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[shadow=blue]Oscar Snubs: Idris Elba, ‘Beasts of No Nation’ Top Digital Discussion of Missed Nominations[/shadow]

Alyssa Sage
According to digital content analysis, “Beasts of No Nation” was the film that garnered the most Oscar snub-related online buzz on Thursday following the 2016 Oscar nominations announcement.

SEE MORE:‘The Revenant,’ ‘Mad Max’ Lead Oscar Nominations

Digital marketing company Amobee Brand Intelligence conducted an analysis of all digital content engagement surrounding Oscar nomination upsets on Jan. 14 by assessing over 600,000 mobile, video, web and social sites to measure what people were seeing, reading, interacting and engaging with regarding the topic of Oscar snubs.

Not only was Netflix’s “Beast of No Nation” the most-discussed snub, but the war drama’s lead actor Idris Elba topped the actor category. Ranking second for both the film and actor categories, “Creed” generated 96% as much Oscar snub-related digital engagement as “Beasts of No Nation,” and star Michael B. Jordan received 45% as much chatter as Elba. Coming in third place for film was “Carol,” with Will Smith (“Concussion”) hitting No. 3 in the acting category.

Considering that four of the top five films on the list feature black protagonists and the other focuses on a lesbian relationship, Amobee concluded that a common thread in what audiences considered an Oscar nom upset was the exclusion of minorities. Furthermore, the actor list is topped by three black actors and minority actresses are wholly missing from the list, which calls into question the number of quality roles being granted to minority women.

The company also applied its methodology to director nom snubs, which generated the only list that wasn’t dominated by minorities. Ridley Scott (“The Martian”) topped the list, while Steven Spielberg (“Bridge Of Spies”) and Ryan Coogler (“Creed”) generated 58% and 46% as much digital engagement, respectively.

For the second year in a row, the Academy nominated all white actors, resurrecting the #OscarsSoWhite hashtag on Twitter. The hashtag was birthed largely because “Selma” director Ava DuVernay and actor David Oyelowo were omitted from the 2015 Oscars race. Amobee discovered that #OscarsSoWhite was used 76,644 times between the Oscar nom announcements and 5 p.m. ET on Jan. 14.

Here’s the full rundown of Oscar-snub related data:

Films Most Associated With Oscar Snub
1. “Beasts Of No Nation”
2. “Creed
3. “Carol”
4. “Star Wars: The Force Awakens”
5. “Straight Outta Compton”
6. “Ex Machina”
7. “Sicario”
8. “Tangerine”
9. “The Good Dinosaur”
10. “Going Clear”

Actors Most Associated With Oscar Snub
1. Idris Elba (“Beasts Of No Nation”)
2. Michael B. Jordan (“Creed”)
3. Will Smith (“Concussion”)
4. Michael Keaton (“Spotlight”)
5. Kristen Stewart (“Clouds Of Sils Maria”)
6. Johnny Depp (“Black Mass”)
7. Jacob Tremblay (“Room”)
8. Helen Mirren (“Trumbo” or “Woman in Gold”)
9. Amy Schumer (“Trainwreck”)
10. Michael Shannon (“99 Homes”)

Directors Most Associated With Oscar Snub
1. Ridley Scott (“The Martian”)
2. Steven Spielberg (“Bridge Of Spies”)
3. Ryan Coogler (“Creed”)
4. Quentin Tarantino (“The Hateful Eight”)
5. Todd Haynes (“Carol”)

 

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[shadow=blue]Sicario - Blu-ray review[/shadow]

Denis Villeneuve's Sicario is out on Blu-ray and it's a tense thriller complete with a great picture and excellent sound.
If there's a moment where you think you've got Sicario figured out, then that feeling probably won't last very long. Denis Villeneuve's latest film carries over a few traits from his previous film Prisoners – a sense of mystery and atmosphere – but avoids falling foul of the same cliches.

In Sicario, Villeneuve has crafted a thriller that pulls few punches, making for an absorbing, engaging experience.

One of the film's virtues is that it gives little away, allowing the viewer to soak up the details and attempt to figure the narrative out for themselves. Emily Blunt plays Kate Mercer, an FBI agent leading a kidnap response team. Ostensibly the film's lead, she subsequently finds herself out of her depth in dealing with the drug cartels.

Sicario begins with a raid on a cartel safehouse that turns into something else when her team discovers scores of dead bodies. This leads to Mercer being brought onto an inter-agency team headed by Josh Brolin's Matt Graves. He asks Kate for her help in apprehending those responsible or, as he says with a mischievious smile, "to dramatically overreact". Joining them is Benicio Del Toro's 'cartel specialist' Alejandro, a mysterious figure who, naturally, doesn't play by the rules.

Nothing is truly what it seems, with characters either bending the truth or obstructing Mercer from getting to the bottom of what's happening. The lack of answers the film initially provides isn't a fault, it only serves to draw you into the narrative.

It helps that Blunt, Brolin and Del Toro are on top form. Blunt pitches an idealistic character who's frustrated by being kept in the dark. Brolin has a lot of fun playing an expert in deflection, and in Del Toro's Alejandro, the film has its most intriguing character - one that simmers and then becomes more prominent as the end approaches.
https://youtu.be/dgoY9KBEFgI
Visually, Sicario has the look of something that's been left in the sun for too long. Sandy yellows and browns dominate with cinematographer Roger Deakins – a multiple Oscar nominee who has never taken home a gold statue – capturing the dusty, desolate, desert locations with great clarity and scope. One scene of the soldiers descending into a valley is wonderfully staged.

Sicario was shot on digitial cameras and the transfer to home video is an excellent one. Detail is excellent – you can almost count the white hairs in Del Toro's beard – with black levels especially good throughout. A thermal vision POV sequence near the end offers little detail but is a good showcase for a TV's black and white contrast.

Sicario is issued with a Dolby TrueHD 7.1 soundtrack that majors on gritty realism. There's a naturalistic vibe, whether it's the echoes of a voice during an interrogation or a thrilling sequence involving a convoy of US agents and Mexican police racing through Juarez. Bumps in the road, engine sounds and tyre squeals are reproduced with a convincing reality that makes you feel involved in the action.

Then there's J?hann J?hannsson's score which errs towards sound design. Its mix of string orchestration, percussion and pulsating bass (your subwoofer will love it) is typified by one of the film's standout tracks, The Border. This release by Lionsgate also has a Dolby Atmos soundtrack for those who want a more engrossing surround sound mix.

You wouldn't call Sicario a delight to watch, but that would be missing the point. Instead it's a taut, engrossing crime drama that keeps its audience on its toes.

It's a top-notch release with an excellent transfer and high-quality soundtrack (your sub will get a work out). At two hours long, Sicario doesn't outstay its welcome, with its final few scenes sticking in the memory once the credits roll.

It's one of 2015's best films and a fine home cinema disc.

 

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[shadow=blue]The Queue: Ride Out the Storm With These On-Demand Disaster Movies[/shadow]

As you may be aware, a monster blizzard is threatening to blanket the East Coast in snow this weekend. The National Weather Service is forecasting up to two feet in some locations, with wind gusts topping 50 mph.

It’s the latest in a series of heavy weather incidents that have put the country on edge. When the weather outside is frightful, it’s time for movie night at home, I always say.

In the thematic spirit, we recommend five natural-disaster movies you can get on-demand, via various modes of digital distribution. Unfortunately, none of the good weather-related disaster movies are currently in the streaming subscription bins at Netflix, Hulu, or Amazon Prime. So we’ve provided links for digital rental or purchase through iTunes and Amazon Video. Also be sure to check on-demand offerings through your cable, satellite, or game-console network.

[shadow=blue]The Day After Tomorrow (2004)[/shadow]

When selecting a good disaster movie, put a premium on spectacle — big visuals, big sound, big effects budget. That’s why you don’t see a lot of small indie disaster movies. (Although there are some good ones.)

The Day After Tomorrow is a 21st-century take on the classic disaster movies of the 1970s, with mounds of catastrophic eye candy piled on top. In the film, climate change has triggered massive hemisphere-spanning storms and a subsequent planetary freeze. The big-budget special effects still pack a wallop, 10 years later.

[shadow=blue]Twister (1996)[/shadow]

Let’s be frank: Twister is not a good movie. But then it was never intended to be. This super-tornado disaster drama from the summer of 1996 is little more than a sequence of special-effects showcases, stitched together with Bill Paxton, Helen Hunt, and a goofy B-movie script.

The upside is, now that it has aged properly, Twister can be appreciated with a degree of ironic removal — like The Towering Inferno or The Poseidon Adventure. Enjoy the campy dialogue, but pay attention to those ominous images of mean skies and massive tornadoes. They’re deployed with real skill and are designed to hit you right in the brain stem. As a species, we’ve been scared of this stuff for a long, long time.

[shadow=blue]The Perfect Storm (2000)[/shadow]

Based on a true story, The Perfect Storm is another good excuse to surrender your critical faculties and binge on spectacle. George Clooney and Mark Wahlberg headline as Gloucester, Mass., hard guys on a commercial fishing boat that finds itself in the wrongest of places at the wrongest of times.

The film’s skillful mix of practical and digital effects results in some of the best heavy-weather sequences ever put to film. And the movie’s climactic money shot — featuring the mother of all rogue waves — is still a doozy.

[shadow=blue]An Inconvenient Truth (2006)[/shadow]

If you really want to scare yourself with a natural-disaster movie, look no further than An Inconvenient Truth, the 2006 Oscar winner for Best Documentary. The film famously documents the traveling multimedia presentation given by former Vice President Al Gore on the dangers of global warming and anthropogenic climate change.

Director Davis Guggenheim is among the planet’s leading experts at structuring this kind of issue-oriented documentary film. It’s amazing how much information a skilled filmmaker can pack into two hours. You get plenty of images of scary storms and weather too. An Inconvenient Truth plays like a v?rit? disaster movie in slow motion, with special effects replaced by raw footage and infographics.

For a disaster-movie curveball selection, consider this modest little offering from 2014. What’s fun about Pompeii is that it’s actually two movies in one. The first half is a kind of Gladiator-lite story of swords and sandals in ancient Rome, starring Kiefer Sutherland, Carrie-Anne Moss, and Game of Thrones hunk Kit Harington.

Then everything goes abruptly bananas with the infamous eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 A.D. The film switches into a historical disaster movie as the village of Pompeii is buried in flaming boulders and burning ash. Volcanic eruptions may be low on our collective list of natural-disaster anxieties, but it doesn’t hurt to be prepared.

 

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[shadow=blue]50 Years and Counting: 'Star Trek' Writers Explain Its Serious Staying Power[/shadow]

On the bridge of the starship Enterprise from left: Leonard Nimoy as Mr. Spock, Nichelle Nichols as Lieutenant Uhura, William Blackburn as Lieutenant Hadley, William Shatner as Captain James T. Kirk, Eddie Paskey as Lieutenant Leslie and unidentified actor on the Star Trek: The Original Series episode 'Space Seed.' The original air date was Feb. 16, 1967.
The starship Enterprise first hit television screens on Sept. 8, 1966. Since then, it's become a global phenomenon, spanning 700-plus individual episodes of television and more than dozen feature films, including this year's "Star Trek Beyond."
https://youtu.be/XRVD32rnzOw
There are events going on all over the globe to commemorate the anniversary, and a brand-new box set of remastered episodes on Blu-ray with every adventure of the original crew from screens big and small.

What is it that's given "Star Trek" its remarkable staying power? That's the question we put to David Gerrold and D.C. Fontana, two writers who have helped bring "Star Trek" to life over the years.


"The stories still ring true, even now," Fontana told us. She was one of the first writers to work on the original "Star Trek" series and wrote the pilot for "Star Trek: The Next Generation." It was the message "Star Trek" had that she felt gave it staying power.


"You sit down and you watch one and you get the message from the middle of the story, the one we were hiding behind science fiction, whether it was about feminism or racism or, you know, the Vietnam War, which nobody else could talk about but we could under the guise of science fiction," Fontana said.


Of course, "Star Trek" has made waves for many, including aliens, women and blacks, from the beginning. It even featured one of TV's first interracial kisses — between William Shatner's Captain Kirk and Nichelle Nichols' Lieutenant Uhura.


Writer David Gerrold was in college when "Star Trek" premiered on television, and he instantly began sending pitches for episodes into the studio. He's perhaps most famous as the writer who brought us the furry Tribbles and their love of the advanced space-grain quadrotriticale in the original series episode "The Trouble with Tribbles."
https://youtu.be/B2T1QX7BEyg
Over the phone, he told us that the success of "Star Trek" can be attributed to three things. The first part was that the show was fun. The second part was that it presents a "positive vision of the future where we're all thriving and working on interesting challenges."
He insisted that the third part of the franchise's longevity, however, isn't immediately obvious. "[The show] says that everybody's included; we're all going to be a part of the future. Nobody's being left out," Gerrold noted.

"In the past, television as a medium tended to erase," Gerrold elaborated. "Originally it erased blacks and Asians, and when they were included, it erased gay people. It didn't recognize the contributions that women make. And, so, 'Star Trek' was saying, look, here's women captains and black people and Asian people and now we have gay people and Klingons. So, it didn't matter who you were, 'Star Trek' says, you're part of this. And that's very important to the little kid watching TV at home wondering if he's going to be a part of the future."


Over the years, "Star Trek" has boldly offered a vision of the future that audiences have been able to look up to. With a new series called "Star Trek: Discovery" helmed by Bryan Fuller coming in January 2017, fans can only hope that "Star Trek" lasts another 50 years and beyond.

 

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[shadow=blue]Kushti: The Traditional Mud Wrestling of India and Pakistan[/shadow]
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Kushti is an ancient form of wrestling native to India, Bangladesh and Pakistan, and some historians see it as a precursor to the more well-known Greco-Roman wrestling style.
We humans find a lot of ways to express our competitive tendencies and compare our relative skills. There's throwing an orange sphere through a ring horizontal to the ground. There's sliding a weird weighted hunk across the ice. There's even galloping about on fantasy sticks. And if you want to add rolling around in the mud to the list, look no further than the South Asian sport of kushti, a form of wrestling also known as pehlwani. The freestyle matches last about half an hour, and a wrestler typically wins by simultaneously pinning an opponent's shoulders and hips to the ground. Learn more about this ancient sport in the images below.
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The monkey god Lord Hanuman represents strength and bravery and is the kushti patron god. Many kushti training centers have a shrine to the deity. SUBHENDU
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The traditional gyms and training centers for kushti are known as akhara. A typical akhara training regimen focuses on strength, weight and flexibility.
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Most akhara these days use modern gym mats, but those with mud and dirt floor still exist, particularly in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh.
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Kushti wrestlers are known as pehlwans, and the sport is known as pehlwani in Pakistan. The sport evolved during the Mughal Empire, roughly around the 17th century C.E. It combines native Indian malla-yuddha wrestling (a sport dating back 2,600 years) with influences from Persian varzesh-e bastanil wrestling.
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Pehlwans often live, cook and eat together in their akhara, and form small communities. The akhara are one of the few places in India where men of different caste backgrounds are supposedly treated equally.
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The special clay used in kushti pits is primarily dirt, but can also contain oil, buttermilk, yogurt, ghee (clarified butter), ochre or ground turmeric.
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While boxers may bump gloves to start a match, opposing kushti wrestlers will throw small amounts of dirt on themselves and each other as a blessing.
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Pehlwans can live ascetic lives, often cutting out smoking, alcohol and sex from their daily lives.

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In the same way that yoga practice carries meaning beyond the physical, kushti wrestling also has spiritual, moral and ethical dimensions.
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Wrestlers seek to simultaneously pin their opponent's shoulders and hips to the ground, though there are other ways of winning, including knockouts.

Kushti wrestlers had great success in the 2008 Beijing Olympics, and since then Indian authorities have sought to modernize the practice by shutting some traditional gyms.
https://vimeo.com/77211386

 

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[dropshadow=blue]Kevin Feige Amusingly Responds to James Cameron’s Superhero Criticisms[/dropshadow]
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Marvel Studios head and MCU mastermind Kevin Feige cleverly addresses James Cameron’s comments criticizing the comic book film genre. Building his career on the backs of superhero narratives, the 44-year-old Feige was expected to have the perfect rebuttal to Cameron’s arguments. But instead of making it a bigger issue than it should be, he opted to navigate his way out of the tricky question in the most clever way possible.

While everyone is gearing up for a huge Marvel week with the arrival of Avengers: Infinity War, it seems likely that the veteran sci-fi director won’t be joining the legion of fans seeing the epic blockbuster come opening weekend, following his latest comments regarding superhero films. Specifically citing the Avengers and the Guardians of the Galaxy, Cameron criticized the flicks for their “hyper-gonadal males without families doing death-defying things for two hours and wrecking cities in the process,” and blatantly said that he hopes that the audience will soon get fatigued from these types of stories.
Sitting down with Vulture during Infinity War’s press junket, Feige was asked for comments regarding Cameron’s recent tirade. The interviewer quoted the director and out of everything that he said about comic book movies, the Marvel Studios boss zeroed in on the filmmaker’s disclaimer quote that “[It’s] not that [he] I [doesn’t] don’t love the movies. It’s just, come on, guys” – obviously an attempt to soften his statements , but it was enough for Feige to form the perfect reply “Uh, he loves the movies! That’s awesome! Wow, James Cameron loves our movies! That’s exciting,” he said.

This is not the first time that Cameron had some words for the popular film genre. Last year, he criticized Warner Bros.’ Wonder Woman for its supposed depiction of a heroine and calling it “a step backward” regarding how Hollywood represents strong female characters on the big screen. Director Patty Jenkins eventually responded to the jab, but unlike Feige seemingly trying to brush it off with his own brand of humor (likely so the issue won’t be blown out of proportion), the filmmaker released a statement that was profound, sensible and dignified.

It’s uncertain where Cameron’s dislike (because despite his disclaimers, it doesn’t seem like he’s a big fan) for comic book movies is coming from. These films have tremendously helped the struggling box office in the last few years, not to mention introduced the movie-going culture to a whole new generation of fans. While there are questionable films (just like in every genre), there are revolutionary ones like Wonder Woman and Black Panther leading the charge for proper female and racial representation in Hollywood. One wonders if the filmmaker has had a chance to have a chat with Zoe Saldana – who will reprise her role as Neytiri in the long-delayed Avatar sequels – and is also a part of the Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy, considering the actress’ recent comments about elitists in the industry who look down on superhero flicks.

 

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[dropshadow=blue]Chris Evans: Captain America is “Dangerous” in Infinity War[/dropshadow]
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Chris Evans hints at a “dangerous” Captain America in Avengers: Infinity War. One of the three cornerstone actors of the MCU (joining Robert Downey Jr. and Chris Hemsworth), the 36-year-old’s stint as the star-spangled-wearing hero may be coming to a close, but there are still a lot of stories about him left to be told in the upcoming twin Avengers sequels. The actor hasn’t joined the rest of the massive cast for the epic blockbuster’s global press tour because of his debut Broadway commitment in Lobby Hero, but that didn’t stop him from promoting the newest Marvel flick.

Cap is probably the most changed Avenger since the last time people saw him in Captain America: Civil War. Following his conflict with Tony Stark/Iron Man and the Government, eventually becoming a vigilante, Steve Rogers is currently on a very different path than the one he originally envisioned himself to be on. And the lack of structure in his life, without having anyone to answer to but himself, has given him a bit of a space to devote time to whatever he thinks is the right thing to do.
Evans discussed these sentiments in a recent interview with USA Today, admitting that since his first days of becoming a super soldier in the ’40s, this is the first time that Cap has lacked “structure” in his lifestyle. However, this doesn’t make him any less of a hero. Fans know from the tie-in prelude comics that while he’s under the radar, he kept fighting the good fight by fighting ISIS alongside Black Widow and Falcon.

“He’s such a monastic character and he has such a quotidian approach to his existence. I imagine when he wakes up in the morning, there is a routine. Part of that is in his nature, part of that is just to keep his sanity, and that all kind of goes out the window a little bit after (2016’s Captain America: Civil War). You see a guy who doesn’t stop caring but just puts down some of that obligation.”

Cap’s new-found spontaneity may have allowed him to try the things he wants to do, but it also has some ramifications on his characterization. Evans added that because this is a relatively new lifestyle for Steve, he now has a bit of a tendency to let go of a bit too much control regarding his actions. And based on the actor’s comments, it seems like fans will be seeing a harder, more ruthless version of the character come Infinity War – in hindsight, something that the Avengers probably needs considering how dangerous Thanos is.

“I don’t think it’s in his nature to be too much of a loose cannon, but there’s a lack of formality. He’s checked all that at the door and he’s gone inside himself for a little while, and as a result, he’s a little irreverent and maybe even a little dangerous.”

Weeks ago, film directors Joe and Anthony Russo seemed to be teasing Cap as Nomad – an alternate persona of Steve Rogers in the comics – a man without a country. Having said that, no official confirmation has been made that he’ll be known as that moving forward, similar to how his best pal, Bucky Barnes is no longer the Winter Soldier, but the White Wolf. Fans won’t have to wait long to find out, given that Avengers: Infinity War is set to hit theaters in less than a week.

 

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[dropshadow=blue]No Hall H Panel for Marvel Studios at SDCC This Year[/dropshadow]

Excited to find out what the title of Avengers 4 is or learn what the first few movies of Phase 4 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe are? Don’t expect to find out at Comic-Con International in San Diego this summer.

Today during day two of the Avengers: Infinity War press junket in Hollywood, on the eve of the world premiere of the film, we spoke with the cast, directors, writers, and the mastermind himself, Kevin Feige. Feige tells us that while Marvel and Marvel Studios will certainly have a presence at SDCC 2018, there will not be a Hall H panel.
This is no doubt a disappointment to many who fought tooth and nail for a ticket for the Saturday of the event, traditionally the largest day for Hall H panels from film studios, and those who of course had to endure the hotel lottery. And with Solo: A Star Wars Story coming in May – the first Star Wars film to debut outside of December since Disney acquired Lucasfilm – will Disney have a panel at all on the film front this year? There’s not even a D23 event this year either.
Here’s specifically what Kevin Feige, Marvel Studios president of production, told our own Joseph Deckelmeier minutes ago:

“We’re going to do um, of course, Marve will have a presence there.Marvel Studios will have a presence there only in that there will be 10th-anniversary materials and a 10th-anniversary panel. Not doing Hall H this year”

Even if Avengers 4 and Phase 4 details weren’t in the cards anyway, the timing would have been perfect for a title reveal and to tease the first footage of Captain Marvel which is already deep into production. Ant-Man and the Wasp will already be in theaters two weeks before the convention.

Celebrating ten years directly with the fans at the venue where it all started would have been a great move too but this doesn’t rule out them having a major presence still. Costumes, props, set pieces, and even some of the stars themselves have graced the Marvel booth on the San Diego Comic-Con show floor almost every year they’ve had a panel so there’s still hope for something special for the fans to celebrate the 10-year anniversary. Otherwise, this is the weirdest year to take off. It’s the beginning of the end of the current iteration of the Marvel Cinematic Universe after all!

 

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[dropshadow=blue]Watch Anthony Mackie Hilariously Explain Infinity War’s Plot[/dropshadow]
https://youtu.be/4m2JSlOuQu8
Actor Anthony Mackie, one of the stars of Avengers: Infinity War, recently gave a hilarious summation of the movie’s plot while appearing on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. Given that Mackie couldn’t say too much with the high level of secrecy surrounding the highly anticipated film, his summary left Fallon with more questions than answers.

Anthony Mackie first entered The Marvel Cinematic Universe in Captain America: The Winter Soldier playing the role of Sam Wilson – a former United States Air Force pararescueman who was befriended by Captain America. Taking the codename Falcon, Wilson helped Captain America and Black Widow in foiling a plot to take over SHIELD. This earned him a place among The Avengers at the end of Age of Ultron and led to a fight at Avengers headquarters with Scott Lang during the events of Ant-Man. He was last seen among the imprisoned allies of Captain America at the end of Civil War.
The video of Mackie’s interview with Jimmy Fallon can be viewed above. The relevant section starts at around the 7:00 mark. In addition to describing the broad plot of the film, Mackie also discusses the proper pronunciation of the name of the film’s main villain, Thanos, The Mad Titan.”It’s tricky. So there’s a dude name Thay-NOSE,” starts Mackie. “Or Thay-NAWS, wherever you’re from.”

Mackie goes on to describe how Thanos is seeking The Infinity Stones. He also discusses how Captain America assembles the various heroes of Earth (not just The Avengers) to meet the threat that Thanos poses. Fallon questioned some of the dialogue that Mackie quoted. such as Steve Rogers’ request that they all “slide through, right quick...” “It was a rewrite! The original script is not the script you see!” exclaimed Mackie.

Humorous as Mackie’s description is, it tells us little that had not already been gleaned from the trailers or from the basic plot of The Infinity Gauntlet – the classic Marvel Comics mini-series which is believed to have provided most of the inspiration for the base plot of Avengers: Infinity War. While many comics have detailed Thanos’ efforts to acquire the six Infinity Gems and use their power for various schemes, The Infinity Gauntlet was the first and is still widely considered to be the best. We can rest assured, however, based on Mackie’s narrative, that The Avengers will “meet up with Thanos (and) give him the business” before the end of the movie.

 

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[dropshadow=blue]Avengers: Infinity War is ‘Not Black Panther 1.5 or Black Panther 2’[/dropshadow]
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Black Panther star Chadwick Boseman has reassured fans that Avengers: Infinity War will be far more than a sequel to his popular solo film.

It’s clear that Black Panther’s tremendous box office success will transform the MCU. A sequel is certainly in the cards, and there were recent hints that Ryan Coogler will be returning as director. In the meantime, though, Infinity War‘s entire third act is set in the fictional African nation of Wakanda. Feige was confident of Black Panther‘s success, and insisted on being “all in on stuff we believe in, before the audience tell us what they think.” As is so often the case for Marvel, it’s paid off. Recognizing Black Panther‘s popularity, the marketing for Infinity War has gradually turned towards promoting the Wakandan section of the film.
Speaking at a press conference for Infinity War, Chadwick Boseman stressed that this doesn’t mean Infinity War will simply feel like a sequel. “Avengers: Infinity War is Avengers: Infinity War,” he insisted. “It’s not Black Panther 1.5 or Black Panther 2. I feel like we have a strong presence in the movie… But it’s its own thing.”

Wakanda will play an important role in the film. In fact, production teams for Black Panther and Infinity War worked together closely. Marvel’s official Art of Black Panther book revealed just how much trouble Marvel had taken in order to develop the fictional African nation; they’d literally drawn up a map of the entire country, locating each of the tribal homesteads. That level of detail will have greatly helped Infinity War‘s screenwriters Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely, who had to consider where in Wakanda each scene will be set.

But Boseman’s comment suggests that Infinity War will still retain a strong sense of balance. That’s certainly the correct approach, given this is the 10-year anniversary celebration of the MCU. Infinity War will bring to an end a decade’s worth of plot threads, with Thanos pursuing the unlimited power of the Infinity Gauntlet. Major character arcs will finally come to a head, as Tony Stark faces the alien invasion he has feared since 2012’s The Avengers. And popular and much-loved heroes are expected to die; the odds don’t look to be in Steve Rogers’s favor. While it’s entirely right that Wakanda be part of the celebration, Black Panther is only the latest of Marvel’s tremendous successes. This film is far, far more important than any Black Panther sequel.

Of course, the one remaining question is how Wakanda will be affected by Thanos’s attack. In the comics, the African nation was left devastated. The big-screen invasion looks every bit as dramatic as the one realized by Jonathan Hickman in 2013’s Infinity event, and Boseman has promised “lasting ramifications.” When the inevitable Black Panther sequel is finally released, no doubt it will explore those ramifications.

 

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[dropshadow=blue]Avengers: Infinity War Directors Reveal Who’s Playing Corvus Glaive[/dropshadow]
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Infinity War directors Joe and Anthony Russo have finally revealed who is playing Corvus Glaive in the film; Michael James Shaw, an actor better known for his small-screen roles.

Thanos isn’t coming to Earth alone. He’s accompanied by his adopted “children,” the Black Order, and each one of them will be a terrifying threat for the Avengers. Three of the four voice actors are now known; Carrie Coon is Proxima Midnight, Terry Notary is Cull Obsidian, and Tom Vaughan-Lawlor is Ebony Maw. The final member of the Black Order, however, has remained a mystery. A brief clip released last week left many fans believing the part was played by Peter Dinklage.
In an interview with Cinema Blend, Joe and Anthony Russo finally revealed the truth. The actor in question is one Michael James Shaw. Shaw isn’t exactly a household name, and is more experienced working on the small screen. He has done a little work in the superhero genre before, though, playing Papa Midnite in NBC’s short-lived Constantine TV series. According to Joe Russo, “We cast a wide net for these characters.”

Anthony Russo stressed that every mo-cap character had been created using the same process that will bring Thanos to life.

“In the same way we were approaching Thanos with Josh Brolin to bring sort of a very grounded, realistic performance, we wanted to do that with everyone in the Black Order. So we cast very, very good actors for those. And we had Terry Notary, so Terry worked very closely with every one of them to help them understand, including Josh, to help them understand movement, what the relationship between their body and their characters’ bodies are, almost like a puppeteer.”

The reveal is something of a relief. Dinklage has been connected with Infinity War since January 2017, and viewers are eager to see the popular actor play a major role. The most popular theory is that Dinklage is actually playing Eitri the dwarf, an important character in Thor mythology. Eitri is the one who forged Thor’s hammer. Given Thor gains a new weapon in Infinity War, Jarnbjorn, it would make sense for the dwarf to be involved in forging that too. Regardless of whether this theory is accurate or not, it would certainly be disappointing to find Dinklage essentially playing a voice-only role. Meanwhile, this casting choice marks the moment Michael James Shaw steps on to the big screen in a major way.

Corvus Glaive is arguably one of the most important of the Black Order. In the comics, he’s celebrated as a skilled military leader, architect of Thanos’s greatest triumphs. It’s unclear how the character will be adapted for Avengers: Infinity War, but he’s sure to be a terrifying threat. And now it’s finally confirmed who’s playing this key role.

 

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[dropshadow=blue]Avengers: Infinity War Co-Director Dodges Question About Coulson[/dropshadow]
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Avengers: Infinity War director Anthony Russo dodged a question about whether Phil Coulson (Clark Gregg) will appear in the film. First appearing in the film that kickstarted the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Iron Man, Coulson became a fan-favorite character. That’s why it was so tragic when he was killed by Loki in The Avengers – and why it worked to finally unite the team of heroes against the God of Mischief. However, while Marvel TV revived Coulson for Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., currently in its fifth season, the movies never acknowledged his resurrection.
Instead, the films have largely ignored the television side of the MCU, while the TV series – spanning ABC, Netflix, and Hulu, and soon branching out – do most of the heavy lifting in terms of keeping the sprawling superhero universe connected. Still, fans have been wondering for years when the Avengers would learn that their fallen friend is back amongst the living. Many hoped to see some kind of payoff in Avengers: Infinity War, since the film is set to unite all the major movie heroes. While those at Marvel Studios have tried to temper expectations about any kind of TV crossover, one of Infinity War’s directors may have dropped a hint.
As reported by BuzzFeed News’ Adam B. Vary, co-director Anthony Russo was asked whether Coulson will appear in the movie during the press conference for Avengers: Infinity War this weekend. At first, Russo joked about wanting to talk about bass fishing (Chris Pratt had previously dodged a potentially spoiler-filled question by discussing bass fishing), but then spoke about the process of constructing the story of Infinity War. He said, “We thought about everybody in the MCU, and how they could play a role in the story.”

Russo didn’t confirm Coulson will appear in Avengers: Infinity War, but he also didn’t flat out deny the character would return somehow in the movie. There’s infamously a disconnect between Marvel Studios and Marvel TV, with the divisions answering to different leadership despite both being under the Disney/Marvel umbrella. However, Gregg is undoubtedly the biggest bridge between the film and TV sides of the MCU. Not only did he start out on the film side, but his story continued on TV. Most importantly, though, he’s set to return to the movies with a role in Captain Marvel.
Of course, Captain Marvel is set in the ’90s, meaning it takes place before Iron Man and The Avengers, so it’s quite different than Coulson appearing in Infinity War. It’s been argued that acknowledging Coulson’s resurrection in the MCU would undermine the narrative importance of his death in The Avengers. But him living on in the universe without the Avengers knowing is arguably one of Marvel’s biggest unanswered questions. So having it addressed in Infinity War would undoubtedly please fans.

Plus, Marvel TV head Jeph Loeb has said that the question of an Avengers and Coulson reunion would be “resolved” in some way, but that it would be surprising. (Though with Coulson’s death set up as a major plot point this season on Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., it’s possible it may be resolved with him simply dying again.) Still, Russo dodging the question about Coulson at the Avengers: Infinity War press conference is sure to get fans wondering whether the character will be referenced in the upcoming movie. Thankfully, with Infinity War set to hit theaters this week, fans won’t have to wait long to find out if he does, in fact, return.

 

[Administrator]

[dropshadow=blue]We May Have Figured Out Jabba’s Role In Solo: A Star Wars Story[/dropshadow]
https://youtu.be/M4EpTLdVeOw
Dialogue in a new Solo: A Star Wars Story TV spot seems to allude to Jabba the Hutt, clearing up some of the finer details of the spinoff’s plot. Since his introduction in A New Hope, Han has always been connected to Jabba, spending most of the original trilogy in debt to the crime lord after a smuggling job went wrong. Their pasts are so tied together, it seemed borderline impossible to make a movie like Solo without including Jabba in any capacity. And yet, as marketing heated up with trailers and TV spots, it looked like the Hutt would be missing from the action. He hasn’t been seen in any footage, and there aren’t any official hints he’s in the film… until now.
The last few weeks have been an onslaught of Solo TV ads, highlighting fun character interactions and franchise Easter eggs. This latest one, however, appears to bring narrative specifics to greater focus. The spot heavily features Dryden Vos, the “big shot gangster” who’s organizing a mission to Kessel. As he lays the stakes for Han and Beckett, Vos warns them that failure will leave them with no further options. “You know who I answer to,” he says. Since Solo is set in the galactic underworld, there are only so many individuals that could be in reference to.
Before getting choked to death by Leia, Jabba was one of the most powerful gangsters in the galaxy, running a criminal empire that operated in the Outer Rim (multiple Solo planets are located there). Though Jabba’s home was on Tatooine, his influence was felt across a plethora of worlds. Jabba even cut a deal with the Galactic Empire when the Imperials looked to eliminate Outer Rim crime; this allowed Jabba to conduct his business as usual, without having to worry about any competition. Since Solo is set in the pre-Rogue One heyday of the Empire, all signs are pointing to Jabba being the one Dryden is talking about. He essentially had a monopoly on Outer Rim criminal activities.

This isn’t just wild conjecture. Shortly after Ron Howard took over Solo directing duties last summer, rumors about Jabba’s involvement first popped up. It was uncertain exactly how the Hutt would factor in (initial reports had him playing a significant role), but now it sounds like he’s going to be more of an offscreen threat – similar to Emperor Palpatine in A New Hope. In all likelihood, Jabba will be mentioned by name to illustrate the severity of Han’s situation, but he may not physically appear in a scene. This would allow Jabba to have a presence in Solo and still give Howard the opportunity to spend more time with new characters. Additionally, one of the director’s famous social media set photos was an obscure Jabba reference, incorporating old Ralph McQuarrie concept art into the production design. Since new Star Wars canon has integrated some of McQuarrie’s work into projects before (most notably Darth Vader’s Rogue One castle), it wouldn’t be out of the question for Solo to tip its hat to the legendary artist.

The TV spot also makes it sound like the Conveyex vehicle Beckett and Han rob belongs to Dryden (and by extension Jabba), meaning the crew is recruited for the Kessel job as a means of repaying any debt they owe Vos. It wouldn’t be entirely shocking if things go south along the way, putting Han and Chewbacca at the mercy of Jabba to save their skins. Hence, Han’s smuggling career under the Hutt’s employment begins until he drops a shipment at the sight of an Imperial cruiser and gets a bounty on his head. This reads as a smart way of fleshing out Han’s complicated history with Jabba without leaning on the classic villain as a nostalgia crutch. If the goal of the Star Wars anthology line is to enhance the episodes, tying everything back to Jabba should almost be expected.

 

[Administrator]

Solo Explains A Weird Easter Egg From The Force Awakens
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Solo: A Star Wars Story has long promised to shed new light on the previous films, and even though the movie is still a few weeks away, new clips are already doing that: in this case, explaining a weird holochess easter egg.

Backing up, the movie was always going to be shedding light on the smuggler at its core. From showing just how extensive Han’s “special modifications” to the Millennium Falcon are to potentially retconning his personality across the original trilogy, it’s become abundantly clear that screenwriters Lawrence and Jon Kasdan and director Ron Howard weren’t just wanting to tell a basic “How he got to the Cantina” tale, but probe Han and the galaxy.
In fact, things go much bigger than one Corellian scoundrel. We’re seeing the early days of the Empire, the canonization of Tag & Bink, and potentially even getting some of The Holiday Special elements thrown in. And, if a new clip is anything to go by, Solo may also explain some of the Star Wars franchise’s more minor quibbles.
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Let’s go back to the last time we saw Han Solo: The Force Awakens. The first movie of the Disney-era of Star Wars, this was both a continuation/restart of the classic story and celebration of the franchise returning after ten dark years (longer depending on your view of the prequels). As such, it was filled with references and callbacks. Some big (like the plot bearing a strong resemblance to A New Hope), some more subtle.

One such easter egg was the holochess table on the Millennium Falcon, which at one point Finn accidentally turned on. That’s not what we’re concerned with, however, rather the state of the game he restarts: the pieces were in the exact same position as they were when Chewie and Artoo played dejarik in A New Hope, only this time they were attacking the other way around. A treat for eagle-eyed fans, sure, it also raised some logic questions: forty years after the journey to Alderaan, in which time the Falcon had gone through several different hands, the game ended up in the exact same state? If dejarik is anywhere near as sprawling as chess, the odds are worse than those of successfully piloting an asteroid field.

Like a lot of Episode VII‘s fan service, it felt like something cool that nevertheless broke credulity… until now.

In a new clip for Solo: A Star Wars Story, we see Chewbacca and Beckett, Han’s mentor figure, engaged in a game of dejarik: Chewie makes a move that allows Beckett taking his piece, leading to the Wookiee throwing a mild tantrum. The scene is essentially about learning to plan ahead – Beckett says to “anticipate your opponent“, potentially foreshadowing some subsequent double-cross – but the action in the game is what’s interesting. Chewie moves the orange, club-wielding brute, which is taken by the even-larger, rancor-looking behemoth: the exact same move and take that Chewie will experience with R2-D2 ten years later.
The implication here would seem to be that Chewie never was and never will be good at dejarik, incapable of getting into the mindset of a master chess player and think moves ahead. The result is that he makes the same mistake repeatedly. And if he does it against both Beckett and Artoo, he can do it to others much later in the timeline, making the game ending up in the same state a lot more understandable (and even suggesting he eventually gets the upper hand).

The question now is why this has been done by the filmmakers. Is this new scene a move by the Kasdans, Howard or the Story Group to address that niggle from Episode VII, or was this cyclical explanation, deepening a throwaway moment in the original Star Wars, always intended? Larry Kasdan did write The Force Awakens and was already working on Solo at the time: it’s possible, as with the gold dice originally intended to appear, he threaded more references between the two films. Of course, none of this may be intentional, and Lucasfilm has accidentally created and solved a weird logic gap.

Whatever the case, if they’re going to be resolving confusing easter eggs, we can only hope they’ll also explain the Millennium Falcon’s Revenge of the Sith appearance.

 

[Administrator]

Every Record Avengers: Infinity War Has Broken
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Last Updated: May 9

Marvel’s Avengers: Infinity War is breaking all sorts of box office records – and it doesn’t look to be slowing down anytime soon. The 2018 superhero team-up film – directed by Anthony and Joe Russo and based on a script by Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely – is undoubtedly one of the biggest movies ever to grace the silver screen. It’s billed as the beginning of the end of the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s first saga that began with the original Iron Man movie way back in 2008.

Although it’s technically the first part of a two-part story, Avengers: Infinity War successfully unites virtually every major MCU character from across the shared universe as well as intersects storylines that span more than a dozen movies. It’s a rather unprecedented feat in filmmaking and a true achievement in that regard, despite what one may think of the movie itself. Because of that – and because the movie unites the Earth’s Mightiest Heroes and the Guardians of the Galaxy against the Mad Titan Thanos – Avengers: Infinity War has taken off and broken several records in its path at both the domestic and worldwide box office.
AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR BROKE BLACK PANTHER’S PRESALE TICKET RECORD
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Avengers: Infinity War surpassed the last seven Marvel movies combined in terms of presale tickets sold. That meant passing Ryan Coogler’s Black Panther, which was the previous record-holder for most number of tickets presold for a superhero movie on Fandango. Sure, that may seem like a specific record, but most tickets are presold on Fandango and the sheer number of superhero movies hitting the market means there are a lot of properties to compete with. Plus, AMC also stated that Infinity War‘s presale tickets had surpassed Joss Whedon’s Avengers: Age of Ultron by more than 1,000 percent, which itself was more than 250 percent than Black Panther.

AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR SET MCU THURSDAY RECORD
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Considering that Avengers: Infinity War broke all presale ticket records, it makes sense that it would also set the record for Thursday night previews for an MCU movie. Avengers 3 grossed $39 million on Thursday, April 26, which was then factored into its single Friday gross. That number easily puts Infinity War past Avengers: Age of Ultron‘s previous record of $27.6 million that it set in 2015. The next movie that would logically break that record, if it’s even possible, is the Russo Brothers’ Avengers 4, due out in theaters in May 2019. That would be a nice way to keep the record streak going for the Avengers films.
AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR SETS SINGLE SATURDAY GROSS RECORD
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Avengers: Infinity War had the highest-grossing Saturday of all-time despite second for the highest-grossing Friday slot. Infinity War pulled in an astonishing $82.1 million on Saturday, April 28, which was technically its second official day of release in the United States. That number is significantly higher than the competition, too: Jurassic World ($69.64 million), Marvel’s The Avengers ($69.57 million), Star Wars: The Force Awakens ($68.29 million), and Black Panther ($65.99 million). Granted, none of these numbers take into account ticket price inflation, but even so, Infinity War has a comfortable lead above every other movie to not worry.

AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR SETS SINGLE SUNDAY GROSS RECORD

Avengers: Infinity War kept its record-breaking streak going over its opening weekend by taking the top spot on Sunday, April 29, as well. Infinity War grossed $69.23 million to pass Star Wars: The Force Awakens‘ opening Sunday gross of $60.55 million. Again, even though box office records don’t take ticket price inflation into account for many, many reasons, Infinity War would still hold the record for highest-grossing single Sunday at the domestic box office if the numbers were adjusted for ticket price inflation, albeit not by as much as some people might think.

 

[Administrator]

Which Characters Will Be Killed off Permanently in Avengers 4?
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Warning: SPOILERS ahead for Avengers: Infinity War

The death count hit an all-time high for the MCU in Avengers: Infinity War, so audiences are no doubt desperate to discover who will be killed off permanently in next year’s Avengers 4. With time travel playing an integral role in the upcoming Avengers assemblage, the deaths from Infinity War can be undone. This much is certain. However, that won’t likely save the remaining survivors in the battle’s finale—nor will it prevent any resurrected characters from making a swift return to the grave before the credits roll.

As tragic as the end of Infinity War might have been, everything is fixable. Not unlike other movies where the villain ends up succeeding in the end, Infinity War strips hope to the bone; but the heroes are essentially gifted with a do-over. They get the chance to pursue the comeback of all comebacks (resurrecting the lives of half the entire universe). That said, though, as is the case with all wars, permanent casualties are inevitable. In the same vein of Thanos needing to sacrifice something for the sake of “the bigger picture,” some Avengers may need to lay down their lives for the greater good.
So, seeing as it’ll be difficult saying goodbye to the MCU’s beloved characters (some who’ve been around for the past decade), it might help to be emotionally prepared. Nothing is certain (not only because the Avengers 4 script is so tightly bound in secrecy, but because there are no sure bets with time travel), and the surviving roster of Avengers may well meet their makers in the final fight against Thanos.
CAPTAIN AMERICA AND IRON MAN
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Though there is technically no way to know for sure what the ultimate fate will be for characters in the MCU, Robert Downey Jr. (Tony Stark/Iron Man) and Chris Evans (Steve Rogers/Captain America) have all but confirmed their respective ends with the franchise. Not only have neither of the two actors renewed their contracts for future films, they’ve publicly stated their wishes to call it quits. Downey Jr. stated that he might have room left for one more Iron Man movie, while Evans told The New York Times that it’s time he jumps ship. So, unless their statements are little more than attempts to throw people off, Avengers 4 could well be the end. And if that does turn out to be the case, how exactly might it happen? And is there a chance that their exits won’t result in death?

Tony Stark may have never been officially marked for death, but his end is almost certainly nigh. His entire character arc since the first Iron Man revolved around paying for the sins of his father (on account of war profiteering). Tony’s innovations saved a lot of people, but also killed plenty others as well (see: Wanda and Pietro Maximoff), and he’s been constantly attempting to make up for his mistakes. By the time he reaches Infinity War, he seems indifferent to his own survival—which is saying a lot for someone as inherently self-serving as Tony Stark. At the end of Infinity War, he experiences a near-death moment after Thanos stabs him, and even in the poster for Infinity War, Tony is positioned in the “Jesus pose,” which is to say the visual cues suggest that he might end up sacrificing himself in the end. Obviously, that didn’t turn out to be the case, but the battle isn’t over just yet…

As for Steve Rogers, his character arc was set in motion from the very beginning as well. Even before he’s beefed up with the Super Soldier serum, Steve displays a repetitive trend of selflessness (remember when he jumped on the dummy grenade in The First Avenger?), and his journey has only gotten significantly more complicated. He’s never fit in—not in the past and not in the future—and that’s given him the unique ability to remove himself from the equation, putting others before himself without a moment’s hesitation. Now, given the stakes of Infinity War, it’s fitting that his arc would pay off with the ultimate sacrifice (even though he tells Vision that the idea of sacrifices won’t even be entertained, which would lend itself to some lovely dramatic irony).
All that aside, however, the end of Tony and Steve doesn’t necessarily have to result in death. In fact, given that time travel is a key component in Avengers 4 (which, by extension, opens the door for potential alternate timelines and dimensions), their ends could end up playing out like an episode of Doctor Who. The character Amy Pond and her husband are drained of their potential energy by the villainous Weeping Angels by way of being sent back in time in a wonky sort of paradox. So, if the MCU decides to send off the team’s original leaders, without killing them, this new foray into time travel could turn out to be literal life saver in the end. If the franchise does end up going down this road, it could even leave the door open for a potential return for these characters somewhere down the road. It’s long shot, for sure, but it definitely keeps the ball in Marvel Studios’ court.

THE ORIGINAL AVENGERS

After Thanos snaps his fingers, wiping out half the universe, only a minor portion of the Avengers are left alive—specifically, all of the original characters from Phase One, as well as a few extras, like Rocket (and Ant-Man, if these behind the scenes photos from Avengers 4 are any indication). And though this was something worth celebrating at the end of Infinity War, it doesn’t come close to keeping them safe in the final showdown.

With Tony and Steve out of the way, that leaves Thor, Bruce, Natasha, and Clint. On one hand, Natasha seems like the safest bet, considering a Black Widow movie is in the works. Only, in the MCU, safe bets don’t exist. Since the standalone movie will most likely turn out to be set before Natasha’s induction into the Avengers, Natasha’s fate at the end off Avengers 4 is up in the air. In fact, the Black Widow movie could easily turn out to be a salute of sorts – honoring her memory, as opposed to continuing her story.

As for Bruce, it’s tough to say. He and his green alter ego have been mostly backseat drivers for the whole of the MCU up to this point, so their collective fate is difficult to grasp for the long run. Mark Ruffalo is contractually obligated to star in one more movie following Avengers 4, but that could mean one of two things: he renews his contract for more movies or he does, in fact, die in Avengers 4, only to show up in a flashback for a future movie. However, even though it’s unlikely Hulk will ever get his own standalone movie, his arc has finally started to pick up steam following Thor: Ragnarok; so unless he and the green guy round out a perfect sendoff in Avengers 4 before falling victim to Thanos, chances are he’ll stick around a little longer.
The same can’t be said for his Ragnarok sidekick Thor, unfortunately. Having rounded out a clean, if not imperfect, trilogy, it feels like the right time to pass the torch onto new Asgardian leadership—perhaps to Tessa Thompson’s Valkryie (who is still alive). Thor has lost everything in his pursuit of intergalactic peace, even explaining to Rocket in Infinity War that he has nothing more to lose. So, given that he has personal beef with Thanos, it’s borderline inevitable that he’ll try his hand at a Round 2 fight. And what better way for a soldier like Thor to perish than in the heat of battle? On the other hand, though, not wanting to divert attention from Tony and Steve’s individual deaths could easily be what saves Thor’s demise for sometime later in the franchise—assuming he renews his contract that ends with Avengers 4.

Last in line is Clint Barton (also known as Hawkeye, and returning as Ronin in Avengers 4). Though missing in action during Infinity War on account of being under house arrest post-Captain America: Civil War, Clint returns to the action in Avengers 4, likely on account of his family perishing due to Thanos’ finger snap. When he returns, he’ll be meaner and madder than ever, making him an integral re-addition to the team. And given the fact that Jeremy Renner has a standalone Hawkeye movie in his contract, expect to see him make it out alive in this outing.

 

[Administrator]

[Impact]How A Quiet Place 2 Won't Be A Typical Sequel, According to John Krasinski[/Impact]
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A Quiet Place director and star John Krasinski explained how he was convinced to return for A Quiet Place 2 and how it won't be a traditional sequel. Initially there were no plans to return for a sequel, but Paramount managed to get Krasinski back in the writing position. The original film was a hit with fans and critics alike so it was no surprise when a sequel was announced, and A Quiet Place 2 is scheduled to be released in May 2020. It is not yet known whether any characters from the first film will return for the sequel, but that hasn't stopped Krasinski from teasing how the follow-up will differ from the original.

A Quiet Place was set in a post-alien invasion society where every survivor has learned to live without making a sound. The film focuses on the Abbott family and how they have adapted to the unexpected change in the world. Krasinski Starred as the patriarch of the family, Lee Abbott. Alongside Krasinski was his real-life wife Emily Blunt, who starred as Evelyn Abbot, the matriarch of the family. Together, the couple were figuring out how to raise their children, played by Noah Jupe and Millicent Simmonds. It was only last month that Krasinski expressed his plans to pen A Quiet Place 2, but he more recently offered additional insight into why he decided to return.
During The Big Picture Podcast, Krasinski addressed how most sequels stick to a formula involving a certain villain, or hero and how he felt this was where most sequels fell down in quality. He continued on to explain his sequel will not be a retread the original, stating:

“Why I had this little idea that’s now gotten bigger is most sequels are about a villain returning or a hero returning, and you have to build this entire world around just the idea that I have a hero or a villain. That’s a lot, and I think that’s where a lot of sequels go wrong because as much as you love that hero or villain, the entire thing is fabricated just to make that person work. With A Quiet Place 2, we have the world. So it’s actually the world that’s built, it’s the idea that the rest of the world is going through this exact same experience. Are there other people that have to survive like this? It’s that idea of living through the set of circumstances, not again in the same way obviously, but exploring it more. You only got to do it intimately for a small amount of time, so what happens next?”

There were rumblings of the sequel possibly focusing on a different family in the Quiet Place universe and it seems that will ultimately be the route A Quiet Place 2 takes. In the original film, it was made clear that other survivors existed in the area around the Abbott family. That doesn't mean the sequel will focus on one of those groups, but it does suggest there are a plethora of surviving groups around the nation trying to maneuver through the overtaken alien society. One thing is for certain if Krasinski's character appears in the film: It will have to be in the form of a flashback or hallucination. Similar to the AMC TV show The Walking Dead - which also depicts a futuristic human society rebuilding after being destroyed by non-human enemies - Krasinski has penned a universe to explore, and that seems to be what will happen.

A Quiet Place was one of the better cinematic experiences from this year, and when a concrete story for the sequel is announced, it will definitely have fans talking. The original film introduced audiences to a world in turmoil, and now it seems the sequel will be exploring it even further, according to Krasinski. Of course, some may wish the sequel explored what happened before the world was invaded, allowing for the first film's characters to return. But, even if the sequel focuses on a different set of people, that doesn't eliminate a potential return for the Abbotts entirely.

 

[Administrator]

[Impact]Captain Marvel Funko Pop Won't Reveal Jude Law's Character Name[/Impact]
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Not even the new line of Captain Marvel Funko Pop! figurines will officially confirm Jude Law's role. Marvel Studios has made a habit of casting some of the biggest names in Hollywood in their films, and that is no exception for Brie Larson's solo movie. However, it's not unusual for their true roles to be kept under wraps up until release.

This has been the case for Law's character from very early on in Captain Marvel. The initial reports of his casting pegged him in the role of Walter Lawson (aka Mar-Vell), the original Captain Marvel who plays a major role in Carol Danvers' origin story. Although this was expected to be the case, Law has been strangely secretive about the matter, and Marvel followed suit throughout the earliest stages of marketing. They refused to officially name his character, leading to speculation that he isn't Mar-Vell as previously thought. For anyone hoping his identity would be confirmed soon, that doesn't appear to be the case.
Funko released their entire collection of Captain Marvel products today. The toys feature many of the characters that fans would expect. There's individual figures for three Captain Marvel looks, the red and blue Captain Marvel, military Carol Danvers, and the Starforce version of her - apparently named Vers. There's also figures for Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson), Maria Rambeau (Lashana Lynch), and Skrull super villain Talos (Ben Mendelsohn). However, it's the inclusion of the mysterious "Star Commander" toy that continues to keep Jude Law's character name a secret.

This toy is just the latest example of Marvel's unwillingness to reveal Law's character name. Law was previously allowed to describe his character as a "devout leader" who is "driven by a belief in the divine leadership of the Kree people." This description and Marvel's increased secrecy helped ignite theories over Law's true character. But, the secrecy has signaled to many that Law's identity could be part of a major twist for Captain Marvel. This could be a situation similar to Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, where the twist of the movie revolves around someone close to the hero turning out to be an antagonist.

The theory goes that Law is actually playing famed Captain Marvel foe Yon-Rogg. If this is indeed Law's true role, then it will be interesting to see if Marvel confirms it at any point in the marketing, which could be unlikely given how they've operated so far. Captain Marvel's marketing could set up the Skrulls as the sole bad guys, only for the film to ultimately reveal that the side Carol is fighting on isn't completely in the right either.

 

[Administrator]

[Impact]Angel Has Fallen Gets Summer 2019 Release Date[/Impact]
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Gerard Butler's action sequel Angel Has Fallen has secured a summer 2019 release date. The ‘Has Fallen’ franchise has proved surprisingly robust, and launched in 2013 with Olympus Has Fallen. The movie was one of two competing White House under siege blockbusters of that year, but Olympus Has Fallen’s R-rated violence and b-movie thrills proved much more popular than Channing Tatum’s White House Down, which ultimately failed at the box office.

A sequel titled London Has Fallen was soon greenlit, with Butler’s gruff secret service agent Mike Banning having to lead the president (Aaron Eckhart) to safety after they’re shot down in a terrorist attack. The movie received mostly bad reviews based on its ugly tone and cheap CGI, but it proved to be another success. The third, and supposedly final, chapter Angel Has Fallen was soon announced, which finds Banning on the run after he’s framed for an assassination attempt on the president.
After being the vice president in the previous two outings, Morgan Freeman has – naturally – been promoted to president for Angel Has Fallen, when Eckhart declined to return. Butler has promised Angel Has Fallen will be a darker, more character driven entry, and has compared the sequel’s tone to 2017’s Logan. Now THR is reporting the movie finally has a concrete release date and will arrive in cinemas August 23, 2019.

Gerard Butler seems to have found a comfortable niche as the leading man in mid-budget, R-rated action movies. In addition to the ‘Has Fallen’ franchise, he also scored a hit with Den Of Thieves and will return as scowling cop Big Nick for the sequel. The actor hasn’t had a great run leading blockbuster films, however, with both Gods Of Egypt and Geostorm being critical and commercial duds in recent years.

He’s also hoping to launch a brand new franchise with Afterburn, which is based on the graphic novel of the same name. The story takes place in the aftermath of a giant solar flare that destroyed the Eastern Hemisphere, turning it into a mutant-filled wasteland. Butler leads a gang of thieves into this scorched landscape to steal rare objects. The actor has stated he wants to end strong with Angel Has Fallen, but while the movie is supposedly the final installment, it's not hard to envision another sequel happening if it does well enough.

 

[Administrator]

[Impact]Avengers 4 & Captain Marvel Trailers Reportedly Coming Next Week[/Impact]

The long-awaited trailer for Marvel Studios' Avengers 4 - and the second trailer for Captain Marvel - will reportedly be released next week. Fans have been waiting impatiently for their first real taste of what Avengers 4 has in store since they first left theaters grieving the loss of Thanos' snap victims. In the meantime, Captain Marvel's first teaser trailer debuted in September, and received a round of applause from most, leaving fans eager to see more footage of Carol Danvers' solo origin story.

Marvel Studios has been infamously tight-lipped about everything to do with Avengers 4, even refusing to confirm the rather obvious fact that most - if not all - of the heroes dusted by Thanos will return, despite most of said characters being contracted for further films. Most frustrating to many is Marvel's refusal to even confirm what the title of the hotly anticipated team-up sequel is, with the non-reveal of the title having almost turned into a running joke at Marvel-related events.
Well, it looks like the wait is finally nearing its end, as several industry pundits - including John Campea - are reporting that Captain Marvel's second trailer will arrive Monday night, during NBC's Monday Night Football to be exact. Since Campea's tweet, Daniel RPK of Super Bro Movies replied with a confirmation of his own, and also said that Avengers 4's trailer will follow on Wednesday morning. Their tweets are below.

He's right. Just got confirmed to me. Captain Marvel tomorrow night. Avengers 4 trailer on Wednesday morning.

So there you go. https://t.co/qmopjbv0LR

— Daniel R (@DanielRPK) December 2, 2018
Despite the reports going around on social media, it's important for Marvel fans to remain cautious. Neither trailer's impending arrival has been confirmed by Disney or Marvel Studios, and it's advisable not to get too excited for the moment, just in case these latest reports prove to be inaccurate. While many of the people supporting the validity of these dates have track records of reliability, it's always better to not get one's hopes up too high, and risk the same crushing disappointment that resulted from prior reports that Avengers 4's trailer would finally appear soon.

If the above reports are accurate though, Disney is making a wise move by saving Avengers 4's trailer for after Captain Marvel's. With no disrespect whatsoever intended to the magnitude of Marvel Studios' first female-led solo MCU movie, anything coming after the fabled trailer for Avengers 4 would likely be seen as a disappointment. Plus, this way Disney has the opportunity to get the public more acquainted with Carol Danvers and her heroic alternate identity before Captain Marvel likely plays a prominent role in whatever awaits within the Avengers 4 trailer.