MarvelBlog News for May 2nd, 2022
Welcome to Media Week in the MCU! Yes, Marvel took center stage at CinemaCon and left exhibitors breathing easily for the first time since 2019, as we give you this week’s edition of MarvelBlog News!
Also, we had two significant Marvel movie developments this week, one of which I’d honestly expected. The other…well, nobody had seen it coming, but it makes perfect sense.
Source: Marvel Studios
Sony Hires a Wrestlemania Headliner
Do you know who the most popular musician in the world is? I know many people would guess BTS or Rihanna or Taylor Swift or Justin Bieber.
All these acts can brag about staggering financial and social media successes. However, only one musician in the world can claim the title of the best.
Source: Cinemablend.com
While this honor frequently changes in the music industry, the answer is currently…Bad Bunny.
Yes, I’m talking about the dude who battled The Miz at Wrestlemania last year.
Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, the artist known as Bad Bunny, was Spotify’s most-streamed artist in 2020 and again in 2021.
Source: wearemitu.com
He also just finished a record-shattering tour that earned $116 million.
Bad Bunny’s ascension to the throne of pop music happened so quickly and emphatically that articles have been written to explain the feat.
Simply stated, most artists are famous in their own country and then maybe a handful of others that speak the same language.
Source: nbcnews.com
To his credit, Bad Bunny creates music that crosses all language barriers, which has made him one of the world’s foremost celebrities.
Why am I talking about this on MarvelBlog? Sony just did something VERY smart.
In the wake of Morbius’ catastrophic failure, the studio reevaluated its plans for upcoming theatrical releases.
Source: Marvel
Then, Sony did something bold and forward-thinking. The studio hired Bad Bunny to star as Juan Carlos Estrada, the Latinx hero known as El Muerto.
In the process, Ocasio becomes the first Latino to play the lead in a live-action Marvel movie. It’s a massive deal for him, and it’s a brilliant move for them.
Source: Collider
As long as Bad Bunny doesn’t suck, his presence in this film will garner the right kind of headlines and remarkable media attention.
This move should pay massive dividends in the near future.
Now, the Bad News…
Source: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images
While we’re on the subject of Sony’s Spider-Man Universe, I’ve got some bad but expected news.
Director Jon Watts has helmed all three Tom Holland Spider-Man movies to date. Presumably, he’d like to do others as well, but that’s no longer certain.
Since the director just helmed one of the most successful movies ever, his dance card is quite full these days.
Jon Watts. Photo: Chuck Zlotnick
For this reason, he’s had to drop out of another project, and it’s gonna break your heart.
Watts will no longer helm the Marvel Studios reboot of Fantastic Four. In fact, his wording suggests that Watts may be done with superhero movies altogether.
Source: Marvel Studios/ Hollywood Reporter
“Making three ‘Spider-Man’ films was an incredible and life-changing experience for me.
I’m eternally grateful to have been a part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe for seven years.
I’m hopeful we’ll work together again and I can’t wait to see the amazing vision for Fantastic Four brought to life.”
Photo: Disney/Image Group LA via Getty Images
Marvel head Kevin Feige added:
“We were looking forward to continuing our work with him to bring the Fantastic Four into the MCU but understand and are supportive of his reasons for stepping away.
We are optimistic that we will have the opportunity to work together again at some point down the road.”
Photo: Alberto E. Rodriguez Getty
There’s nothing in these comments that hints at any acrimony. Still, if something pops up, we’ll be sure to mention it here.
Realistically, Watts probably realized that any upcoming comic book movie would be judged against Spider-Man: No Way Home, and that’s a tough bar to clear.
For the time being, Watts’ time as a Marvel movie director appears to have come to a close, though. Unfortunately, it’s the end of an era.
Marvel Media Bomb
Source: Marvel Studios
Okay, during CinemaCon, Marvel unleashed a wave of media updates about various projects.
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness clips seemingly dropped by the hour. Here’s the good doctor battling Gargantos:
Doctor Strange battles Gargantos in this exclusive clip from #DoctorStrange in the Multiverse of Madness. 🦑 @DrStrange #NationalSuperheroDay pic.twitter.com/0nDPA79WEq
— IMDb (@IMDb) April 28, 2022
Would you like a clip highlighting Wanda’s return? You’re in luck!
Here’s an Illuminati teaser:
New promo for #MultiverseofMadness
“The Illuminati will see you now” pic.twitter.com/PlbdD7zz5r
— ScreenTime (@screentime) April 26, 2022
And here’s a, well, popcorn bucket:
AMC shares a new video of their exclusive #MultiverseOfMadness popcorn box on TikTok!
The box will be available for sale starting May 5th. pic.twitter.com/2oli2LbLOD
— Doctor Strange Updates (@DrStrangeUpdate) April 27, 2022
There’s also a Zombie Doctor Strange clip floating around, but Disney apparently didn’t want that leaked from the conference.
So, the links to it keep getting deleted. But you can probably find one on Twitter if you look long enough.
During CinemaCon, Marvel also screened the first 20 minutes of the movie. Suffice to say that it was rather well received.
Source: Marvel Studios
In fact, exhibitors spent the conference crowing that they’re back, and it’s streamers who are in trouble now.
That’s a hot take that won’t last and will seem ridiculous down the road. Still, it underscores the confidence that theater owners have in Dr. Strange 2.
During the conference, Marvel didn’t reveal any new titles (boo!), but it did indicate a switch in release dates.
Source: Marvel Studios
I’d previously mentioned that Ms. Marvel may suffer a delay. Well, The Marvels just swapped release dates with Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania.
Ant-Man 3 debuts on February 17th, 2023, while The Marvels will wait until July 28th, 2023. This move suggests that Ms. Marvel may need more time.
Source: Marvel Studios
Still, we should also acknowledge that the Captain Marvel sequel offers more lucrative summer box office potential than Quantumania as well. So that could be a factor here.
Finally, Tom Hiddleston revealed that Loki season two starts filming in roughly six weeks.
Meanwhile, Feige has indicated that he’s heading to a retreat to plan the next decade of the MCU. No, really. He said that.
Photo: Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Disney
