MarvelBlog News for January 26th, 2025
This past week, The Razzies hated Sony, Dr. Strange felt left out, and a rumor about Wolverine emerged.
We’ll discuss all the oddities in MarvelBlog News.
Feeling Left Out?
Photo: Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images North America
Benedict Cumberbatch is no different than you or me.
Okay, he’s got millions of dollars, global recognition, and a few major awards, but that’s not the point.
Benedict Cumberbatch Honored by Queen Elizabeth with CBE. Photo: InStyle
When it comes to the return of Robert Downey Jr. to the MCU, Cumberbatch had no more of a hint than you or me.
The actor performed an interview with Variety as part of promotion for an upcoming event.
Photo: Screenrant
During this conversation, Cumberbatch revealed the nature of his texts to Kevin Feige in the aftermath of the announcement.
Apparently, Dr. Strange felt that as an Avenger, he should have been part of Marvel’s inner circle on big secrets like this.
Source: Marvel Studios
When he learned that Feige had held out on him, Cumberbatch sent a bunch of good-natured, foul-mouthed texts to his friend.
I cannot post the text of them in a family publication, but let’s just say a lot of these words began with the letter F.
Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP
In fact, the unusually open Cumberbatch may have irritated his theoretical boss, Feige, during the course of the interview.
When Will Dr. Strange Return?
Source: TOMMASO BODDI/ GETTY IMAGES
The actor revealed that he isn’t appearing in Avengers: Doomsday.
Ordinarily, we’d all believe he’s playing coy, as the film promises to get Marvel’s most popular band back together.
Photo: Screenrant
However, in this specific instance, I believe Cumberbatch. He sounded a bit annoyed as he remembered the surprise.
So, he went ahead and spilled the beans that he’s a significant Avenger who won’t appear in the next Avengers movie.
Photo: Vanity Fair
Instead, Dr. Strange will return in Avengers: Secret Wars, and he suggests the change has nothing to do with Feige.
Apparently, Dr. Strange would have factored heavily into a showdown with Kang.
Source: Marvel
Once Marvel rewrote the story to have RDJ as Doom, the (former) Sorcerer Supreme no longer made sense in the story.
Now, Cumberbatch could be lying about his appearance, but I started thinking about it.
Photo: BBC
While rumors have percolated about the return of other characters like Natasha Romanoff, I haven’t heard a peep about Dr. Strange.
Also, Cumberbatch sounds genuinely annoyed, albeit in a humorous way. It’s like he knows the deal but is still irritated.
Source: Marvel Studios
That’s the behavior someone would demonstrate when friends are keeping secrets from him.
Anyway, we’ll keep following this story throughout the next year, as word will surely leak if he’s lying or plans change.
The Brave New World Update
Photo: Marvel
Three-week tracking has arrived for Captain America: Brave New World, and it’s mostly good news.
I’d previously indicated that the film isn’t sure to debut to $100 million, which wouldn’t be the end of the world anyway.
Photo: Marvel
However, the more current tracking, which is typically more accurate — not that tracking is ever really accurate – is positive.
Projections call for Brave New World to earn $95 million over the four-day holiday period, which is close enough to $100 million.
Photo: Marvel
Sure, Disney wouldn’t get the $100 million opener headline, which does help with future ticket sales.
Given all the behind-the-scenes drama with this project, I’m confident Disney will happily accept this total.
Photo: Marvel
Of course, the bigger question remains about whether critics and audiences like the film.
That aspect will go a long way in determining its short- and long-term financial outlook. But the opening weekend looks solid.
Photo: Marvel
Disney has started the heavy promotion phase, including this trailer to remind fans that tickets are now on sale:
Anecdotally, I bought two tickets for Thursday, February 13th, and they were the first two for that screening, which worries me a tad.
Photo: Marvel
By the way, Disney also released this, which I think is a smart marketing move:
Having the cast describe their reactions to the Red Hulk is a very good idea. That’s the thing that matters most in selling this film.
Marvel Miscellany
(Photo by ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images)
We’ve got two other stories to cover this week, one of which amuses me to no end.
The Razzies are out for this year. Their goal for every awards season is to highlight the anti-Academy Awards, which are the worst films of the year.
Source: Sony/ Marvel
Honestly, the implementation has been lazy for as long as I can remember, as it’s mainly a shock value awards announcement.
For 2024, two of the worst films come from Sony’s Spider-Man Universe, a point few would argue.
Source: Sony Pictures
However, the easier target is Madame Web, and The Razzies always take the lowest possible road.
So, that film “earned” six nominations, including Worst Actress, Worst Supporting Actor and Actress, and Worst Picture.
Source: Marvel/ Lia Toby/ Getty Images
Meanwhile, Kraven the Hunter, objectively a worse film, only got two nods because people were past caring at that point.
Still, the news could have been worse for Sony. The godawful DC movie, Joker: Folie à Deux, led the way with seven Razzie nods.
Photo: Sony
As always, the worst of DC is always the worst of all comic book movies. Come at me, Snyder troll farmers!
Finally, the strangest story of the week comes from Comic Book Movie.
Source: @VancityReynolds
The site reports a rather stunning rumor that Hugh Jackman will remain a part of the MCU for the next decade.
Hugh Jackman is 56 years old, which puts Wolverine at retirement age by the time we’re up to Avengers 7.
Logan (2017). Photo: Fox
Then again, as well as Deadpool & Wolverine did at the box office, I could see it.
As long as audiences aren’t tired of him, Disney will continue to run him into the ground, just as Fox did.
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