MCU Megathread

[CaptHayfever]

Hulu's VP in charge of original programming went on the record the other day that he'd be interested in reviving the Netflix MCU shows. Of course, Marvel's contract with Netflix included a 2-year moratorium on the characters' usage post-cancellation, so Daredevil/Cage/Fist would all have to wait until at least late 2020, & Punisher/Jones (assuming both are cancelled later this year) would have to wait until 2021.

Meanwhile, Rick & Morty/Community/HarmonQuest/Good Game alum Michael Waldron has been hired as the showrunner for the Loki miniseries.

Also, Agents of SHIELD S6 has had its premiere window bumped up from July to May. This actually makes a lot more sense for a "summer show", as the 13-episode season will now end in late-July to mid-August rather than late-September to mid-October. Mutant Enemy finished shooting S6 a while ago anyway; they're already in pre-production on S7.

Captain Danvers crashes to Earth in 3 weeks.

And remember, "I'm-a Luigi, number one!"

[CaptHayfever]

Speak of the devil. Today, Netflix officially announced the cancellation of The Punisher....& of Jessica Jones, bringing an end to the entire Defenders package. (Season 3 of JJ will still be released later this year, however.)
Announcing JJ's cancellation so early is the only surprising part of this news, since its last season isn't even out yet; the question then arises as to whether this jump-starts that aforementioned 2-year clock until the show can be renewed elsewhere, or if that clock doesn't start until S3 is released.

[Edit: This new report revealing that Netflix doesn't actually own the existing Defenders-show seasons pretty much seals the deal for me; not only are the shows getting resurrected on Hulu in 2 years, but they might even bring the old episodes there as well.]

In the meantime, here's a new Cloak & Dagger teaser & a full S2 trailer. O'Reilly's looking in very good health, I must say.

And remember, "I'm-a Luigi, number one!"

[CaptHayfever]

It's officially confirmed that we are not getting any more official confirmations on MCU movie/Disney+ development until this summer, probably after Far From Home comes out, per this statement from Kevin Feige....which also adds Nova to the strong-rumor pile.

There's a whole bunch of cool new Captain Marvel TV spots on YouTube to check out. The film now has the 3rd highest MCU presales ever, following Black Panther & Infinity War.

And remember, "I'm-a Luigi, number one!"

[CaptHayfever]

Captain Marvel opens in exactly one week.

A new video from Marvel confirms that Jude Law's character is, as the Funko Pop accidentally leaked, Yon-Rogg. Furthermore, it reveals that Annette Bening is playing the Supreme Intelligence.

Also, with approvals coming in the last couple countries, the Disney-Fox merger is nearing completion faster than expected, with a projected finalization date in the next few weeks. As soon as that happens, Marvel can start talking openly about any plans they may have for the Fantastic Four & X-Men licenses. (The new trailer for Dark Phoenix, fyi, is thoroughly okay; that movie is due out in early June. New Mutants is scheduled for early August. Legion is ending after its 3rd season, & The Gifted will probably be cancelled after its 2nd. That'll be it for the FoX-Men franchise.)

And remember, "I'm-a Luigi, number one!"

[steeze]

Jude Law doesn't get the credit he deserves. He's one of those actors where you completely forget who he is and the films he's been in while you're in the theater. He just becomes that character and owns it.

[CaptHayfever]

^True that.

Guys. Captain Marvel opens tomorrow night at midnight.

New news: Agents of SHIELD is reportedly ending after its 7th season, according to Clark Gregg. But that doesn't air until 2020 anyway.

And remember, "I'm-a Luigi, number one!"

[steeze]

I saw it last night. It was pretty good. Definitely charming.

[Calamity Panfan]

It's really fun. I don't think it matches anything that Marvel did during the span from GotG2 through Infinity War, but it's better than a lot of the more middling Marvel releases (like Ant-Man and the Wasp, which I could not tell you anything about even though it's the most recent MCU movie I've seen before this). Larson's really solid in her role. Her and Sam Jackson exchanging one-liners while 90s alt rock plays in the background is EXTREMELY my s***, so it's fun if only for that.

The big problem I had that made it seem lesser than other recent Marvel movies is the pacing. I think the way they did the amnesia plot felt so rushed that some of the scenes that should be the most emotionally resonant didn't feel deserved, even though the cast had solid chemistry. It was just too big of a hurdle. There's also some tonal issues but that's an issue with literally every Marvel movie. Also, I don't think this is spoiler-y, but it's an issue I had and I'll spoiler it just in case:

Spoiler.

Despite relatively high billing and reprising roles from a previous film, Pace and Hounsou did almost NOTHING in this movie. If you'd think their relatively thin characters in GotG would get more fleshing out here, you'll be very disappointed. They're glorified cameos.

Overall it's a fun time at the movies. I'm glad I went. It could've been better, but it's a fun enough time that it doesn't just feel like a placeholder for Endgame.

[Calamity Panfan]

Been thinking about the MCU overall and decided to rank the films today, having watched every film except Captain Marvel at least twice. Here goes:
1. Captain America: The Winter Soldier (Anthony Russo & Joe Russo, 2014)
2. Thor: Ragnarok (Waititi, 2017)
3. Black Panther (Coogler, 2018)
4. Iron Man (Favreau, 2008)
5. The Avengers: Infinity War (Russo & Russo, 2018)
6. Spider-Man: Homecoming (Watts, 2017)
7. The Avengers (Whedon, 2012)
8. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (Gunn, 2017)
9. Guardians of the Galaxy (Gunn, 2014)
10. Captain Marvel (Boden & Fleck. 2019)
11. Ant-Man (Reed, 2015)
12. Iron Man 3 (Black, 2013)
13. Captain America: The First Avenger (Johnston, 2011)
14. Doctor Strange (Derrickson, 2016)
15. Captain America: Civil War (Russo & Russo, 2016)
16. Ant-Man & The Wasp (Reed, 2018)
17. The Avengers: Age of Ultron (Whedon, 2015)
18. Thor (Branagh, 2011)
19. The Incredible Hulk (Leterrier, 2008)
20. Iron Man 2 (Favreau, 2010)
21. Thor: The Dark World (Taylor, 2013)

My breakdown is:
1-4: cream of the crop, fantastic
5-9: great
10-13: very good
14-15: good but very flawed
16-18: fine, whatever
19-21: who cares

Interesting how the trend seems to be that for the most part, the movies have only gotten better with time, and I think that's what's largely prevented mass superhero movie apathy. Plenty of these movies are still formulaic, but in the hands of a Coogler or a Gunn or a Waititi, they can still change just enough to keep them fresh for the general public

[CaptHayfever]

I had a blast with this film. It was a creative use of the plot structure, & the characters differentiated themselves well from what we knew before.

Spoiler.

Also, the twist of the Skrulls being very few in number & completely uninterested in conquest helped dissuade my fears of having to deal with endless "X was actually a Skrull!" reveals or a Secret Invasion storyline. But it really messes with Runways, or it would if they hadn't already established their version of Xavin isn't a Skrull.

Spoiler.

Despite relatively high billing and reprising roles from a previous film, Pace and Hounsou did almost NOTHING in this movie. If you'd think their relatively thin characters in GotG would get more fleshing out here, you'll be very disappointed. They're glorified cameos.

Can confirm, there is at least one major deleted scene for those characters.

And remember, "I'm-a Luigi, number one!"

[CaptHayfever]

This just in: In addition to the assorted live-action MCU miniseries on Disney+, Marvel Studios will also spearhead a "What If" cartoon on the service (which will be non-canon for reasons that are obvious in the fact that it's a "What If" show).

Captain Marvel has grossed $479 million so far. It's on day *5* of release. So yeah.

Cloak & Dagger S2 starts in 3 weeks & 2 days.
Endgame opens in 6 weeks & 3 days.
SHIELD S6 starts in 7-11 weeks.
Jessica Jones S3 releases sometime this year, I'm guessing June (so in 12-15 weeks).
Far From Home opens in 16 weeks & 3 days.
...& that's currently the edge of what's known.

And remember, "I'm-a Luigi, number one!"

[ScottyMcGee]

I just saw Captain Marvel today.

MAN.

THAT WAS AWESOME.

The special logo at the very beginning had me in tears.

I really want to buy the film score. It was something I heard distinctly as the movie went on. Sounded really cool!

(EDIT: @Calamity Panfan How dare you put Iron Man 2 so low. I mean. I'm like the only person in a thousand mile radius who likes that movie. But below The Incredible Hulk? smh. The Incredible Hulk is so bland and boring that I fell asleep last time I saw it. And I'm talking R.E.M. sleep man. At least Thor: The Dark World has Natalie Portman in it. At least Thor: The Dark World gives me something cool to look at even if it sucks too. The Incredible Hulk mostly feels like some Jason Bourne crap as Edward BOREton runs around across country from the government and then goes to a college and oh no other big hulk and that's it.)

[Calamity Panfan]

i could maybe switch incredible hulk and iron man 2 but nothing is worse than the dark world. that movie is an empty void. i couldn't tell you anything that happens in it. i'm sure hemsworth and portman are charming and the special effects are probably good but when it's all surrounded by absolutely nothing interest, it becomes the clear-cut worst.

[ScottyMcGee]

Most of the disinterest I see in Thor: The Dark World lies in its uninspired plot of "ancient evil bad guy seeks secret power that lies dormant in fair maiden". It has a pointless prologue that could have otherwise been used on more important material. But I mean, it's got Loki. It's got Sif (hubba hubba). It's already set in an established world that I care about. I don't care about anyone in The Incredible Hulk. Edward Norton didn't feel like he wanted to be there. I can't picture him fitting into a franchise series like Marvel because he's one of those artsy-fartsy people who does indies. Banner's personality is virtually nonexistent. You could replace Edward Norton with a wooden plank with a sketch of his face attached to it and call it a day. Ruffalo's nuanced performance is so much better and so much more fun.

When I watch The Incredible Hulk I realize that I have more important things to do. I would actually rather go to work than watch that movie. I think things like "I should be doing my taxes."

[CaptHayfever]

^^Portman isn't charming in it; she's visibly bored. She actually went on the record that she stopped caring at all about her performance after the director she wanted was dropped from the film.
Dennings is charming, though.
As for what happens: That's the movie that introduces the Reality Stone & the Collector, as well as establishing the situations that Loki & Odin are in at the start of Ragnarok. Also, Frigga dies, & Chris Evans cameos as Loki-as-Captain-America.

But yeah, Dark World is very clearly the weakest film in the MCU. Incredible Hulk & Thor are at least trying something different & interesting. Iron Man 2 is at least fun. Age of Ultron at least has some really good sequences. But Dark World is a drag. Only the bottom-tier content like Iron Fist S1 & Inhumans is worse.

And remember, "I'm-a Luigi, number one!"

[I REALLY HATE POKEMON!]

I knew Captain Marvel would do well despite the controversy but it broke some records, I didn't expect that. Guess the Marvel money train isn't slowing down any time soon. I wonder why DC can't keep up.

[Deku Tree]

DC looks to be turning things around a little. Wonder Woman was good. Shazam looks fun.

[I REALLY HATE POKEMON!]

Wonder Woman did seem alright, but I'm not really a fan of the character. I'd like to see an Injustice: Gods Among Us movie, so we'll probably never get one.

[CaptHayfever]

^^Aquaman, too. Basically, they gave up on the terrible Zack Snyder edgelord aesthetic & stopped meddling with the plots so much. It's paid off.

^If DC had integrated their TV & film universes like Marvel did, then Injustice could've been done as an elseworlds thing like the What If cartoon.

Disney is reporting that the Fox merger will officially take effect on March 20th.
Prediction: We still don't hear anything from Marvel until July, because Feige likes making us wait for news.

And remember, "I'm-a Luigi, number one!"

[Calamity Panfan]

Portman isn't charming in it; she's visibly bored.

Yeah, I wasn't sure about Portman and stuff. It's been a while since I've seen it.

Speaking of visibly bored, I know it's not MCU but MY GOODNESS does Jennifer Lawrence look bored in the trailers for the new X-Men movie. That's some "I'm here to fulfill my contract/get my check" acting if I've ever seen it.

As for DC, I'm somewhat interested in the DCEU now. Wonder Woman was good and I heard good things about Aquaman (against all odds, I think I like James Wan as a director?). Shazam looks fun. I'm really hoping Birds of Prey is good even though Suicide Squad's a f***ing trainwreck.