MarvelBlog News for February 8 2021
This week, WandaVision comes clean, Tom Holland exaggerates, Anthony Mackie adds intrigue, and Edgar Wright meets an old friend.
Oh, and we may want to talk about that new Disney+ series in the latest edition of MarvelBlog News.
Wakanda Forever!
When Chadwick Boseman died, an entire industry mourned. The kind and talented superstar disarmed co-workers with his innate decency.
Photo: Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP
Those characteristics shined through in Black Panther, which aided the movie’s ascension into pop culture ubiquity.
When Boseman died, Marvel fans wondered whether the film franchise would die.
Photo: Strauss/Invision/AP/REX/Shutterstock
In fact, Black Panther 2 should start filming next month, but that obviously won’t happen due to the necessary delay to production.
The current schedule calls for a June start date. Even that timeframe seemed unreasonable but then…
Photo: Blackfilm.com
Ryan Coogler’s production company, Proximity Media, has signed an exclusive five-year deal with Disney.
Yes, all Coogler enterprises over the next five years will filter through Disney. And yes, that applies to the Black Panther franchise, too.
The shocker from this announcement involved Black Panther. Coogler has agreed to create a television series “based in the Kingdom of Wakanda.”
I’m using Deadline’s phrasing here because I find the capitalization interesting. I wonder if the author’s hinting at the name of the show.
Whatever the case, a story set in Wakanda will put a song in the hearts of Marvel fans.
(Joshua Sudock/Disneyland Resort)
When I wrote about possibilities to rule Wakanda, I recognized the depth of characters already in Wakanda.
A television show that tells their story would sell countless Disney+ subscriptions. This move represents a masterstroke for Disney and Marvel.
MarvelBlog News will continue to monitor every news tidbit we get on the subject.
Photo: Marvel Studios
While all the MCU series on Disney+ sound tantalizing, none can match Wakanda. There’s a reason why Avengers: Infinity War was set in Wakanda.
Who Taught You to Count?
Okay, I must make a mea culpa this week, as I’ve had something wrong all along.
Photo: Marvel
Since the original announcement for WandaVision, Disney+ has confirmed six episodes.
At the time, many analysts wondered about that, as it’s an extremely short length for a TV series.
Photo: Marvel Studios
Think about the situation in these terms. At 22 minutes per episode, WandaVision would run 132 minutes. Avengers: Endgame alone is 182 minutes.
Almost every Disney+ series lists six episodes as its baseline. However, Disney isn’t telling the truth here.
Photo: Indian Express
Apparently, the various shows will differ in episode length. To wit, WandaVision will air its final episode on March 5th.
Yes, that means we still have four episodes left. In fact, the most recent outing marks the halfway point in WandaVision.
We will apparently receive nine total episodes of WandaVision. However, some believe that the season (series?) finale will be a double-length episode.
Photo: Marvel Studios
Given this information, Disney+ will only skip one Friday between the end of WandaVision and the opening episode of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier.
Speaking of Which…
While we’re all obsessed with WandaVision (and rightfully so), we’re also less than six weeks away from the start of Marvel’s next series.
Photo: CBR
The Falcon and the Winter Soldier will debut on March 19th, and its stars have started doing press for the series.
Also, you can already find some excellent merchandise at places like Hot Topic. Check out this Sirius Black-ish Sharon Carter t-shirt.
🚨🚨Sharon Carter / Agent 13 Merchandise seen on Hot Topic’s website!
Black shirt https://t.co/lcoZ1aR6Ex
Grey shirt https://t.co/cBSwBucM3p#thefalconandthewintersoldier #sharoncarter #agent13 #emilyvancamp #disneyplus pic.twitter.com/vetskClCE4— Captain America and Winter Soldier News (@falconsoldierTV) February 4, 2021
Had you forgotten that she’s wanted? She did pick Captain America’s side in Marvel’s Civil War.
Now, she’ll appear in the series, which is terrific news. Actress Emily VanCamp has worked non-stop on television since she was 16.
She currently appears as the female lead in The Resident. She will apparently do the same in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. And her merch is fantastic.
Just Jared
Meanwhile, Anthony Mackie is selling hard on the premise that he’s not guaranteed to become Captain America.
During recent interviews, Mackie has suggested that his character never accepted the shield that Steve Rogers offered him.
So, he’s claiming that the entire series will determine who becomes the next Captain America.
Photo: Vulture
Now, I totally believe that’s accurate. Captain America isn’t a title to give away. A person must earn the shield.
However, I think we all know that the Falcon will be that person when everything’s said and done, barring something unforeseen.
Photo: Looper
Otherwise, Steve Rogers is wrong for thinking the Falcon is worthy. But it’s interesting that Mackie wants viewers thinking along these lines.
The other news update about The Falcon and the Winter Soldier is that Don Cheadle has confirmed a War Machine appearance.
Photo: Comicbook.com
Something in the series may set up Armor Wars or place War Machine on that path.
Oh, and have I mentioned that Songbird, leader of the Thunderbolts, might show up?
Marvel Miscellany
Okay, let’s tie together a few quick-hitters.
Photo: Disney/Image Group LA via Getty Images
As a longtime fan of Edgar Wright (we go all the way back to Spaced in 1999), I took it hard when he left Ant-Man.
At the time, Wright asserted that Kevin Feige had a different vision for the project, which has happened with multiple Marvel movies.
Well, I won’t spoil the how or why of it, but Feige and Wright recently reconnected after six years apart. The Empire podcast explains the how of it.
Photo: Variety
What’s important is that they’re friends again after a chilly split in 2014.
In news from the hype machine, Tom Holland showed his youth and inexperience with a recent statement.
Photo: Looper
The actor described Spider-Man 3 as “the most ambitious superhero film of all-time.”
Always under-promise and over-deliver rather than the reverse, Mr. Holland.
Marvel actors have gotten similarly loose-lipped about other projects. For instance, Simu Liu recently indicated that his Shang-Chi may join Agent Woo.
That project would be Agents of Atlas, an exciting proposition. Word has also leaked that Disney’s plotting a Shang-Chi sequel.
Also, given the glowing praise for Eternals from Marvel officials, you shouldn’t be surprised that the company’s thinking sequel for it, too.
Finally, in one of the weirdest stories I’ve ever reported in my life, Marvel may have confirmed this:
Andrew Garfield might be filming 'Spider-Man 3' in Atlanta
Wild that it may have leaked from a DoorDash employee 😂
(via @daisyjediridley) pic.twitter.com/Y8fQwGA56S
— ScreenTime (@screentime) February 1, 2021
Yes, a DoorDash driver claims to have delivered a meal to Andrew Garfield at the Spider-Man 3 shoot.
AtlantaFilming, a reliable Twitter follow, added this:
Some doordash driver just posted something you all will want to read…
— Atlanta Filming (@AtlantaFilming) February 2, 2021
We live in strange times, my friends. Have a lovely week.
