In this edition of The Week in Spandex, we look at Doctor Strange, Avengers: Infinity War, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, Captain America: Civil War, Iron Man 3, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Ghost Rider, Luke Cage, Iron Fist, The Punisher, Ultimate Spider-Man vs. The Sinister 6, Stan Lee: The Movie, X-Men: Apocalypse, Wolverine 3, Justice League, Suicide Squad, Harley Quinn, Man of Steel 2, Gotham, The Flash, Arrow, Supergirl, DC’s Legends of Tomorrow, Guardians, The Toxic Avenger and more…
There’s just a little over five weeks to go before the release of the year’s sixth and final superhero movie, as Marvel Studios opens up the magical side of the Marvel Cinematic Universe with Doctor Strange, and this week has seen the release of a new international TV spot [watch it here] and a featurette entitled ‘Inside the Magic’, which features some snippets of new footage and comments from Benedict Cumberbatch, Tilda Swinton, Rachel McAdams, Chiwetel Ejiofor and Kevin Feige [watch it here], while Hot Toys also debuted promotional images for its 1/6th scale collectible figurine for Cumberbatch’s Sorcerer Supreme [see here]. Meanwhile, director Scott Derrickson weighed in on the controversy surrounding Tilda Swinton’s casting as The Ancient One, explaining his casting choice and revealing that by switching the race of the character, he was convinced to include Wong in the film, having initially been reluctant to use him due to racial stereotyping…
…As the Russos continue with pre-production on Avengers: Infinity War, the directors have been chatting about the 2018 superhero epic, and whether we’ll see the introduction of Brie Larson’s Captain Marvel (something they let slip during a Q&A earlier this year): “It’s an incredible piece of casting,” said Joe Russo. “You couldn’t ask for better. Not only is she an amazingly talented actor but she’s a wonderful human being. We’re really looking forward to the opportunity of re-teaming with her… if we were to get the chance to work with that character.” Anthony Russo then offered a glimmer of hope for fans wanting to see The Defenders taking part in Infinity War, stating that: “We do consider everyone. We don’t want to get too specific about what’s going to happen with these movies. We want these movies to be a surprise for audiences…”
…It seems that Chris Pratt is hoping for some Netflix crossover in Infinity War, with the Guardians of the Galaxy star revealing that he’d like to see Star-Lord meeting up with Jon Bernthal’s Frank Castle: “It’d be awesome – I would like Peter Quill to meet the Punisher. He’s not in the Avengers, but if I’m talking Marvel Cinematic Universe, I think it’d be cool for Peter Quill. Punisher was my favorite growing up so that’d be cool for me to meet him…”
…That leads quite nicely to Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, and Kurt Russell has been chatting about the May 2017 sequel and its “complex story” about human issues and relationships: “I was really impressed that all of the people on the set were so excited because they felt this was so much stronger than the first one, that they really knew what they were doing and the story itself was strong. That pervaded the set. James and everybody else felt like ‘We got our sea legs on the first one, now we can really go. I was impressed with the stuff that I saw at Comic-Con, but they didn’t show you everything [laughs]. It’s a very complex story, and they really get into it. This is going to be one of the more—probably for Marvel, it’s more connected to human issues, family issues, parental issues, and issues that sons and daughters have with their moms and dads and their family tree, where they come from. I just think it’s going to be an interesting— Peter’s character in this one, he’s got dilemmas and he’s got decisions to make that are not just about whether to save that thing or that person. This is about finding out who you are, where you come from, and where you’re going…”
…With Captain America: Civil War now out on DVD and Blu-ray, the folks at Screen Junkies have given the Honest Trailer treatment to the Phase Three-launching threequel [watch it here], while Marvel has also released some alternative costume designs for The Vision [see here], concept art of Iron Man and War Machine taking down Giant-Man [see here], and a selection of keyframe artwork [see here]…
…A few months ago, Shane Black revealed that Marvel nixed plans for a female villain in Iron Man 3 due to concerns that it would hurt toy sales, and now actress Rebecca Hall has been speaking about her role as Maya Hansen, and how it was reduced during production: “That’s 100% true. I’ve been gagging to talk about it with someone, but I haven’t had the opportunity, weirdly. I signed on to do something that was a substantial role. She wasn’t entirely the villain – there have been several phases of this – but I signed on to do something very different to what I ended up doing. Halfway through shooting they were basically like, ‘What would you think if you just got shot out of nowhere?’ I was meant to be in the movie until the end… I grappled with them for a while and then I said, ‘Well, you have to give me a decent death scene and you have to give me one more scene with Iron Man,’ which Robert Downey Jr. supported me on…”
…Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. returns to ABC for its fourth season this coming Tuesday, and to whet our appetites we’ve had our first look at Gabriel Luna in full-on Spirit of Vengeance form as Ghost Rider, along with a couple of teaser promos featuring the Hell-Charger [see here and here]. Ghost Rider’s floating flaming skull also appears alongside Coulson and company on the official poster for the season [see here], while we’ve also had a new image of Chloe Bennet’s Daisy Johnson [see here], character portraits for the series regulars [see here], a sneak peek clip from the season four premiere ‘The Ghost’ [see here], and a batch of images from the second episode ‘Meet the New Boss’ [see here]…
…Gabriel Luna has also been discussing his excitement over bringing Ghost Rider into the Marvel Cinematic Universe, as well as being the first person to portray the Robbie Reyes incarnation: “You know, the moment I found out, all they had to say was two words: ‘Ghost Rider’. If that doesn’t get you fired up and make you want to do everything you can and do all the work necessary to make that character the best you can make him – first of all to get the job, but then to execute once you’re there – I don’t know what does. But it was also cool just knowing that the audience is built in. It’s been here since the ’60s. The book itself, the All-New Ghost Rider book by Felipe Smith and penciled by Tradd Moore and Damion Scott – it’s such a cool take. The Spirit of Vengeance has inhabited many individuals in the past, and Robbie just happens to be our latest iteration of Ghost Rider – just in time for me to step in and represent him as a Mexican-American, and as a kid from LA. I am from Austin, Texas, but I seem to play a lot of kids from LA. But yeah, I just thought it was a great opportunity, to expand on the canon and to do things that are going to be known as the things Robbie Reyes’ Ghost Rider did…”
…Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. showrunners Jed Whedon and Maurissa Tancharoen have been speaking about the show’s upcoming tie-in with Doctor Strange: “Our ties are at times very direct and at times are more thematic. The tie this year will feel more of a reflection of the movie, less an interweaving plot. As that movie hits the world, it comes at the right time in our show, and you will see some of those same ideas being explored. The same questions that our team is exploring leading up to the premiere of Doctor Strange, perhaps some of those concepts will be reflected in the movie and then carried through. Hopefully some of the questions that we’re asking will be answered by it and then pose some new themes and ideas for us to explore…”
…There’s less than two weeks to go until Luke Cage arrives on Netflix, and this week has seen the release of a new clip entitled ‘Be King’ featuring Mahershala Ali’s Cornell Stokes/Cottonmouth [watch it here], along with two character posters for Simone Missick’s Misty Knight and Rosario Dawson’s Claire Temple [see here]…
…Some new set photos have arrived online from Marvel’s Iron Fist, which offer up our first look at Game of Thrones and Star Wars: The Force Awakens star Jessica Henwick as Colleen Wing [see here], while Marvel Television has announced that Iron Fist will feature as part of its New York Comic-Con panel, along with Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and Legion, the animated shows Ultimate Spider-Man vs. The Sinister Six, Avengers: Ultron Revolution and Guardians of the Galaxy, and the world premiere of the feature-length animated movie Hulk: Where Monsters Dwell…
…Casting is underway on Netflix’s newest Marvel project The Punisher, with Ben Barnes (The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian) signing on to appear alongside Jon Bernthal’s Frank Castle; details on Barnes’ role is being kept under wraps, but if rumours are to be believed (and in this case, they probably shouldn’t), he’ll be playing Bobby Saint, the son of mob boss Howard Saint, a character created specifically for the 2004 Thomas Jane movie…
…This Sunday’s episode of Ultimate Spider-Man vs. The Sinister 6 will see Spider-Gwen making her animated debut, and you can check out a clip from ‘Return to the Spider-Verse: Part Four’ here…
…Click below to continue on for Stan Lee: The Movie, X-Men: Apocalypse, Wolverine 3, Justice League, Suicide Squad, Harley Quinn, Man of Steel 2, Gotham, The Flash, Arrow, Supergirl, DC’s Legends of Tomorrow, Guardians, The Toxic Avenger and more…
