MarvelBlog News for September 12th, 2022
Disney just hosted the 2022 D23 Expo. It’s a signature event for the company. So, understandably, Disney wanted plenty of Marvel announcements. We’ve looked forward to this event since Marvel underwhelmed at Comic-Con in July. So let’s talk about all the huge news in the latest MarvelBlog News!
The Trailers
ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA – AUGUST 24: President of Marvel Studios Kevin Feige took part today in the Walt Disney Studios presentation at Disney’s D23 EXPO 2019 in Anaheim, Calif. (Photo by Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Disney)
Disney didn’t provide as many trailers as people had expected. Social media users have expressed disappointment over this decision. However, Disney executives have correctly chosen to highlight one project over the rest, as they should.
Marvel perceives Secret Invasion as the Disney+ equivalent of Avengers: Endgame or, at a minimum, Captain America: Civil War.
This trailer matters:
Yes, that’s Nick Fury finally back on Earth after an extended journey throughout the galaxy. Maria Hill doesn’t act enthused to see him, what with him being a terrible friend and even worse leader these past few years.
The comrades-in-arms must get over their personal issues, though. They’ve got a Secret Invasion to stop. Spoiler: They don’t…at least not the first part. A money shot nearly a minute into the trailer shows Kingsley Ben-Adir and the magic of special effects.
Source: Marvel Studios
We still don’t know Ben-Adir’s role, as it’s one of the most closely guarded secrets in the MCU right now.
That clip hints that he’s somewhere in the range of Super Skrull or Skrull royalty, though. And you thought he was a badass as Malcolm X in One Night in Miami! Wait for what he does next!
Disney also debuted an atmospheric trailer for Werewolf by Night that is just…incredible.
Director Michael Giacchino is actually moonlighting here, as his main gig involves creating soundtracks for Disney classics like The Incredibles.
With Werewolf by Night, Giacchino is trying to pull off a Brad Bird by transitioning to live-action direction from a different Disney gig. Early results look encouraging, which is to say I cannot wait for October 7th to get here.
Source: Marvel Studios
Seriously, I’m not even a big Halloween fan, but the atmospheric vibe is pitch-perfect for the series. I like this trailer more than most of what happened in Moon Knight!
The Avengers Attraction
Source: Marvel/ D23
Here’s the surprise of the weekend. Disneyland Resort will add a third Avengers attraction, and it’s a big deal. Disney California Adventure will introduce an E-ticket attraction based on Marvel’s multiverse!
This park already operates Avengers Campus, which features two Marvel rides. Those are Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT! and WEBSLINGERS: A Spider-Man Adventure.
Now, a new ride whose name they didn’t say. However, Disney confirmed the villain as…KING THANOS! Yes, Thanos comes from a universe where he won. The Avengers learn this and go after him. You’re along for the ride and the fight!
Source: Marvel/ D23
Due to financial restraints, Disney had previously called off a Quinjet-based attraction at Avengers Campus. That happened back in March. Thankfully, Disney’s finances have since improved significantly.
So, we’re back to the planning phase on a new Disney ride. Park officials haven’t announced much by way of opening date yet.
However, this ride will be entirely new, which isn’t the case with all other Avengers attractions in operation today. As such, you’ve got reason to be excited!
The Thunderbolts Cast Revealed
Source: Marvel Studios
In December of 2020, I got tipped off to the existence of a Thunderbolts movie…possibly. At Marvel, everything remains in flux until it’s confirmed publicly.
Still, I wrote this article discussing which potential Thunderbolts were already in the MCU. This past weekend, Disney confirmed several of these appearances.
Source: Marvel Studios
We now know that the Thunderbolts will consist of (at least) the following characters:
- Bucky Barnes, AKA The Winter Soldier
- Ghost
- Red Guardian
- Taskmaster
- S. Agent
- Yelena Belova, AKA Black Widow
Also, Julia Louis-Dreyfus is making the rounds as the impeccably named La Contessa Valentina Allegra de la Fontaine.
The Plan for Thunderbolts
Photo: Hobby Consolas
In a recent news update, I discussed Marvel’s planned usage of the Contessa, who goes by Val. She’s the new Nick Fury. No, the old one isn’t going anywhere, although Samuel L. Jackson is 73 years old.
Instead, I’m referencing how Marvel wants a purveyor of the dark arts in the MCU as well. Fury’s a good guy who will act heroically. Thus far, we have no idea about the Contessa’s motivations and whose side she’s on…other than her own.
The Thunderbolts movie will establish said motives while also marrying a cast of eccentric personalities. We’ve got the two Avengers in Barnes and Belova. We also have reformed villains in Ghost and Taskmaster.
Taskmaster Helmet. Photo: Marvel
Then, there are the two who haven’t chosen a side yet. Those are Red Guardian, who will likely favor his adopted daughter, Yelena, and U.S. Agent. As a reminder, U.S. Agent flat out killed somebody and didn’t seem particularly remorseful about it. He’s trending toward true evil.
All these elements provide myriad storytelling opportunities for Thunderbolts. As a result, it’s one of the most important MCU projects in the offing. I’ve heard nothing definitive about the story yet, but I fully expect Black Widow to wipe the floor with U.S. Agent at some point in the film.
Other Marvel Updates
Source: Marvel/ Disney
Disney and Marvel executives quickly rolled through several updates. For example, Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur made an appearance. We also learned that Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania will (predictably) tie heavily into Avengers: The Kang Dynasty.
Since Kang the Conqueror plays the villain in Ant-Man 3 and Kang Dynasty, we all could have guessed that. Disney also confirmed something we’d previously discussed here. Anthony Ramos, the lead from In the Heights, will appear as The Hood in Ironheart.
Another painfully obvious confirmation involved Matt Shakman, who will direct Fantastic Four. Everybody knew that already. Meanwhile, the cast did NOT appear on stage as I’d hoped. Instead, marvel maintained radio silence about who was in the film.
Source: Marvel
Conversely, Vincent D’Onofrio and Charlie Cox happily appeared on stage. They announced that their new series is called Daredevil: Born Again. Marvel doled out other parcels like the casting of Everything Everywhere All at Once’s Ke Huy Quan as a Time Variance Authority agent in Loki season 2.
If you’re older or a cinema buff, you know him as Data from The Goonies and Short Round from Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom. He quit acting while still a child but returned to the industry in 2021 for The Goonies tribute film Finding Ohana. Quan only appeared in five projects from 1988-2020!
The Marvels also earned some discussion. Here’s a tweet about what will happen in the film (skip down if you don’t want to know anything):
We get a first look at The Marvels: Carol Danvers, Monica Rambeau and Kamala Khan switch places because their powers are entangled. It looks like a *lot* of fun, and Zawe Ashton is on excellent form as the villain. #D23Expo pic.twitter.com/yTMoDXqYfS
— Empire Magazine (@empiremagazine) September 10, 2022
Finally, Tim Blake Nelson will return as The Leader in Captain America: New World Order. So, the MCU ignored The Incredible Hulk for 15 years. Now, two of the villains from that film are officially MCU canon. The Abomination is currently appearing on She-Hulk. Then, The Leader will return in May 2024.
And that is all for this edition of MarvelBlog News, have a fantastic week everyone!
