the 25th in the series, is breaking new ground by becoming the fist in the series to shoot scenes on IMAX cameras. Director Cary Fukunaga confirmed the use of the cameras designed for the large format screen via Instagram.

The comment from the director that "some days" are IMAX days confirms previous reports that only some of the new James Bond film will be shot on IMAX cameras, but that's par for the course for your average blockbuster these days. While IMAX cameras are getting used more and more, it's largely only for specific sequences that can take full advantage of the format.

If you're a fan of the IMAX format, or James Bond, and especially if you're a fan of both, this will likely be great news. Large format screens like IMAX take the normal theatrical experience and amplify it to an entirely new level. While many modern blockbuster movies can be, and are, formatted to an IMAX screen, using a camera designed for that screen makes the experience noticeably better.

While the IMAX cameras might be new for James Bond, they're not new for cinematographer Linus Sandgren. The man in charge of filming Bond 25 was also the man behind the camera of First Man, which used IMAX cameras to film the iconic moon walking scenes, which we can all agree were the best parts of that movie.

Of course, while we can now be sure that the action sequences will look amazing in the new James Bond movie, we still have no idea what any of them could be. The main cast of the new film, which will include Rami Malek as the villain, was recently confirmed, but that's nearly all we know.

The basic plot of Bond 25 will see James coming out of retirement to assist his old friend CIA agent Felix Lighter in a search for a missing scientist.

James Bond has been the home to some of the most memorable action sequences in the history of film. In the Daniel Craig era alone we have had fantastic foot chases, hand-to-hand fights, gun battles, and car chases. Each new film in the series has to try to take things to the next level and while it's not always easy, it's almost always worth watching.

I don't often go to IMAX movies but part of the reason for that is that it doesn't always seem all that necessary. However, when a movie uses IMAX cameras to shoot it usually means there's a vision for a particular sequence that requires them. If there's a reason to film in IMAX, then there's probably also a reason to view the finished product in IMAX.

Are you more likely to see Bond 25 in IMAX knowing it was filmed that way? Let us know in the poll below.

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I've Got Two Issues With J.K. Rowling's Comments About Dumbledore And Grindelwald

I've Got Two Issues With J.K. Rowling's Comments About Dumbledore And Grindelwald

J.K. Rowling's Wizarding World began back with the first Harry Potter novel, and has continued to expand in the years since the Boy Who Lived first entranced audiences. Rowling has continued to grow the brand through the Pottermore website, Cursed Child plays, and theme parks. But all eyes are currently fixated on the Fantastic Beasts franchise, which has been planned to span five blockbusters over the next few years. The most recent addition to the property was The Crimes of Grindelwald, which brought Johnny Depp's titular villain and Jude Law's young Albus Dumbledore to theaters.

The relationship between Grindelwald and Dumbledore is one that's expected to be fleshed out in the coming movies, as J.K. Rowling had previously revealed that its at least partly romantic in nature. But The Crimes of Grindelwald didn't get into that at all, at least until Rowling recorded her director's commentary for the home release. In it, she spoke about their relationship, saying:

Their relationship was incredibly intense. It was passionate, and it was a love relationship. But as happens in any relationship, gay or straight or whatever label we want to put on it, one never knows really what the other person is feeling. You can’t know, you can believe you know. So I’m less interested in the sexual side – though I believe there is a sexual dimension to this relationship – than I am in the sense of the emotions they felt for each other, which ultimately is the most fascinating thing about all human relationships.

This quote has sparked some big reactions online and resulted in an endless supply of memes and X-rated twitter responses. There's some anger being directed at J.K. Rowling for reasons she doesn't deserve, although I do have a few issues with these recent revelations. Because there is a way to handle this complex relationship properly.

One problem I have with J.K. Rowling's commentary is that she is telling us about Dumbledore and Grindelwald's relationship after the fact. The two didn't share any real scenes in The Crimes of Grindelwald, which prevented their love/hate dynamic from being properly fleshed out. While she may have wanted to keep that reunion for a later movie, neither of the characters explained their relationship through exposition. In fact, you could have watched the sequel in its entirety without realizing that the hatred between Dumbledore and Grindelwald also comes with feelings of love.

If the two wizard's ill-fated love was so integral to the story, J.K. Rowling should have taken the time to directly address it in The Crimes of Grindelwald. Instead, it was expanded in the film's commentary, after its long run in theaters. In fact, the writer revealed Dumbledore's sexuality in a similar fashion, after the narrative of the original novels wrapped.

Then there's the comments about the intense 'sexual dimension' to Grindelwald and Dumbledore's relationship. While claiming she's less interested in that facet of their dynamic, it was odd that she mentioned sex at all. Harry Potter is not a franchise that focuses on sexuality much. Sure, the kids snog a bit in the novels, but it never gets past that. As such, fans (including myself) were perplexed that Dumbledore and Grindelwald's sex life was addressed so directly. We don't know basically anything about them as a couple thanks to their lack of screen time, and yet the fandom is now aware of how the beloved Headmaster gets down in the magical sheets.

It'll be interesting to see how the story of the Fantastic Beasts franchise continues its life on screen, as J.K. Rowling has quite a few balls in the air, narratively. And with all this controversy surrounding Dumbledore and Grindelwald's past, the iconic writer may have to adjust her approach to their relationship.

It's currently unclear when Fantastic Beasts 3 will arrive in theaters, but CinemaBlend will keep you updated on all the details as they're released. In the meantime, check out our 2019 release list to plan your next trip to the movies.

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You Can Still Be Part Of Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge Opening at Disneyland, But You Better Hurry

You Can Still Be Part Of Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge Opening at Disneyland, But You Better Hurry

We're just over two months away from the most anticipated addition to Disneyland since the park was built in 1955. Start Wars; Galaxy's Edge is almost ready for the public. When the attraction opens on May 31, you can be sure a lot of Star Wars fans are going to be ready to check out everything the new land has to offer. If you want to be among the first to see the new land, you still have a chance. but it looks like time may be running out

Last week, Polygon reported that all three of the Disneyland Resort hotels, the Disneyland Hotel, Paradise Pier Hotel, and Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, were sold out for the night before the opening of Galaxy's Edge, the night of May 30. However, as of this writing, there are actually some rooms available at both the Disneyland Hotel and Grand Californian for that night. It's possible that some cancellations have taken place, or that rooms that were not expected to be available, due to refurbishments or whatever, have now opened up. Either way, if they were sold out before, you can be sure there aren't many rooms left right now.

These rooms are important because if you have a reservation at a Disneyland Resort hotel between May 31 and June 23, you'll also get a reservation to get into Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge. While the exact way the reservation process will work has not been revealed, it would seem that the only way to ensure getting into the new land is to book a hotel room.

Of course, since we don't know how the reservation system works, it's not entirely clear if having a room booked the night before the new land opens will get you a reservation. If you're checking out on the first day, does that still work? Still, for some it may not even be a question of getting into Galaxy's Edge. Many fans will just want to be at Disneyland when the new land opens. It's sure to be a historic day in the park and one that will never be repeated.

Initial estimates were that Disneyland could see crowds of 150,000-200,000 people on opening day of Galaxy's Edge. It's hard to tell at this point if that's still the case. The fact that reservations will be required to get into Galaxy's Edge for the first three weeks means that many who don't have those reservations might stay away, waiting for the reservation period to end. Initially, it seemed that those looking to avoid the insane crowds might not show up on opening day, but thanks to the reservation requirement, opening day looks perhaps a bit more inviting.

The other thing that could limit some crowds is that not all of Galaxy's Edge will be up and running on day one. The new land boasts two E-ticket attractions, but only one of them will be running on May 31.

Millennium Falcon: Smuggler's Run will be available to guests, but the Rise of the Resistance attraction will not be. No official opening date has been announced for that ride, but it will arrive later this year.

Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge will be opening at Walt Disney World at the end of August, with the same missing attraction but without the reservation requirement. Both lands are actually opening earlier than anticipated, which may be the reason one attraction won't be available.  Of course, for the serious Disneyland or Star Wars fan, it's not like going back to Batuu more than once was ever really a question.

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