MarvelBlog News for the Week of April 11th, 2022

by David Mumpower · April 15, 2022

Audiences are more than ready to enter the Multiverse of Madness. Meanwhile, Moon Knight continues to surprise, and blood proved an issue with an older Marvel show; I’ll talk about all of it in this week’s MarvelBlog News.

Tickets Are on Sale Now!

Source: Marvel Studios

We start this installment of MarvelBlog News by reminding you all that we’re officially less than a month away from the release of Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness on May 6th!

Tickets for the wildly anticipated sequel went on sale the other day. If you wanted to go on opening night, it might already be too late.

I’m not joking. We had life get in the way until 12 hours after digital retailers opened their booking windows.

Source: Marvel Studios

By that point, the early previews on Thursday, May 5^th, had sold out for all but the worst seats. So we ended up having to book a 4 p.m. show instead.

Suffice to say that demand is off the charts here, and I can prove this via Deadline.

That site reports that Fandango’s pre-sales have surpassed any other title in 2022 to date.

Source: Marvel Studios

Now, that report comes with an asterisk. This is because we haven’t tracked many blockbusters thus far.

In fact, The Batman claims the best opening this year, and its results weren’t dazzling at $134 million.

Everyone expected Doctor Strange 2 to surpass that number anyway. Still, this seems like confirmation it’ll happen.

Source: Marvel Studios

However, the Disney/Marvel release notably isn’t tracking ahead of Spider-Man: No Way Home, which is possibly an unfair comparison.

After all, that’s one of the four biggest blockbusters ever. Still, that’s the measuring stick for comic book alphas right now.

Source: Marvel Studios

Since Multiverse of Madness functions as a sequel to Doctor Strange, Avengers: Endgame, AND WandaVision, I had hoped it might prove competitive.

Of course, that could still happen. We’re only a few days into pre-sales.

A Shorter Multiverse?

Source: Marvel Studios

The other significant story involves the run-time. I’d previously mentioned the reported length of 2 hours and 28 minutes in international markets.

Well, MarvelBlog News reports that there’s been quite the cut in footage. Multiverse of Madness, which once contained a length of more than three hours, will actually clock in at 2 hours and 6 minutes.

Source: Marvel Studios

That’s actually the shortest MCU title in several years! I did NOT see that one coming.

By the way, here’s an interview with director Sam Raimi if you’re interested. This is shameless clickbait for my wife, Raimi’s #1 fan.

Moon Knight Surprises

Source: Marvel

Moon Knight continues to mesmerize viewers with its fascinating exploration of an unreliable narrator in the MCU.

This past week, people uncovered a delightful Easter egg in the series.

When you notice a QR code on the walls of the museum or anywhere else, you should scan it! These codes are active on your phone!

Source: Marvel Studios

We also learned this week that there are two Moon Knights! I’m not giving away any spoilers from the series here. It’s straight from the director.

Apparently, one goes by the name of Mr. Knight while the other is M. Knight/Moon Knight. I suspect you can tell which is which when you watch the show.

Speaking of which, we should address the shocking reveal of the week…and it’s not from the series!

Source: Marvel Studios

During a Variety interview, Oscar Isaac just revealed something shocking.

Here’s the quote: “Isaac is not contractually obligated to remain in the MCU after “Moon Knight” ends its six-episode run in May.”

The actor explains it like this:

Source: Marvel Studios

““I was in a position — because I wasn’t actively looking to get back into something this big — to say, ‘This is how I see it, and if you guys don’t see it that way, that’s totally okay, but then maybe it’s not the right fit,’” he says. “And so I wasn’t afraid that I was going to do the wrong thing.””

Yes, friends. There is a real chance that Isaac ends his MCU tenure in four more episodes!

Speaking of the show, Nielsen ratings won’t come out for another couple of weeks. However, my friends at Samba provided me with some ratings data.

Source: Marvel Studios

This service tracked 1.8 million viewers for Moon Knight’s premiere, which is roughly triple what HBO Max’s Peacemaker managed. It’s also 20 percent better than Hawkeye.

Moon Knight is a massive hit!

Marvel Miscellany

Source: Marvel Studios

We’ve got several standalone stories to cover, but this is the most intriguing of them.

As you know by now, America Chavez appears in Multiverse of Madness. Unfortunately, Joe Casey, the creator of this comic book character, hasn’t been paid for it.

In fact, Marvel offered him a small one-time payment, but he rejected the money because it was apparently a pittance.

Source: Marvel Studios

This Variety article suggests that the amount may be as low as $5,000. Friends, many full-length articles you read in magazines pay that much.

Casey went public not because he’s disgruntled but instead to bring attention to how comic book publishers treat those who create their IP.

The piece should prove insightful if you’ve ever wondered how much Ed Brubaker earned for The Winter Soldier or stuff like that.

Source: Marvel

In other news, actor Anthony Mackie claims that Black Panther: Wakanda Forever has finished filming.

He’s not in the movie, but he knows people who are. So, I’m inclined to believe him.

Also, MarvelBlog News has to make note of Academy Award-winning actor Daniel Kaluuya apparently returning in the film. You may recall that his character foolishly picked Team Killmonger in the first film.

MARVEL’S AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR
Chadwick Boseman as T’Chaka/Black Panther

Speaking of Mackie, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier just had a scandal of sorts. Disney+ uploaded a less bloody version of one episode.

After an immediate fan outcry, Disney+ promised to switch it back. However, I’m inclined to believe this was an accident, as The Punisher makes this scene look like a Bluey episode.

Finally, I’ve got two filming notes for you. First, Sony’s Madame Web will reportedly start production in July.