MarvelBlog News for June 13th, 2022
This week, Marvel has confirmed a hot rumor from 2020. Let’s talk about the next significant movie coming to the MCU in the latest MarvelBlog News update.
The Thunderbolts Are Nearly Here!
Source: Marvel
About 18 months ago, MarvelBlog wrote this article. We did so based on a series of tips we’d gotten about plans in motion behind the scenes at Marvel. Many different outlets caught whispers of the same idea, one that people frankly could have guessed anyway; which is where this MarvelBlog News starts.
Over the past five years, Marvel has seeded several of its movies and television series with antiheroes and villains. Comic book fans know what this means, as the Thunderbolts have maintained a strong presence for 25 years now.
This group of slightly reformed superpowered beings mirrors the Suicide Squad from DC Comics. Over the years, some of the most iconic Marvel characters like Hawkeye, Black Widow, Green Goblin, Doctor Octopus, Luke Cage, and Deadpool have joined the Thunderbolts.
Source: Marvel
During the 21st century, the Thunderbolts have worked as a dysfunctional team of disposable problem solvers. Due to the name, you may believe that General Thaddeus E. “Thunderbolt” Ross created and ran the team.
That’s not the case. It was a rare comic book twist wherein Marvel presented the Thunderbolts as heroes before revealing they were the Masters of Evil. Baron Zemo led the initial group of villains masquerading as heroes, but some of his members actually turned good over time.
That sort of storyline has recurred often over the years, but some themes have remained in place. For example, the former Screaming Mimi has reformed as Songbird and always tries to do good.
Photo: Hobby Consolas
Generally, some supremely evil character like Moonstone stands in Songbird’s way as a “teammate” who prefers the dark side. The genius of this sort of storytelling is that Marvel can bring back some of its beloved villains as protagonists in a story. And that’s the plan here.
About the Thunderbolts Project
Source: Marvel Studios
Marvel just revealed that director Jake Schreier, a relative unknown, will lead the Thunderbolts project. Before now, Schreier’s greatest claim to fame came from Paper Towns, a John Green adaptation that earned less than $90 million worldwide, albeit against a paltry budget of $12 million.
According to recent reports, Kevin Feige loved Schreier’s pitch so much that he has prioritized this film over the upcoming Fantastic Four project. That aligns with another rumor MarvelBlog News covered a couple of weeks ago. Marvel probably won’t choose a director for Fantastic Four before the end of summer.
The reason is that the Thunderbolts movie takes precedence. Also, it requires plenty of maneuvering. That article I wrote in 2020 indicates how many potential Thunderbolts are already MCU characters.
Source: Marvel Studios
Possibilities include Yelena Belova, Ghost, The Winter Soldier, Baron Zemo, U.S. Agent, Taskmaster, Ronin/Hawkeye, the Swordsman, Ant-Man, and possibly even Venom.
That’s before we factor in new characters created for this project. Also, I’m probably missing a few. Would Moon Knight fit the bill given what we know? These are the kinds of debates occurring inside Marvel right now as Feige’s team plots this film. Who could fit the upcoming definition of a Thunderbolt?
For a while, rumors had suggested that a Dark Avengers movie was in the offing. However, I’ve held firm about Thunderbolts being more likely. The explanation involves potential branding issues more than anything else.
Photo: Marvel Comics
However, as I’ve stated before, the MCU could add the Dark Avengers later. It’s not an either/or thing. Both groups already exist in the comics, after all. Still, the excitement for Thunderbolts stems from the idea of rooting for the bad guys in the MCU.
DC Comics has gone 0 for 2 with its dreadful Suicide Squad and The Suicide Squad, but Marvel’s always better anyway.
I Am Groot
Speaking of James Gunn projects, the hit-or-miss badly director (you heard me) recently tweeted this:
They are animated shorts so not necessarily part of the Guardians saga. https://t.co/NEHWcmAHtS
— James Gunn (@JamesGunn) June 5, 2022
Yes, MarvelBlog News is here to report that the beloved Baby Groot will get a series of animated shorts on Disney+. These clips will arrive in less than two months on August 10th.
If you’re an MCU canon nut, Gunn has gone out of his way to say that these are standalone stories. They’ve got nothing to do with anything else in the MCU.
Instead, you should think of them as what they are, adorable Disney+ shorts likely to entertain the whole family. The underlying idea is that before Groot grew into an obnoxious teen in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, the delightful little tree embarked on a series of misadventures.
Photo: Marvel
Actually, that’s not quite correct since this Groot wasn’t the one in that movie since it’s not canon. But you get the point. Perhaps the closest analog for this project is Dug Days, which you can and should watch on Disney+ right now.
Marvel Miscellany
Source: Marvel Studios
Hey! It’s June 13th! This should mean only one thing to you. Tickets for Thor: Love and Thunder are now on sale at various sites like Fandango. You can and should purchase tickets immediately. Otherwise, you’ll face the same struggle that many Marvel fans have recently.
Both Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness and Spider-Man: No Way Home sold out almost completely on opening night. By booking your tickets now, you can ensure a good seat and a lack of fear about getting spoiled.
Speaking of Doctor Strange 2, it debuts on Disney+ on June 22nd. That’s…next Wednesday. The title will receive a physical disc release, though. Such releases aren’t always ensured these days, but a 4K Ultra HD disc will arrive on July 26th.
Source: Marvel Studios
You can probably buy the title on Vudu, iTunes, et al a week from tomorrow, I haven’t been able to confirm that, but it’s been the recent pattern for titles debuting on streaming services, though.
Finally, we have the opposite story with No Way Home. Sony is re-releasing the film in theaters on September 2nd. This version will feature five previously unaired scenes. Sony calls this release Spider-Man: No Way Home: The More Fun Stuff Version.
You wanted more Spidey and you got it! 🕷🕷🕷 #SpiderManNoWayHome: The More Fun Stuff Version swings into movie theaters in the US and Canada September 2! More countries to be announced soon! @SpiderManMovie pic.twitter.com/CNM7a53MTE
— Sony Pictures (@SonyPictures) June 11, 2022
That’s it for this edition of MarvelBlog news everyone, have a fantastic week!
