MarvelBlog News for December 15th, 2024
This week, Chris Evans returns to the MCU…but probably not as Johnny Storm. You know why.
Also, Denzel Washington offers a mea culpa after a recent misstep.
Source: Marvel Studios/ Sony Pictures
This is a mystery-filled week for MarvelBlog News. But let’s start with the Sony problem.
Kraven More Box Office
Source: Marvel/ Funko
By the time you read this, you may have watched Kraven the Hunter in theaters.
If that statement is true, you have my sympathy. As expected, the film…isn’t very good.
Photo: Collider
Rotten Tomatoes critics graded Kraven the Hunter at an aggressively awful score of 13 percent.
Where does that fall on the Sony Marvel Movies Suck scale? Well, it’s ahead of Madame Web…barely.
Source: Marvel
That film scored a paltry 11 percent, which sounds terrible because it is.
However, the Kraven news isn’t great because freakin’ Morbius, a meme of a disaster of a film, managed 15 percent.
Source: Sony/ Marvel
So, I guess Sony has created the Small, Medium, and Large versions of Suck, with Kraven sliding into that middle spot.
I’m having fun with this because, honestly, what else am I supposed to do?
Source: Marvel
We’ve known for two calendar years that this film was beyond salvation.
Sony’s goal all along has been to squeeze as much revenue from the project as possible to save face.
Source: Marvel
That’s why the title debuted in mid-December. The idea is for Kraven the Hunter to run into 2025.
You may wonder if that’s possible and why Sony would care. Well, the box office changes in a week.
Photo: Digital Spy/Marvel Comics
Once everyone goes on vacation, the box office soars to the point that all titles in release do well.
Sony is counting on that box office inflation to elevate Kraven the Hunter’s final number.
Deadpool’s Guide to Super Villains: Kraven the Hunter Trading Card from The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl by Ryan North, Erica Henderson, Rico Renzi, and Clayton Cowles. TC art by Maris Wicks. Photo: Marvel Comics
Cineplexes had other ideas, though. With this many interesting titles in release, Kraven only managed to play in about 3,200 theaters.
That’s roughly 1,000 lower than previous Sony films, which tells the story. Exhibitors are way down on Sony right now.
Source: Marvel/ Sony
Not coincidentally, Kraven the Hunter earned a pathetic $11 million this weekend domestically, which somehow throws under Madame Web.
We knew, but it’s still hard to watch.
Welcome Back, Chris Evans!
Source: Fox/ Marvel
Not that long ago, Chris Evans died horribly in a movie. And that movie was an MCU release.
I don’t think I’m spoiling anything by saying it was a hilarious moment in Deadpool & Wolverine.
Chris Evans as the Human Torch. Photo: Fox
Evans returned as his old Fox character, Johnny Storm from the Fantastic Four. It…ended badly.
Before that, Evans was also written out of the MCU when he finally returned to the 1940s to have that dance with Peggy Carter.
Source: Marvel
While that ending wasn’t as definitive, it sure hinted that Evans was done with the MCU.
Then again, Tony Stark died painfully in Avengers: Endgame. It was kind of a big moment in a film.
We’ve since learned that Robert Downe
Photo: BBC
y Jr. will return to the MCU, just not as Tony Stark…we don’t think.
Instead, RDJ will portray Victor Von Doom, at least as far as Marvel wants us to believe.
Photo: Marvel
Now, the word is out that Chris Evans is also back for the upcoming two Avengers films.
Oddly, nobody at Marvel has confirmed which character he will play, though.
Sam Wilson and Steve Rogers at Peggy Carter’s funeral. Photo: Marvel Studios
So, there’s at least a chance that Evans will join RDJ in portraying an entirely new character.
Honestly, that would make the most sense. If Steve Rogers returns, he’d have a claim to being Captain America.
Source: Marvel Studios
Marvel probably doesn’t want that confusion with Sam Wilson enjoying his big moment in 2025 with Captain America: Brave New World.
That makes the news of Evans’ return especially intriguing. And we also found out straight from Benedict Cumberbatch about his return.
But we did get confirmation that Hayley Atwell is returning as Agent Carter. So, we do have a guess…
Marvel Miscellany
Photo: BET
The funniest story of the week involves Denzel Washington, one of the most revered actors alive.
Even someone as accomplished as Washington is capable of making a mistake, and it’s the one we recently chronicled.
Photo: Marvel
The actor excitedly relayed that he would take part in the upcoming Black Panther 3.
This statement confused a lot of people, as nobody at Disney or Marvel had announced Black Panther 3.
Source: CNN
Instead, Washington accidentally spilled the beans. Now, he has sheepishly admitted the mistake.
According to the Academy Award winner, he called director Ryan Coogler and apologized for leaking the news.
Source: @MCU_Direct
Notably, Disney STILL hasn’t confirmed the project, but we all know it’s coming.
Circling back to Sony for a minute, producer and former Sony boss Amy Pascal sounds quite excited about Spider-Man 4.
Photo: Getty Images
During a deadline interview, Pascal states: “We have to deal with the fact that he decided he was going to give up being Peter Parker.
“And he was gonna focus on being Spider-Man because being Peter Parker was too hard. So that’s what the movie is about.”
Photo: Marvel
That sounds pretty good, doesn’t it?
In other Marvel news, Fandango just unveiled the top ten most wanted films of 2025. Brave New World is first!
In our biggest survey yet, we asked over 9,000 Fandango ticket buyers for their most anticipated movies of 2025 and here are the top 10! What are you watching on the big screen in the new year? pic.twitter.com/yCpWpzNX1L
— Fandango (@Fandango) December 11, 2024
Also, The Fantastic Four finishes in fifth, giving Marvel two of the top five. There’s no sign of Thunderbolts* in the top ten, though.
Image: Marvel
Finally, Ryan Reynolds apparently had his heart grow three sizes recently.
Appearing in full Deadpool gear, Reynolds and another superhero friend announce a charitable endeavor.
Photo: Ryan Reynolds on X
You can watch the video here, and I’ll strongly encourage you to do so. It’s delightful:
Thanks for visiting MarvelBlog.com! Want to go to Disney? For a FREE quote on your next Disney vacation, please fill out the form below, and one of the agents from MickeyTravels, a Diamond-Level Authorized Disney Vacation Planner, will be in touch soon!
Featured image: Marvel
