MarvelBlog News for December 21, 2020

by David Mumpower · December 21, 2020

This past week, we learned more about Spider-Man 3, Fantastic Four, Dr. Strange 2, Thor 2, and other upcoming MCU projects.

I’ll tell you what you need to know in the latest edition of MarvelBlog News.

Marvel

More Like Spider-Man Infinity

This past week, Sony unleashed another batch of Spider-Man updates. Suffice to say that the studio isn’t messing around.

The sequel to Spider-Man: Far from Home seems like one of the biggest blockbusters of 2021, at least on paper.

Sony needs this film to secure its planned MCU-like franchise. So, it’s pulling out all the stops.

One of them even involves studio politics. You may remember that Sony and Disney famously broke up a while back.

Photo: Collider.com

Disney wanted a larger split of Spider-Man’s box office take, while Sony tried to play hardball. It went about as expected.

Sony had no hand in the negotiations and ended up ceding to Disney’s demands. Despite Sony’s misgivings, the deal made sense for both parties.

Disney doesn’t own the rights to the Spider-Man license and hasn’t at any point since its 2009 Marvel acquisition.

However, Sony’s Spider-Man movies all sucked from Tobey Maguire’s last film through both of Andrew Garfield’s.

Photo: FandomWire

Meanwhile, both Tom Holland titles qualify as critically acclaimed AND box office juggernauts.

So, the parties need one another, at least where Spider-Man is concerned.

For this reason, Sony and Disney have extended their agreement to work together. They will collaborate with Spider-Man for several more films.

In doing so, Disney assures that it keeps the character in the MCU, while Sony can lean on Marvel head Kevin Feige for Web Slinger advice.

The other big winner here is Tom Holland, who reportedly had his contract extended as well. Holland will remain Peter Parker for another batch of films.

Photo: Looper

Given the way that Marvel is currently rotating out the old guard of Avengers, the guaranteed work must serve as a relief for Holland.

Sony and Disney have jointly agreed to turn Holland into the new Robert Downey Jr.

More Spider-Man Goodness

We also just learned something that we’d all expected. J.K. Simmons will play a huge part in the next Spider-Man movie.

The actor shockingly returned to the franchise at the end of Far from Home, revealing Spider-Man’s secret identity while accusing Peter Parker of murder.

Photo: Change.org

Obviously, J. Jonah Jameson should and will factor significantly in the sequel.

What’s noteworthy is that Tobey Maguire’s reps have publicly discussed Spider-Man.

They’ve judiciously leaked word that the actor will return…if the price is right.

Photo: NME.com

Apparently, that price is more than what most performers get to STAR in an MCU movie.

I doubt Maguire gets it, but he’s definitely setting the market high by asking for eight figures.

Photo: Sony Pictures

I expect Andrew Garfield to aim similarly high, asking for a lot of money before settling for a $5 Starbucks gift card.

Garfield…has no negotiating leverage. He’s like Sony, really.

Photo :Kevin Winter/Getty Images

The other interesting update involves some of the returning supervillains. They’ll apparently feature different looks than we know from previous appearances.

Oh, and Kirsten Dunst and Emma Stone have reportedly joined the cast, too. Yeah, this project is absolutely massive in scope.

Photo: Caro Allegri/AP; Daniele Venturelli/Getty

Also, Disney clearly admires the work of director Jon Watts. He’ll helm the upcoming Fantastic Four project as well!

More Marvel Casting News

Now that Disney has committed to a pivot into a streaming service, it’s gotten loose with its cash.

The future of Disney+ and thereby the company hinges on the MCU, and that’s not an exaggeration.

So, Disney will do whatever it can to improve the quality of its upcoming projects.

To wit, Disney will bring back two beloved actresses. I mentioned the return of Rachel McAdams last week.

Photo: Today Show

The character that some have nicknamed Dr. Love, Christine Palmer, will play a role in Dr. Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.

I didn’t have time to go into it last week due to all the Investor Day announcements. However, I think this role could provide some intrigue.

Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness

Marvel

Stephen Strange may lose his marbles during the sequel, which means he might imagine Dr. Love rather than interact with her again.

Alternatively, Strange may run into Dr. Palmer if/when he returns to the hospital. However, that storyline is more challenging to justify.

Photo: MCU Exchange

Strange can heal himself via the mystical arts, but he cannot return to performing surgery. That would raise too many questions.

As such, I suspect Palmer won’t be real…unless Strange realizes his past relationship mistakes and attempts to make amends.

Similarly, Lady Sif will return in Thor: Love & Thunder. Her presence is exciting for two reasons.

One is that actress Jaimie Alexander played the role on Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. The MCU and Marvel television have had no intersection since then.

Marvel’s Thor: The Dark World” featuring Lady Sif (Jaimie Alexander). Photo: Jay Maidment/ Marvel

The other comes down to Love and Thunder’s central premise, Jane Foster’s evolution into Lady Thor.

Will Sif treat Foster as an ally or a competitor for Thor’s heart/title?

Photo: Marvel Studios

Then again, the real explanation may be much more straightforward. Much of Asgard has been wiped out. Sif’s one of the few living Asgardians.

Marvel Miscellany

Perhaps the biggest story of the week really won’t impact anybody much.

Photo: Screen Rant

Hulu has canceled Helstrom after one season. I mentioned the likelihood of this all the way back in May. So, the announcement is more of a formality.

Disney wanted to negate Ike Perlmutter’s power with Marvel programming. So, it restructured to give Kevin Feige complete oversight over Marvel TV.

Helstrom came from the old regime, which meant that it never had a chance at season two.

Perlmutter is somehow the Chairman of Marvel Entertainment AND persona non grata.

His notorious penny-pinching finally became a bridge too far, and that’s before we factor in some of his regrettable political stances.

Helstrom’s fate leads to an odd situation with Hulu’s upcoming series, M.O.D.O.K.

Patton Oswalt created this animated show and voices the title character. The rest of the cast is also outstanding, and the first trailer shows promise.

Ordinarily, animated television renewals are highly likely, especially for buzzworthy stories.