In this edition of The Week in Spandex, we look at Black Panther, Avengers: Infinity War, Avengers 4, Spider-Man: Homecoming 2, Silver & Black, Venom, Thor: Ragnarok, Ant-Man 3, Black Widow, Captain America: Civil War, Runaways, Inhumans, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Gambit, Deadpool 2, The New Mutants, Kitty Pryde, Doctor Doom, Justice League, Shazam, Wonder Woman, Suicide Squad 2, Green Lantern Corps, Batgirl, Supergirl, The Flash, Black Lightning, Arrow, DC’s Legends of Tomorrow, Krypton, Watchmen, Teen Titans Go! to the Movies, Suicide Squad: Hell to Pay, Scooby-Doo! & Batman: The Brave and the Bold, Bloodshot and more…
We’re just over a month away from the release of the first superhero movie of 2018, and it looks like Marvel can expect another solid hit with Black Panther, with the film setting a new Marvel Cinematic Universe record for advance ticket sales, shifting more than any other Marvel movie in its first 24 hours (even Lupita Nyong’o couldn’t get one!). Meanwhile, Marvel continued the marketing push with the release of an extended TV spot, IMAX comparison video and Dora Milaje featurette [watch them here and here] and director Ryan Coogler also spoke about T’Challa’s solo movie, and what makes it unique compared to other superhero films: “There have been a lot of superhero movies made. As a comic book and superhero film fan myself, I feel like we’ve seen a lot at this point. I think that the cultural element of [Black Panther] — and how cultural specificity takes such a big role in the film – that’s what makes it quite unique. I’m excited to see more [superhero movies], but there hasn’t really been a film about a character like T’Challa before. Hopefully we can pull it off, but it has the potential to be something that’s really unique in a lot of different ways. I think that you can’t ignore the idea of representation and also the excitement around Marvel Studios and the work that they’ve been able to pull off when telling original and unique stories. I think that folks are excited to see what the studio is able to cook up.” You can find the rest of Coogler’s comments here…
…After a year of shooting, Anthony and Joe Russo have finally wrapped production on Marvel’s hugely-anticipated Avengers: Infinity War and its as-yet-untitled sequel, with the filmmakers sharing an image of the Avengers 4 wrap cake featuring Thanos and the Infinity Stones [see here]. Some new set photos also arrived online, further adding to the theory that Avengers 4 will feature time travel (although a subsequent spy photo may have provided an alternative explanation). We also got a new piece of Infinity War promo artwork featuring Spider-Man, Captain America, Iron Man, Star-Lord, Black Widow, Gamora, Groot, Thor, Rocket Raccoon and Doctor Strange [see here], while you may also want to read Matt Taylor’s feature ‘Alan Silvestri’s Avengers Theme, and That Infinity War Trailer‘…
…Chris Hemsworth also shared his thoughts on the first trailer for Avengers: Infinity War, as well as revealing that he’s now open to extending his Marvel contract as the God of Thunder beyond Avengers 4, and that he’s hoping that Hugh Jackman can be lured back for one more outing as Wolverine now that Fox’s film assets are heading to Disney…
…It’s been reported this week that Marvel and Sony will begin production on the as-yet-untitled Spider-Man: Homecoming sequel on June 1st 2018 and shoot through to September, while Sony is said to be commencing production on its spinoff movie Silver & Black on March 5th. Meanwhile, Sony also released the first official image of Tom Hardy as Eddie Brock from the upcoming Venom spinoff movie this week, along with video footage of the ‘first look’ at last month’s Comic-Con Experience in Brazil. You can check those out here, while Hardy also shared another behind-the-scenes image which shows him alongside Marvel Studios founder and long-time Spidey producer Avi Arad [see here]…
…Fans will soon be able to get their hands on Thor: Ragnarok, with Marvel announcing that the Phase Three threequel will be available on digital on February 20th and on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray and DVD on March 6th in the States, with the UK digital release set for February 19th, with 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray and DVD on February 26th [check out the trailer and special features here]. We also got a peek at a behind-the-scenes featurette with director Taika Waititi taking us on a rather humorous tour around the set [watch it here], as well as some concept art showing an early Valkyrie design and alternate hairstyles for The Incredible Hulk [see here]…
…Elsewhere in the MCU, Michael Pena has revealed that talks have already taken place with regards to Ant-Man 3; Marvel has tapped screenwriter Jac Schaeffer (Nasty Women, The Shower) to pen a script for the long-rumoured Black Widow solo movie; new concept art from Captain America: Civil War arrived online, showing an alternative Ben Reilly-inspired Spider-Man suit; and Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance co-director Brian Taylor revealed that he’s become bored with Marvel Studios’ output, whilst praising Fox’s efforts with the likes of Deadpool and Logan…
…Following on from its season one finale [read our review here], Hulu announced that the Marvel series Runaways has secured a second season renewal from the streaming service. No such news for Inhumans from ABC though, with network entertainment chief Channing Dungey stating that: “[Inhumans] didn’t perform for us at the level that we would have wanted. We haven’t made any official decisions yet but I will say the numbers were less exciting for us as we hoped they would be…”
…Dungey also revealed that a decision is yet to be made on a sixth season of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., stating that: ““[Agents of S.H.I.E.LD.’s] creative this season I honestly think is the strongest that it’s ever been, and we’ve been really excited about what the producers are talking about for the second half of the season [and that plan will help] make a better determination about whether were going to order another season or not.” You can read Danny Hale’s review of the sixth episode of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. ‘Fun & Games’ here, while we also have a promo and images for the eighth episode ‘The Last Day’, which you can find here…
…20th Century Fox’s troubled Gambit movie hit another setback this week when Gore Verbinski (Pirates of the Caribbean) became the third filmmaker to vacate the director’s chair on the Channing Tatum-headlined X-Men spinoff, although unlike Rupert Wyatt (Rise of the Planet of the Apes) and Doug Liman (Edge of Tomorrow), this one was apparently due to scheduling issues rather than creative differences. As a result, Fox has pushed back the planned release to June 7th 2019 from its original date of February 14th 2019, as well as rejigging its upcoming Marvel slate: Deadpool 2 will now open on May 18th 2018 as opposed to June 1st, while The New Mutants has been pushed back ten months and will now hit on February 22nd, 2019 rather than April 2018 – that despite the marketing campaign being in full swing (watch the latest character promos here). X-Men: Dark Phoenix however is currently staying put in its November 2nd 2018 date…
…In other Fox news, it’s been claimed that Deadpool director Tim Miller is working on a Kitty Pryde solo movie; Legion creator Noah Hawley has revealed that it’s “business as usual” on his Doctor Doom movie until he hears otherwise following Disney’s takeover of Fox’s film assets; and long-time X-Men producer Lauren Shuler Donner was asked for her thoughts on a potential crossover between the mutants and the MCU, responding that she is very open to the prospect: “Sure, why not? Look, [the acquisition is] 18 months away, so who knows. For me, I think Bob Iger is one of the smartest men in the country. Alan Horn’s an old friend. Kevin Feige was my intern and assistant and then my associate producer on the first X-Men. Kevin and I started the X-Men together, so for me, if we work with Kevin, I’m happy…”
…Click below to continue on for Justice League, Shazam, Wonder Woman, Suicide Squad 2, Green Lantern Corps, Batgirl, Supergirl, The Flash, Black Lightning, Arrow, DC’s Legends of Tomorrow, Krypton, Watchmen, Teen Titans Go! to the Movies, Suicide Squad: Hell to Pay, Scooby-Doo! & Batman: The Brave and the Bold, Bloodshot and more…
