(L to R) Sebastian Stan, Scarlett Johansson, Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo, Danai Gurira, and Chadwick Boseman in ‘Avengers: Infinity War.’ Photo: Marvel Studios.
Preview
- Marvel is reportedly considering a return for some beloved Avengers stars.
- Jonathan Majors’ ongoing legal problems are proving a headache.
- The studio has faced issues with newer movies such as ‘Blade’ and others.
There was a time when Marvel was on top of the Hollywood tree –– its movies were almost always guaranteed hits, people were loving the interconnected storylines and there was hope that the Marvel Cinematic Universe could stretch its Hydra-like tentacles into the world of streaming, providing a wealth of content for Disney+.
These days, there is more trouble than an assault from Doctor Doom (who we’ll have to wait to see on screen). Recent releases aside from ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3’ have failed to set the box office alight and there have been quality concerns about visual effects on screens big and small, a key element of making the stories work.
So, how does it plan to try and right the ship? According to a new report from Variety, the studio could look to its past to help its future.
Could the original Avengers actors return?
(L to R) Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Evans, and Robert Downey Jr. in ‘The Avengers.’ Photo: Courtesy of Marvel Studios.
While this is far from a concrete possibility, the Variety story cites sources saying there have been discussions about bringing back the likes of Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans and Scarlett Johansson to reprise their roles as fan-favorite Avengers characters.
Of course, all that would depend on whether the actors would even want to return at this point, and perhaps more crucially, the realization that the budget to pay the salaries of the likes of RDJ would require breaking several piggy banks.
Still, the idea of the Avengers as a selling point would help assuage issues with someone who was planned to be the big bad of future team-up films. ‘Avengers: The Kang Dynasty’ and ‘Avengers: Secret Wars’.
An upcoming film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s sixth Phase and the finale of The Multiverse Saga. Plot unknown. Read the Plot
The Jonathan Majors issue
Jonathan Majors as Kang The Conqueror in Marvel Studios’ ‘Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania.’ Photo courtesy of Marvel Studios. © 2023 Marvel.
Yes, one of the biggest problems currently facing Marvel is Jonathan Majors, who appeared as different variations of the multiversal character Kang in ‘Loki’ Season 1 (he’s back as another version for Season 2) and ‘Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania’.
But Majors is embroiled in a huge domestic violence legal case with a trial set for later this month. And that is a giant headache for both Marvel and parent company Disney (which pulled the planned release of his Sundance movie ‘Magazine Dreams’ from the release slate amid all the legal worries).
The MCU team has yet to specify how it’ll address the issue going forward –– but it needs to figure it out quickly as the first of the new ‘Avengers’ movies was supposed to be shooting next year (though that could also be delayed thanks to the knock-on effect of the actors’ strike). There’s a chance the studio could recast the role or pivot to some other villain.
‘Blade’s blunted path to screens
Marvel Studios’ ‘Blade.’
‘Blade’ was supposed to be one title that got fans particularly excited. Marvel boss Kevin Feige announced Oscar winner Mahershala Ali as the new version of the vampire-battling vigilante once portrayed by Wesley Snipes.
Yet that has faced its own issues – two directors so far, several writers, innumerable drafts of the script (including, reportedly, one where Blade was the fourth lead in his own movie) and a shutdown six weeks before shooting was to begin.
Michael Green, who wrote ‘Logan’, is the latest writer aboard and the aim is to shoot the movie on a cheaper budget next year.
A film set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) based on the Marvel Comics character of the same name. Read the Plot
Related Article: ‘Deadpool 3’ Faces Release Date Delay Amidst Actors Strike
Bright spots in Marvel’s future
(L to R) Ryan Reynolds as Deadpool and Hugh Jackman as Wolverine in ‘Deadpool 3.’ Photo courtesy of Ryan Reynolds Instagram account.
There are, at least, some positives if the Marvel team can get the right –– the Fox deal gave Disney the rights to the Fantastic Four and X-Men, and Feige and co. have been figuring out how to introduce two of the most famous comic book teams into the MCU.
‘Deadpool 3’, which was halfway through shooting when the actors’ strike shut it down, is certainly seeing some excitement, and that’s a potential way to bridge to the future.
And no one should write off the Marvel team completely –– they’ve shown a remarkable ability to bounce back and come up with hits.
Hugh Jackman will return as Wolverine in Marvel Studios’ ‘Deadpool 3.’
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