MarvelBlog News for July 21st, 2024

This week, the Avengers director we discussed a couple of weeks ago is no longer the Avengers director.

The new Avengers director is – the old Avengers directors. Everything old is new again in the latest edition of MarvelBlog News.

What Now?

Please don’t shoot the messenger.

I’m simply relaying the information as I have it, and Marvel has taken a turn for the chaotic lately.

We witnessed that during the grueling multi-year process of Fantastic Four casting, and now it’s happening behind the camera with the Avengers.

Deadpool & Wolverine director Shawn Levy has apparently turned down the job that Marvel offered.

Specifically, Marvel wanted Levy to direct the next Avengers film, and he appeared to be the most obvious candidate.

As discussed last week, Levy is currently on a world tour with his BFFs, Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman.

Those two actors have strongly hinted that this isn’t the last time you’ll see them as their most iconic characters, Deadpool and Wolverine.

Instead, Disney, the corporate owner of Marvel, appears to have locked them up for multiple Avengers films.

Therein lies the twist, something I referenced with the previous Levy rumor.

Well, according to trade publications, it wasn’t a rumor. Marvel offered Levy the job.

However, Levy had previously agreed to direct a Star Wars film for Disney.

That’s probably two or three years out of his life, while signing up for multiple Avengers films could easily tie him up through 2028.

Despite what Marvel stories would make you believe, cloning technology isn’t that advanced yet.

Since we’ve only got the one Shawn Levy, he had to pick. Either he chose Star Wars, or Disney chose Star Wars for him.

I believe this was Levy’s choice due to the incredible time commitment for multiple Avengers projects.

This guy spent years working on the new Deadpool movie.

He’d probably like to take it easy rather than toss the entire weight of the MCU on his shoulders.

So, where does that leave us?

They’re Baaaack

We’re going back to the future.

Don’t worry. As we learned in Avengers: Endgame, time travel is possible.

On a seemingly unrelated note, Marvel will officially announce the directors of the next two Avengers films at Comic-Con this week.

You’ve probably already heard who they are, but if you’ve been off the internet this week, I understand. NCAA Football 2025 is pretty great.

Here’s what you missed. The freakin’ Russo brothers are back.

I realize you have questions. I’ll provide answers as I know them.

In 2018 and 2019, the Russos directed Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame.

In the process, they earned Marvel $4.8 billion. Not coincidentally, they’re quite popular at Marvel.

Also not coincidentally, other studios wanted to hire them, too.

There have been only six films to gross $2 billion or more.

The Russo brothers did in consecutive years. They’re that good.

Do you know what Marvel has lacked since Avengers: Endgame?

Sadly, the answer is a $1 billion film, much less a $2 billion film.

You can argue that the Avengers sold themselves at the time.

Still, the Russo brothers also created what many consider the best MCU standalone film, Captain America: The Winter Soldier.

They also directed Captain America: Civil War, which also earned $1.16 billion.

This duo has demonstrated the rare ability to tap into the zeitgeist and create well-reviewed comic book movies that the average consumer wants to watch.

Let’s just say it’s something the producers of Shazam! haven’t managed.

Sadly, Disney got cocky after all the MCU successes.

They believed that anyone could direct a mega-successful Marvel movie.

In the wake of The Marvels, we all know better.

Why the Russos Are Back

Disney wants and needs the MCU to be up and running at full strength again.

So, it has thrown a bag of money at the Russos.

Here’s an example of excellent timing.

The Russo brothers wanted to make a lot of money at a time when Disney was trying to tighten its purse strings.

Thus, the directors signed on to direct Cherry for Apple and Netflix’s The Grey Man and The Electric State.

While Apple and Netflix threw a lot of money at them, the films weren’t well-reviewed.

Also, there’s just less prestige in directing a straight-to-streaming movie.

So, the Russos earned a lot of money from deep-pocketed corporations and bided their time for the past five years.

Now, Marvel needs them again, and the brothers recognize the opportunity to ride in and save the day.

They have a chance to become the real-life heroes of the MCU.

While this deal isn’t completed yet, it looks like a huge win for Marvel and Disney, and the Russos are unlikely to turn down the deal.

They also have existing friendships with members of the Avengers cast, which helps at a time when Marvel would like to woo back Scarlett Johansson and Robert Downey Jr.

In the end, everything has worked out the way it should.

It just took five years longer than necessary.

Rumors are flying about the new title of the next Avengers movie, with some sources speculating it will actually be X-Men versus Avengers.

From a business perspective, that makes perfect sense; however, I still expect Avengers: Secret Wars to be one of the two films.

The Russo brothers have said many times that they’d love to adapt that comic book story as it’s one of their favorites.

Marvel Miscellany

The big news this week involves two women who aren’t in the MCU—at least not yet.

The latest Deadpool & Wolverine trailer shows Lady Deadpool.

This ties back to the previous rumor I mentioned that Ryan Reynolds’ real-life wife, Blake Lively, might portray that character.

The other report is more of an eye-of-the-beholder kind of thing.

For whatever reason, the Disney Store has started selling a pair of Dazzler t-shirts.

Not long ago, Entertainment Weekly staked its reputation on the fact that Taylor Swift wouldn’t appear in Deadpool 3.

I don’t know why Disney would suddenly start selling that merchandise unless they expected upcoming demand.

Your mileage may vary.

Finally, in news of the super weird, Microsoft has just released something it calls the Cheekiest Xbox Controller.

Yes, it’s a controller shaped like Deadpool’s butt. Or maybe it’s Lady Deadpool’s.

Either way, buy it if you want. I won’t kink shame!

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