Yes, Kyle Chandler's Godzilla: King Of The Monsters Character Really Hates The Titans

Yes, Kyle Chandler's Godzilla: King Of The Monsters Character Really Hates The Titans

In the trailers and clips we have seen from Godzilla: King of the Monsters, the human reactions to the existence and prevalence of the Titans has ranged from shock and awe to fear and reverence. But for Kyle Chandler’s character, Dr. Mark Russell, his overriding emotion towards the Titans is one of hatred. Addressing why Mark Russell hates the Titans so much, Kyle Chandler said:

Because they're mean, ugly, dangerous, and they caused havoc with my family. You learn, as the character goes along, his relationship to Godzilla and the other creatures and his wife and his past with this situation over the past many years and the loss that he's encountered.

At first, Kyle Chandler leveled some superficial criticisms of the Titans, saying that Mark Russell hates them because they are obviously dangerous and far from cute and cuddly creatures. But those are reasons that anyone could hate the Titans, and when he says a little more, we learn that Mark Russell’s hatred for the Titans isn’t just that they are dangerous creatures wreaking havoc throughout the world. His hatred is more specific and personal.

Kyle Chandler told Comicbook.com that the Titans have caused havoc with his family and he has suffered loss in the past that has fueled this hatred. If I had to speculate based on what we’ve seen in the trailers so far, I would guess that Mark Russell lost a child to the Titans, either directly or indirectly. The Russell family is at the center of Godzilla: King of the Monsters, with Mark Russell, Vera Farmiga’s Dr. Emma Russell and Millie Bobby Brown’s Madison Russell.

However, while those three are featured in the trailers, in the first King of the Monsters trailer, we see Madison looking at a family photo on the lock screen of her iPad that shows her, Mark, Emma and a boy, presumably her brother. So something must have happened to her brother. Perhaps he was killed as a result of the events of Godzilla, and the loss of his son is why Kyle Chandler’s character hates all of the Titans.

That initial hatred may become more nuanced though as Kyle Chandler elaborated:

And so that's his dichotomy, what he feels through the storyline. And you get to learn what his emotional drive is through the story. So there's a learning curve through the story, it's not just a hatred toward monsters.

It sounds like Dr. Mark Russell will go hating the Titans unilaterally, but perhaps his relationship to Godzilla will change. From what we’ve seen, his wife seems to be advocating using the Titans or working with the ones that are trying to protect humanity against the ones who aren’t.

If Godzilla was responsible for his son’s death, this will be a tough pill to swallow that would obviously cause strife between Mark and his wife. That may be his internal emotional struggle, hatred and desire for vengeance for a personal loss versus the current needs to survive against an existential threat.

Godzilla may be on the side of humanity, but he’s preserving the species, not individual lives. Like Superman versus Zod in Man of Steel, his fights in Godzilla undoubtedly cost many people their lives, so it is hard for their family members to see his work for the greater good through their own personal pain.

It will be interesting to see how Mark Russell learns and works through this over the course of the film. Maybe by the end, he puts on his Coach Taylor hat and starts calling plays for Godzilla and Mothra to get that championship against Ghidorah and Co.

Godzilla: King of the Monsters opens in theaters on May 31. Check out our 2019 release schedule to keep track of all this year’s biggest movies.

Chris Evans Reveals His Favorite Captain America Scene

Chris Evans Reveals His Favorite Captain America Scene

Chris Evans is no stranger to superhero roles, as he played the Human Torch prior to his iconic tenure as Captain America in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Evans' time as Cap is coming to an end with Avengers: Endgame, after appearing in seven movies (in addition to a few cameos). As such, Evans has been reflecting on his time as Steve Rogers, especially as the press tour to Endgame goes into full swing.

Chris Evans has been leading the Marvel Cinematic Universe since 2011's Captain America: The First Avenger, and fans have seen the title character have a massive narrative arc. He's also been in countless action sequences, both small and epic in scale. But there's one that stands out to the 37 year-old actor, as he recently revealed:

I'm partial to that fight scene in the elevator. That was the first scene in the second Captain America movie. It was my first time working with the Russos. It was the first time where it felt like Cap was on his own. The first cap movie, you really feel like everyone was holding my hand. The first Avengers movie I just did my best not to get in the way. The second Cap movie is the one where I really felt, I suppose pressure, and that first elevator fight scene came out really great in my opinion.

It looks like Captain America: The Winter Soldier takes the cake for Chris Evans, specifically the epic elevator fight sequence during the film's second act. You can't blame him, as it's a thrilling sequence in the beloved sequel.

Chris Evans' comments to THR highlights what a significant moment The Winter Soldier was for both his characterization, and the Marvel Cinematic Universe as a whole. The movie brought new colors to iconic characters like Cap, Black Widow, and Nick Fury, while also welcoming Bucky back to the shared universe. But aside from how those heroes were progressing, The Winter Soldier also marks The Russo Brothers' Marvel debut. And we all saw how that turned out.

The Russo Brothers did excellent work with Captain America's sequel, and the duo of directors ended up having a significant role in the MCU as a whole. They did the impossible with large ensemble movies like Captain America: Civil War and Avengers: Infinity War, and will end the shared universe as we know it with next month's Endgame.

As a reminder, you can check out the elevator scene from Captain America: The Winter Soldier below.

All of the action in Winter Soldier is great, but this sequence is something else. The stakes felt high, as it soon became clear that Captain America wasn't safe anywhere. And seeing him dispatch a group of enemies in such a small space (and with magnetic cuffs) is pulse pounding action.

Captain America's story will come to a close when Avengers: Endgame arrives in theaters on April 26th. The fandom generally believes Steve Rogers will perish during the upcoming battle with Thanos, but we'll see what The Russo Brothers have in store shortly. In the meantime, check out our 2019 release list to plan your next trip to the movies.

Idris Elba Will Replace Will Smith As Deadshot In Suicide Squad 2

Idris Elba Will Replace Will Smith As Deadshot In Suicide Squad 2

When it was reported last week that Will Smith was not going to be available for James Gunn's The Suicide Squad due to scheduling issues, it didn't seem like that big of a deal. After all, previous word about the project suggested that the new movie was going in a different direction than the first, and there was an assumption that the blockbuster could simply use another character instead of Deadshot and save Will Smith's second DC Extended Universe appearance for an alternate project. It turns out, however, that isn't going to be the plan going forward, as the latest news says that Idris Elba will be taking on the role of Floyd Lawton in the 2021 feature.

According to THR, Idris Elba has entered talks to take over as the DCEU’s new Deadshot. Elba reportedly met with James Gunn last Friday and that encounter went so “swimmingly” that conversations with Warner Bros began “in earnest.” While a deal hasn’t been finalized just yet, the studio is apparently quite keen on having Elba come aboard The Suicide Squad, with him being “the first and only choice.” So unless there’s a massive shakeup in the eleventh hour, the odds are looking good that Elba will fill the assassin’s shoes.

Of course, this won’t be Idris Elba’s first time lending his talents to the comic book genre. Along with appearing as Moreau in 2011’s Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance, he played Heimdall, the all-seeing sentry of Asgard, in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Heimdall was killed at the beginning of Avengers: Infinity War, and unlike the character’s who were turned to dust by Thanos at the end of that movie, there hasn’t been an expectation that the Asgardian warrior will be resurrected during Avengers: Endgame. So with his work in the MCU apparently done, Elba is free to move to the DCEU and take over as Deadshot, one of the Suicide Squad’s most frequent members in the comics.

Initially best known for his TV work like The Wire and Luther, Idris Elba has become a movie star in the last decade with projects like Pacific Rim, The Jungle Book and Star Trek Beyond, to name a few. Later this year, he’ll be pitted against Dwayne Johnson and Jason Statham in Hobbs and Shaw. and he’s also attached to play Macavity in Cats.

Along with Deadshot, Harley Quinn is expected to return for The Suicide Squad, with Margot Robbie reprising the role. There are conflicting reports about whether or not Rick Flagg, the government operative assigned by Amanda Waller to keep Task Force X under control in the field who was played by Joel Kinnaman in Suicide Squad, will be back as well. For the most part, though, since The Suicide Squad is being envisioned more as a relaunch than a direct sequel, most of the cast will be comprised of brand-new faces.

The Suicide Squad is set for release on August 6, 2021, so keep checking back with CinemaBlend for continuing coverage. Don’t forget to look through our DC movies guide to learn what else is in development for the DCEU.

Yesterday Reviews Are Up, See What Critics Are Saying

Yesterday Reviews Are Up, See What Critics Are Saying

Oscar-winning director Danny Boyle has been praised over the years for his films, including Slumdog Millionaire, 127 Hours and Trainspotting. What happens when he teams up with legendary writer of Love Actually, Notting Hill and About Time, Richard Curtis, for a fantasy musical comedy about a struggling musician who wakes up one morning as the only man in the world who remembers the Beatles?

Yesterday premiered at Tribeca Film Festival in New York City over the weekend, which means critics have how seen it ahead of its summer release. Do they recommend a ticket to ride this release? Their reactions are mixed among them, as they waver between glowing and dissatisfying. Let’s take a look at some of their thoughts starting with CinemaBlend’s own Mike Reyes, who absolutely loved it. In his review, he awarded the movie with a near-perfect score of 4.5 out of 5 stars. Here’s a bit of what he had to say:

Yesterday is an uplifting triumph of heartfelt comedy, believable drama, and just the right amount of quirk to remove this film from any sort of mundane reality. In its own way, it even ponders how successful The Beatles's material would be, and the challenges it would face, if it were coming up in the modern music industry; which only adds to the film's sly thoughtfulness.

The film is framed around Jack Malik, played by Himesh Patel, who gets into a bus accident during a global blackout and finds he alone who knows the words to “All You Need is Love” among the Fab Four’s iconic discography. Reyes felt the bizarre premise worked - all while charming him with an exciting story with a mix of romance, lightness and drama. He also enjoyed how Yesterday uniquely presented the Beatles music in a refreshing way.

Empire’s Helen O’Hara also raved about this aspect of Yesterday in her 4 out of 5 star review. There’s been an uptick of musical films lately, and she felt this movie did it right where others have left something to be desired. Here’s what she said:

There’s something profoundly disturbing about the idea of a world without The Beatles, whether you’re a die-hard fan or someone known to drunkenly chant the “la la” bit of ‘Hey Jude’, and that’s true even if the world’s loss is our hero’s gain. So while Danny Boyle’s new film is still a largely warm and frequently surprising affair, its unusual premise gives it an edge that other jukebox hits – Bohemian Rhapsody, for example – have lacked.

O’Hara thinks just about everyone can enjoy this flick, even those unfamiliar with the band’s significance. This is a noteworthy positive for David Crow of Den of Geek who said the following about Yesterday:

His film is a crash course in remembering the importance of the Beatles’ legacy. That might sound trite, but the movie finds a much more creative and earnest way to honor a pop star act than the myriad of empty-headed musical biopics we’ve been inundated with for decades.

Yesterday will follow the success of Bohemian Rhapsody and upcoming release of Rocketman, and thankfully it has something else going for it, since it will follow a modern-day premise of Jack using his knowledge of Beatles’ songs to create a successful career for himself today. However, not all critics were impressed with it. The Verge’s Adi Robertson had these comments for example:

Boyle and Curtis are making an alternate history film that’s not primarily about alternate history, which is a completely valid choice. But the film’s central romance is badly underwritten, and its slapdash, joke-driven worldbuilding pokes holes in a plot that was fantastical to start with. Yesterday is a story about the pure and timeless nature of music — but it often comes off as more rote than heartfelt.

It’s understandable that while some would be able to swim in the fantasy of Yesterday’s quirky premise, others will be put off by it and Robertson wasn’t alone in the problems she found through her review. Take a look at a bit of Owen Gleiberman’s review for Variety:

In “Yesterday,” the greatness of the Beatles is like a trump card that Jack, and the filmmakers, keep playing. Yet the greatness of the Beatles is never something the film invites us to discover. The songs, to be fair, are iconic — but that said, some Beatles songs are more iconic than others. And “Yesterday” features nothing but the Beatles tracks that you would put on a “12 All-Time Greatest Songs of the Beatles!” collection.

The movie doesn’t look to convince everyone that the Beatles’ music would be as popular today, in the way that Yesterday showcases anyway. Dan Callahan with The Wrap similarly bashed the movie for its delivery of its plot with these words:

If you’re going to make a film with a plot like “Yesterday,” the least you can do is probe it somewhat and push it as far as it will go. But Curtis and Boyle offer up pretty much what you would expect given this premise, which basically amounts to Patel doing passable karaoke versions of these famous songs and very little else.

Finally, let’s go to Digital Spy’s Ian Sandwell who gave the film 4 stars out of 5 and brings to attention what element in the movie sold him despite some oddity in the film’s idea. Check it out:

A large part of this is down to the engaging performances of Himesh Patel (in his first big-screen role) and Lily James, who share great chemistry. You're fully behind their friendship and feel all the heartbreak. Neither of them are the cool kids, and their endearing characters help sell the outrageous concept.

The story between the two core characters was enough for him to fall in love with Yesterday. Despite some mixed reviews from critics, the movie looks to charm music fans, especially of the Beatles if you can push aside some of the particulars of the concept.

Will you be checking out Yesterday on June 28? Let us know in the comments.

An Update On Daniel Craig's Bond 25 Injury

An Update On Daniel Craig's Bond 25 Injury

It's been a long and difficult road getting Bond 25 to the big screen, and earlier this month, it was dealt another blow when it was reported that Daniel Craig suffered an injury during filming in Jamaica. Apparently the actor slipped while running, resulting in an ankle injury that caused the production to be temporarily suspended. Now there is an official update on the status of Daniel Craig and Bond 25. Check it out:

Daniel Craig’s ankle injury will unfortunately require surgery to repair, but the fact that it is minor surgery at least indicates that the injury is perhaps not as bad as it initially appeared or could have been. It sounds like he will be back on his feet pretty quickly too, with only two weeks of physical rehabilitation after he undergoes the surgery.

Following the initial report of Daniel Craig’s injury, we heard that production on Bond 25 would be only be briefly suspended, and that seems to be the case. According to the official James Bond Twitter account, production on Bond 25 will continue while Daniel Craig is rehabilitating. That might not have been possible had Daniel Craig’s injury been more severe and required a longer recovery time.

Fortunately, similar to what happened with Tom Cruise’s injury on Mission: Impossible - Fallout, work will still be done on Bond 25 while Daniel Craig recovers. So despite the previous delays and the potentially catastrophic consequences of a Daniel Craig injury, Bond 25 is still on track to meet its April 2020 release date.

Supposedly Daniel Craig was filming a scene where he was running when he slipped and fell in an awkward way that resulted in an extremely painful injury. This isn’t the first injury Daniel Craig has suffered as a part of his time as 007, as his tenure as the spy has been plagued with injuries from the start.

From losing teeth on Casino Royale to losing the tip of his finger and tearing a muscle on Quantum of Solace to injuring his knee on Spectre to his latest ankle injury on Bond 25, it is no wonder that Daniel Craig has on occasion been quite hyperbolic in describing his reticence to return to the franchise. Are you sure you want the role, Richard Madden?

Daniel Craig’s injury isn’t the only problem Bond 25 has faced, as the sequel to 2015’s Spectre has been beset by all manner of problems. Oscar-winning director Danny Boyle left the film over the oft-cited creative differences, and he was replaced by True Detective Season 1 and Beasts of No Nation director Cary Joji Fukunaga.

The script for the film has also went through different writers with a lingering question of if it is even ready now. Oh, for the days when just getting Daniel Craig to return to the role seemed like the biggest impediment to Bond 25.

Despite the slings and arrows it has faced, this latest news is encouraging that Daniel Craig will be okay and that Bond 25 will proceed as scheduled and meet its release date.

The as-yet-unnamed Bond 25 is set to open on April 8, 2020. Check out our 2019 Release Schedule to keep track of all of this year’s biggest movies.

Reese Witherspoon Actually Helped Write Cruel Intentions

Reese Witherspoon Actually Helped Write Cruel Intentions

Teen movies are a very unique genre, and can vary greatly in quality from movie to movie. While some are over the top comedies and rom-coms, others take on decidedly more adult content. Just take 1999's Cruel Intentions, which saw its young cast manipulating and seducing each other. That movie became an instant classic, with dialogue still quotable today, fantastic cast, and a killer soundtrack to boot.

The Cruel Intentions cast and crew are currently celebrating the whopping 20th anniversary of the beloved cult classic. As such, some new information is coming out about the teen drama, and the behind-the-scenes scoops that moviegoers haven't been privy to. Just take the role of Annette Hargrove, played masterfully by Reese Witherspoon. As it turns out, she helped to craft the character, and even re-write the dialogue. As director/writer Roger Kumble recently revealed:

It’s true, she came and sat with me for a week, and we worked on the dialogue together. Annette was the character most removed from me. There’s no way the movie would have its success if it weren’t for [Reese’s] talent as a writer.

Well, this is impressive. Reese Witherspoon may have only been 22 years old at the time of filming, but that didn't stop the young actress from contributing greatly to the Cruel Intentions. This includes adjusting Annette's dialogue to ensure both the audience and Witherspoon herself identified with the character.

Roger Kumble's comment to EW show what a talent Reese Witherspoon has always been, and seems to tease her eventual role as a producer. The Oscar winner knows storytelling, and her point of view has been brought to the forefront with the various project she's produced-- in addition to her work on camera. She was a producer on movies like Gone Girl and Hot Pursuit, although her influence is perhaps best seen through the highly successful HBO series Big Little Lies.

Playing the movie's ingenue isn't always easy. It's easy for an innocent and virtuous character to fade into the background, or be overshadowed by the bigger characters. Reese Witherspoon combatted this by working on the script, and giving Annette Hargrove her own agency in Cruel Intentions. Annette is sharp, funny, and empathetic. And she wasn't going to take any of Sebastian's typical crap.

Ultimately Annette changes arguably as much as Sebastian throughout the course of the movie. Her naivety is destroyed by Sebastian's sudden death, and she honors her late lover's memory by exposing Sarah Michelle Gellar's Kathryn for who she really was. Cue "Bittersweet Symphony" by the Verve. Also cue my tears as a teenager watching Cruel Intentions for the first time.

Cruel Intentions is celebrating its 20th anniversary. You can join the festivities yourself, and stream Cruel Intentions when it arrives on Netflix April 1st. In the meantime, check out our 2019 release list to plan your next trip to the movies.

Watching Rocketman Makes Elton John’s Husband Want To ‘Give Him A Hug’

Watching Rocketman Makes Elton John’s Husband Want To ‘Give Him A Hug’

Biopics can be a difficult business. Real life stories can often be the most satisfying, but it isn't always easy when it comes to dealing with the rougher elements of somebody's life. Elton John very much lived a rock and roll life and as such has many of those darker elements in his past. For John Furnish, Elton John's husband, it was especially difficult for him to be on set when the new movie Rocketman was filming some of those rough moments, as he saw the man he loved going through a very tough time. According to Furnish...

Elton John is somebody that I think I know incredibly well, but then also it’s like watching a film about somebody you don’t know at all. The Elton in all that madness is not the Elton I know. At times, he’s a bit of a monster and also, deeply unhappy. That’s hard. Many times as I watched the film, I wanted to go and give him a hug, like I could help him. I thought, ‘God, you’ve been through a lot.’

Elton John and John Furnish have been together for 26 years according to Variety, but that means that the events of Rocketman all, or at least largely, take place prior to Furnish having met the singer/songwriter. One can only imagine how unusual it must be to see the person you love at a time before you knew them. In most cases that person might be largely unrecognizable.

Based on the trailer for Rocketman we see that the film will deal with the way that the singer lived life to excess in the days of his early success. Furnish admits that Elton John is a "monster" to some degree here. Of course, he doesn't see that person now.

From John Furnish's comments one gets the distinct impression that the version of Elton John's story we're going to get in Rocketman is fairly true to life. It's been difficult to tell just how much of the film will be a true biopic and how much will simply be an Elton John rock opera. The movie itself refers to the production as a fantasy, implying the events won't necessarily be based on reality, but perhaps that's not quite the case.

Rocketman comes on the heels of Bohemian Rhapsody, which was partially directed by Dexter Fletcher who also helmed Rocketman. It was a fun time with lots of great music but it told a story that failed to add any depth to it's characters or story. It feels like Rocketman is largely going to take the same approach, but maybe these elements being mentioned here are an indication that there will be a little something more.

We'll find out for certain when Taron Egerton plays Elton John in Rocketman beginning May 31.

The Biggest Challenges To Bringing Rocketman To The Big Screen

The Biggest Challenges To Bringing Rocketman To The Big Screen

A lot of footage was shown at CinemaCon this year, including but not limited to a Hobbs & Shaw trailer and the first 17 minutes of Toy Story 4. Among that footage was another glimpse at Rocketman, the upcoming Elton John biopic starring Taron Edgerton and led by Dexter Fletcher, who did reshoots on Bohemian Rhapsody recently. When asked at CinemaCon 2019 what the toughest part of bringing a real-life person like Elton John to light on the big screen, Fletcher revealed the musical numbers were often the hardest bits.

It’s not just the musicality that was tough but also getting Elton John right in 141 minutes. Dexter Fletcher said:

Well, Elton’s known for his spectacle and his theatricality and so bringing the music to the big screen was a challenge but also exciting. His fans love him and his music so much that I wanted to be sure they got an honest and truthful portrayal of this man; it’s extremely important to us and to him.

Onstage at CinemaCon 2019 as part of Paramount Pictures’ panel, Taron Egerton joined director Dexter Fletcher onstage, whereupon he was also asked what was the most difficult thing to manage while making Rocketman. Per Egerton:

I think probably managing the pressure. We always felt that we wanted to be irreverent with the role and make sure the audience feels like it’s getting a glimpse behind closed doors, a glimpse behind the scene, and you know a glimpse at the life of a man who’s had a notoriously turbulent time. But we also felt like it was very important to make fans happy and make him likeable. We wanted to tell a raw human story but it’s also so important the movie is fun and a celebration of a great man.

That’s a lot to juggle and it’s not always easy to juggle, as we’ve seen with other musical biopics. First and foremost, directors have to service the story they are telling, which is why last year’s Bohemian Rhapsody changed the timeline narrative a bit. Yet, when that happened people were upset about factual inaccuracies in the movie and how it ultimately played out.

So far, Rocketman has already been in the press for allegedly editing down Elton John’s sex life, as well as nudity related to that sex life. Dexter Fletcher has already addressed the rumors, but it just goes to show that people want a movie that tells the truth but that is also a lot of fun. It’s not an easy feat to achieve.

Luckily, it sounds as if Taron Egerton at least got the spirit of Elton John right. Although the actor mentioned the singer has been pretty “hands off” throughout the whole Rocketman experience, Dexter Fletcher had nothing but praise for the younger actor, who also does his own singing in the movie.

Anything with Taron in it is my favorite. There are many, many great, standout numbers that I’m extremely proud of. We’re all proud of “Saturday Night’s Alright For Fighting” is quite extraordinary, “Rocketman” as you know you saw Taron singing on his back at the bottom of a 15 meter tank is something to behold. They’re both very different and both filled with vibrancy and energy.

If you’ve seen the trailer for Rocketman, you should have some idea of what you are getting into with the new movie, which is out on May 31.

In the extended footage we saw at CinemaCon shown on a large screen in Las Vegas, Rocketman looks even bolder and bigger than in the early trailers. If you’ve been a fan of recent musical biopics, this one might even blow those away. It may be my most highly anticipated movie this spring (and yes I’m including Endgame but obviously tastes differ). To see what Rocketman is competing with, take a look at our full movies schedule.

12 Classic Marvel Scenes We Now Feel Differently About Thanks To Avengers: Endgame

12 Classic Marvel Scenes We Now Feel Differently About Thanks To Avengers: Endgame

Avengers: Endgame really had us geeking out all while tugging on our heartstrings for three hours straight. There’s a good reason why the movie is called the culmination of the MCU thus far: it includes a LOT of callbacks to the past movies, even including literal visits as the heroes completed their time heist. There’s perhaps no better way to provide fan service then to reward the audience for seeing all 22 of the other Marvel epics, and that’s just what Endgame does.

What’s especially exciting is how fun it’s going to be to go back to previous MCU movies and find the relevance and new weight some of the scenes hold now that they’ve been used in another context in the satisfying conclusion. So let’s travel back to the beginnings of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and see what key scenes we’ll never look at the same again now that Endgame exists.

That Up There… That’s The Endgame

It is crazy to imagine that just a few months ago we were theorizing about Avengers 4 titles, and it ended up being right under our noses in Age of Ultron. The scene has a special significance now because of Tony calling the mysteries in the sky their “endgame,” which he created Ultron at the time to fight off and Captain America saying they can take anything down together. Tony throws the line back at Steve in the beginning of Endgame when he’s distraught about their dire situation, and now every time we see this Ultron scene, it’ll have an extra special connection.

No More Surprises

Among the many memorable scenes in Infinity War, this quick one between Tony and Pepper before the action begins seemed a bit random. Now we know that it was foreshadowing for their future life in Endgame. Tony says he had a dream that they had a child together and named it after her eccentric uncle, Morgan. In Endgame, five years later, that’s exactly where we find the Iron Man couple. The scene may play a little sad for fans now as we see Tony promise his girl that all the “surprises” are over and it’s time for them to settle down, give that we know how it ends.

I Want Another

When we meet back up with Thor in Endgame, we see an unexpected transformation. He’s packed on a lot of weight, he drinks a lot of beer and plays Fortnite with his friends from Ragnarok. How did he let himself go? And why is Thor now the most hilarious Avenger? This early scene of the hero eating breakfast and smashing coffee mugs in demand of “another” shows that this characterization has been made the entire time. He’s prone to being excessive when not in check and he’ll be tested by this in Endgame.

Avengers Take Down Loki in Stark Tower

After seeing Endgame, we’ll always imagine future Cap, Tony and Ant-Man roaming around the 2012 New York battle sequence, attempting to steal the Tesseract. While they said the movie doesn’t go by Back to the Future time travel rules, viewings will certainly start to run together a little bit as we imagine how Endgame built off that original Avengers scene. I don’t know about you, but I always find myself already thinking about how another Marty is backstage at the dance trying to fix up time in Part II whenever I view the first movie.

The Winter Soldier Elevator Scene

Endgame has a great nod to Winter Soldier when some of the team is in the 2012 New York timeline, and Cap is tasked with nabbing the Tesseract. It’s a great moment when he finds himself in an elevator again with some of the same Hydra agents from The Winter Soldier. As an audience, we expect another epic scene to go down, but he instead tricks them by saying “Hail, Hydra.” We’ll always remember how clever and evolved Endgame Cap is during this classic scene now.

Frigga’s Death

Thor: The Dark World may be one of the least favored MCU films, but Endgame actually made it relevant! (Gold stars to the Russos!) During the Time Heist, Thor and Rocket are transported a few moments before the God of Thunder’s mother is murdered. The hero is going through his own grief and guilt about his failure to protect the world from Thanos. He has a sweet moment with her when she gives him a much-needed pep talk, giving the Dark World scene more weight.

Come And Get Your Love

The Guardians of the Galaxy opening will perhaps go down as one of the most iconic and entertaining MCU scenes. Seeing Chris Pratt jam out to “Come And Get Your Love” on cassette as he kicks around some alien creatures is already a lot of fun! After Endgame, we can’t help but think how ridiculous Quill is to onlookers (Rhodey and Nebula) when they come back to that moment in Endgame. He’s never going to live that one down!

Say Something, If You Don’t You’ll Regret it.

Toward the beginning of Civil War, we meet Tony at an MIT presentation where he is showcasing some cool tech that shows the last moment Tony shared with his parents before they were killed. He is clearly regretful that he lost his parents at a time when he didn’t have the healthiest relationship with them, and wished he could buy back some more time with them, particularly his father. Now that we know Tony is able to go back and have a positive conversation with Howard Stark as an adult, the presence of this scene in Civil War is poetic.

Cap Moves Mjolnir

In one of Avengers: Age of Ultron more funs scenes, Thor invites his fellow heroes to take a crack at moving the his hammer. While a majority of them are unsuccessful, Cap is able to squeak it over a bit, resulting in a bit of anxiety from Thor at the time. In Endgame, Cap turns out to be worthy of Mjolnir and swaps weapons with the God of Thunder. This scene is now an origin story for that badass moment.

Doctor Strange Gives Up the Time Stone

Among a few other WTF moments in Infinity War (cough Quill) was the time when Doctor Strange straight up hands the Time Stone over to Thanos in order to save Tony’s life. It was an odd decision at the time, but since he did look into the future possibilities, we knew there was hindsight to it. Audiences will now be able to look at this scene now and see the moment much differently: through Strange’s eyes.

You’re Not The Guy To Make The Sacrifice Play.

Okay… this one stings. Back when Cap and Tony first met in 2012’s Avengers, the two were already pushing each other’s buttons with their different ways of thinking. In one scene, the two get in a heated argument as tension builds about Bruce Banner exploding into the Hulk, and Steve says the above words. Of course, now that we know that Tony makes the ultimate sacrifice by putting on the Infinity Gauntlet and saving the world; he is that guy.

Hogan, Drive. Cheeseburger First.

How fitting is it that one of the last references in Endgame is one of the earliest in the MCU? Back in Iron Man, when Tony arrives home from the treacherous journey that would define him as the hero, the first thing on his list is devouring an American Cheeseburger. In Endgame, Happy Hogan shares a touching moment with Tony’s daughter Morgan about the fast food. So naturally every time we watch this funny note in the 2008 flick, we’ll be crying 3000 tears.

It's time for an MCU rewatch. What classic MCU scenes will you be going back to post-Endgame? Let us know in the comments!

Why Godzilla Chose Its Three Main Villains For King Of The Monsters

Why Godzilla Chose Its Three Main Villains For King Of The Monsters

When Godzilla returns to the big screen in Godzilla: King of the Monsters, he'll go up against three new (for this franchise) threats in Mothra, Rodan, and King Ghidorah. While there were any number of other giant monsters that Godzilla could have battled from his decades long film history, King of the Monsters director Michael Dougherty told CinemaBlend during a recent Q&A in Japan that these three were chosen because they were the best known, even among those who don't necessarily know Godzilla. According to Dougherty...

They are the crown jewels of the Toho universe. They are the ones that I feel like most Godzilla fans, and non-Godzilla fans, are the most familiar with. So as much as I love King Caesar and Gigan and those guys, they're a little bit more obscure.

As pragmatic as it is, it certainly makes a lot of sense. The reason that remakes and sequels are so popular is because audiences tend to be attracted to stories and characters that they are already comfortable with. So if you want to get people interested in a Godzilla movie, give them the monsters they love the most.

I certainly fall into the category of somebody who isn't a major Godzilla fan. While I've seen a few the films I'm far from an expert, but I do know the names of Rodan, Mothra, and Ghidorah. This is exactly what the new production is counting on.

While the name recognition was part of the reason that these three were chosen to appear in Godzilla: King of the Monsters, Michael Dougherty says there's another reason they were used. The four characters have a connected history in the past of the Godzilla franchise. The director goes on...

But [these are] also the first ones who kind of teamed up. There's a key point in Godzilla history when Mothra, Rodan and Godzilla put aside their differences and decided to team up against King Ghidorah. It's an amazing scene, by the way. I strongly suggest you go back and watch that movie. But there's, there's literally a scene where Mothra goes to Rodan and Godzilla and says, ‘Hey, this new asshole just showed up and he's going to mess everything up if we don't stop him.’ And the two twin fairies are translating for the monsters, so the humans can understand what the monsters are talking to her about. But they're actually having dialogue. Rodan and Godzilla are like, ‘Fuck the humans! They bully us. Why should we help them?’

The movie in question is 1964's Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster. The sequence is an important one in the history of the the Godzilla franchise because, according to Dougherty, it's the first time that the giant monsters are seen as anything other than, well, monsters...

And suddenly, for the first time as a kid, that was where you suddenly saw things from the monsters’ point of view. Where the monsters saw us as the monster. The monsters saw us as the bullies that we're trying to prevent them from having happy lives. But anyway, they were the first giant monster team up, box and I feel like their truly the most iconic of the Toho universe. So it made sense that they should be the first ones to get adapted to the big screen for Hollywood.

Could we see any of the other, more obscure Godzilla antagonists appear in future films? At this point, it's hard to say. The only film in this particular franchise that we know is coming is Godzilla vs. Kong, which, based on the title, is unlikely to include any other giant monsters, though it certainly could. And depending on the outcome of that battle, we could still see more Godzilla films in the future. So if you're a serious fan of Megalon the giant beetle, don't lose hope.

When Shazam! Will Finally Arrive On DVD And Digital

When Shazam! Will Finally Arrive On DVD And Digital

If you holler “Shazam!” starting on July 2nd, you’ll be treated to copy of the popular DC flick starring Zachary Levi. OK, OK, perhaps a click or two on Amazon will also be required. The point is, Shazam is about to hit DVD, Blu-ray and Digital and should be the perfect summer treat for your family, particularly if your school kids are home and sitting on their laurels.

As has become more common of late, Shazam!’s Digital release will be coming earlier than the physical copies of the DC movie. Digital will be out on July 2nd, followed by the DVD and Blu-ray releases on July 16. The good news? You can pre-order your copy now.

The movie is also hitting 4K, which is great news for fans of the format. Those copies will also have Dolby Vision HDR.

All of the hard copies of the flick will come with the same special features. There’s a motion comic that will be included, although the deleted scenes should be the most delightful extra here.

Previously, we learned there were 20-24 minutes of deleted scenes that were cut from the film. CinemaBlend spoke with editor Michel Aller, who noted the lengthy amount of deleted footage before giving us a tidbit about what we could see with the set:

One of the scenes that regretfully we had to pull out was a scene between young Billy and Mary, when he’s about to sneak out. It’s just a really touching scene, but it came so early in the movie, and we were trying to get to get to the Shazam character, that we couldn’t put everything that we liked at the front of the movie. So that was one scene that we pulled out. I’m glad there are DVDs out there so we can show these great scenes.

It's not always easy to get a movie just right, and it will be interesting to see what Shazam! left on the cutting room floor with the home entertainment release.

Take a look at the other extras below.

Shazam Exclusive Motion Comic

The Magical World of Shazam

Super Fun Zac

Carnival Scene Study

Shazamily Values

Who is Shazam?

Deleted Scenes

Gag Reel

Shazam’s kind of an interesting flick. The movie had a nice run – albeit not spectacular – at the box office, pulling in over $361 million worldwide on an alleged $100 million budget. So far, DC has started looking into Shazam 2, hiring screenwriter Henry Gayden to pen the sequel.

The problem is that DC and Warner Bros.’ movie schedule is a little bit of a mess right now, and it’s not like Shazam 2 has gotten off the ground in terms of production, much less gotten an official release date yet.

A nice run on DVD and Digital could always help the process move a little faster, however. So, if you liked the movie, it may be one to add to your collections.

New Detective Pikachu Video Is A Great Primer If You Don't Know Anything About Pokemon

New Detective Pikachu Video Is A Great Primer If You Don't Know Anything About Pokemon

Picture the following scenario: a popular franchise is about to hit theaters with a brand new installment that promises to spark a new cinematic universe. While you’re interested in catching this film in theaters, you’re not sure if you’ll be able to as there’s a bit of a knowledge gap that stands in your way. That’s the time that a nice, easy video like the one Ryan Reynolds just shared for Pokemon: Detective Pikachu would be handy. If you’re not particularly familiar with the world of Pokemon, take a deep breath and watch the video below:

As you’ve now seen, the world of Pokemon is a pretty diverse ecosystem of creatures, each with their own classifications and abilities. So if you’ve been watching the trailers for Pokemon: Detective Pikachu and have marveled at the live-action debut of not only Pikachu, but also tons more Pokemon that will reach the eyes and hearts of audiences in May, you’re not alone in being interested to know more about their names and skill sets.

Of course, you don’t need to know anything about Pokemon to want to see Pokemon: Detective Pikachu, as anyone who enjoys a good crime caper and/or Ryan Reynolds’ comedy stylings might happen to be up your alley anyway. The trailers have certainly done a good job setting up the world of the famous pocket monster video games for the common moviegoer, and now with this extra bit of background, audiences should be ready for the adventure that Pokemon: Detective Pikachu is ready to dish out.

But if you really want to take in the world of Rime City, and the other locales that Pokemon: Detective Pikachu will travel to, it helps to know if that little pink creature in the coffee shop will write on your face, should you be lulled to sleep. Pop quiz, hot shot: that creature is a Jigglypuff, and it will draw on your face if you fall asleep to its song. If you knew that, you’re pretty well off, but if you didn’t, you might want to hit the books a couple more times before setting off.

Still, if you’re interested in the deeper world of Pokemon: Detective Pikachu, you have this video Ryan Reynolds posted to his Twitter account to start you off. After which, you’ll probably want to check out the film’s various trailers again, as you’ll basically have the visual equivalent of flash cards to help guide you. However, if you’re really industrious and ready to test yourself in the world of Pokemon, you should try getting into the official augmented reality game Pokemon Go.

Pokemon: Detective Pikachu begins its quest to be the very best on May 10. Though if Pokemon isn’t your thing and you’ve somehow found yourself tricked into reading this entire article, the 2019 release schedule is going to be your new best friend. And we promise, there’s nary a Jigglypuff to lure you to sleep.

Josh Brolin Preps For Dune Filming With Intense Shirtless Photo

Josh Brolin Preps For Dune Filming With Intense Shirtless Photo

Denis Villeneuve's 2020 Dune movie has officially started filming. Josh Brolin is one of the many, many -- seriously, so many -- major stars of the film adapting Frank Herbert's novel. Brolin plays Gurney Halleck, weapons master for House Atreides, who teaches young Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet). Brolin got into battle mode with his usual intensity, staring into the camera for a photo he posted with a caption quoting the Dune author:

Fear is the mind-killer. It's clear Josh Brolin is not afraid to strip himself down to the basics and #cowboyup for his role. Since filming just started, it looks like Brolin is getting in on the early action, possibly for some training scenes with young Paul.

Patrick Stewart played Gurney Halleck in David Lynch's 1984 Dune. Denis Villeneuve has his own very different plans for the story, which is also meant to carry across more than one film. Just the physicality of Josh Brolin alone hints in a different direction, not that SirPatStew isn't boss in his own right.

Dune is filming on location in Budapest, Hungary, and Jordan, so those countries can look forward to seeing many famous faces in the next few months.

So far, Denis Villeneuve's Dune cast includes Rebecca Ferguson as Jessica Atreides; Oscar Isaac as Duke Leto; Zendaya as Chani; Javier Bardem as Stilgar; Dave Bautista as Glossu Rabban; Stellan Skarsgård as Vladimir Harkonnen; Charlotte Rampling as Reverend Mother Mohiam; Jason Momoa as Duncan Idaho; David Dastmalchian as Piter De Vries; and Chang Chen as Dr. Wellington Yueh.

No wonder Stellan Skarsgard compared that cast to the Avengers. Get more details on each star and character with our cast list.

Here's the film's official synopsis, from Warner Bros. and Legendary:

A mythic and emotionally charged hero’s journey, Dune tells the story of Paul Atreides, a brilliant and gifted young man born into a great destiny beyond his understanding, who must travel to the most dangerous planet in the universe to ensure the future of his family and his people. As malevolent forces explode into conflict over the planet’s exclusive supply of the most precious resource in existence—a commodity capable of unlocking humanity’s greatest potential—only those who can conquer their fear will survive.

Denis Villeneuve (Arrival, Blade Runner 2049) is not only directing the film, he also co-wrote the screenplay (with Eric Roth and Jon Spaihts) and he's one of the film's producers. Dune is currently scheduled for worldwide release on November 20, 2020.

Meanwhile, Josh Brolin -- no stranger to major films, from Deadpool 2 to Avengers: Infinity War -- will soon be seen back in action as Thanos in Avengers: Endgame. That movie opens April 26, 2019 as one of the many films hitting the big screen this year.

The Avengers Vs The Justice League: Which Is The Better Superhero Team?

The Avengers Vs The Justice League: Which Is The Better Superhero Team?

In Avengers: Endgame, the Avengers proved they could best the most powerful villain in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but could those characters take out their counterparts from The Justice League movie? At the box office, it’s not been much of a fight, Marvel and the MCU have been crushing DC and the DCEU.

Sure, Marvel got a head start on the competition when it kicked off Phase One of the MCU with Iron Man in 2008, but DC had previously been sucking wind trying to catch up, although it is finally starting to make great strides. While the MCU has had an outline and a playbook that that has been laid out and followed to a T, at times, it seems like the DCEU has been in total chaos and flying by the seat of the tights.

Still, none of this has anything to do with how powerful the characters are, and there's nothing we love more at CinemaBlend than superhero hypotheticals. So, could The Avengers beat The Justice League in a fight between superheroes? Marvel’s Avengers may do better at the box office, but DC’s Justice League would give them one heck of a fight in the ring. Who would come out on top? We state the case below.

It should be noted, that just to keep this from spiraling out into infinity, we’re going to limit the argument to only six members of The Avengers and the six members of The Justice League introduced in the DCEU so far. On the Avengers side, it will be Iron Man, Captain America, Thor, Black Panther, Captain Marvel and The Hulk. So, that means no Spider-Man, Dr. Strange, Ant-Man, or any of The Guardians Of The Galaxy. On the Justice League side, it’s Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, The Flash and Cyborg.

The Avengers Versus The Justice League

The Avengers biggest strengths are their brains and technical skills. Tony Stark’s genius and engineer would have to be their biggest asset against any potential DCEU foes. Let’s face it, The Avengers are going to need Iron Man to come up with something big to help them stop The Justice League’s most powerful superhero, Superman. Superman is going to be the biggest problem for them and stopping him is almost impossible. Thor will also be critical here.

Superman is almost indestructible. The only chance The Avengers would have against The Justice League would be to somehow sideline him maybe using the power of Thor. Thor’s Mjolnir or Stormbreaker are the most powerful weapons in any universe and he’s going to need all of it. The Incredible Hulk’s incredible strength would also be important in isolating the biggest threats from The Justice League.

While this is going on, Batman and Captain America would probably face off in one of the most epic battles that superhero fans could ever wish for. They are pretty evenly matched too. That leaves the wild card: Wonder Woman. Could the Justice League gain the advantage over The Avengers here with Wonder Woman?

Of course, there other concerns too. Would The Hulk decimate the competition outside of Superman or could The Flash and Aquaman someone contain him? As with Superman, The Hulk is probably not going to fall in a one-on-one battle. If The Flash and Aquaman were distracted by The Hulk, where does that leave Cyborg? With a powerful superhero like Captain Marvel teamed with Black Panther, could Cyborg come out on top? He may be the biggest weakness in the Justice League in this fight. He’d be better matched with Iron Man, with his hacker skills, but he may not get the opportunity in this battle.

Most likely what would happen is that the six leaders of each team with battle it out while the three “lesser” members would be left facing each other. This makes the larger battle slightly more even, because, again, Superman really puts the Avengers at a major disadvantage. What can you do to stop him?

Iron Man, Thor, And Captain America Vs. Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman

The leaders of The Avenger and The Justice League would definitely need to face off with each other. This is the only way The Avengers would have a chance.

First, The Avengers would need to have made sure that Tony Stark had invented some kind of Kryptonite-shooting weapon to fire at Superman. With Superman weakened, a charge from Thor and healthy smack of his hammer would be the Avengers best chance to flip the script on The Justice League. Maybe Thor could somehow plant an unconscious Superman on the moon or something, giving The Avengers a chance.

This is all if the much-anticipated battle between Batman and Captain America keeps those two distracted. In all of The Avengers vs. Justice League possible match-ups, this is the one people should want to see most. They are pretty evenly matched and both are incredible in hand-to-hand combat. Whoever comes out on top in this fight could also swing the battle in one direction or the other as both are crucial to the success of their respective teams.

This leaves Wonder Woman. If Iron Man and Thor were distracted with Superman, it leaves an opening for Wonder Woman to take on one or both. She is pretty evenly matched with Thor, with both of them being gods and all. Plus – who wouldn’t want to see Gal Godot fighting with Chris Hemsworth -- that’s a dreamy match up. Frankly, she might be pretty evenly matched with Iron Man too, as he was when he fought Thor in The Avengers.

It’s probably best she go for Thor though, and leave Iron Man to Superman, because that is the mismatch of the century. All due respect to Iron Man, but if Tony Stark failed to get the kryptonite shot off effectively, Superman would waste him. This pairing gives the Justice League a big advantage. But what about the undercard, could that change things?

Captain Marvel, Blank Panther And The Hulk Vs. Aquaman, The Flash And Cyborg

This is where things get even more interesting. Captain Marvel is a huge X-factor here. As powerful as she is, Aquaman, The Flash, and Cyborg would need to find a way to contain her. That may not even be possible, and if they do somehow manage to do it, how do they stop The Hulk?

Another issue is Aquaman. How does the Justice League maximize his strengths? Is there a way for him to face off with The Hulk and come out on top? That could tilt the battle significantly. He might be the only Justice League member that could handle The Hulk one on one (besides Superman of course).

The Flash is the weak point for the Justice League here, there just isn’t a good match up for him among these Avengers. Maybe he can go after Black Panther but the more natural matchup for Black Panther seems like Cyborg, given both of their technology expertise?

But then that would leave Captain Marvel versus the Flash and that feels like a huge mismatch in favor of Marvel’s Avengers. So DC’s The Justice League will need to counteract that somehow.

How The Avengers Could Beat The Justice League

In a fight between The Avengers and The Justice League, there is one clear way The Avengers could come out on top.

First, Tony Stark would need that kryptonite particle shooter. With Iron Man taking a shot at Superman, stunning and weakening him, one mighty clobber from Thor’s hammer could send him spinning into space. Knocking Superman out of the fight (and far away from Earth’s sun) is the only chance they have to get the upper hand in the battle.

From there, it would still be up to Captain America to take out Batman, and in hand-to-hand combat, both heroes are pretty evenly matched, which makes Captain America’s shield the most important weapon here. If Captain America can hold off an onslaught of projectiles that Bruce Wayne would have certainly prepared with and get in close, he should be able to deflect some those back towards Batman and hopefully knock him out.

With Superman out of the fight, Thor and The Hulk would need to team up to take on the powerful Aquaman. The only way The Avengers would be able to overcome his speed and reflexes is with an all-out frontal assault by their two strongest members. If Thor and The Hulk could bat Aquaman around and back and forth for a few minutes, he just might be down for the count.

Meanwhile, that leaves Iron Man and Black Panther to hold off the The Flash and Cyborg for the time being. This will be a tough ask from the two. Black Panther would need every bit of strength and his ancestor’s knowledge to take down Cyborg, but if Iron Man can serve as bait, Cyborg could get distracted by trying to hack Jarvis and take out Tony Stark’s technology, then Black Panther would gain the advantage in hand to hand combat.

The Flash is a big part of this. How do The Avengers slow him down? Carol Danvers of course. If anyone is prepared for the incredible speed of The Flash, it’s the fighter pilot Captain Marvel. If she can catch him, she can take him out.

That leaves Wonder Woman. Hardly a slouch, right? With the others out of the battle, The Avengers would need all hands on deck to take out the mighty Wonder Woman. Thor’s Hammer is the only weapon that I really believe could do the trick here. He would need to get in a solid shot with his powerful hammer and leave her vulnerable to attack.

In the end The Avengers would be in rough shape, but they could stand victorious over their rivals. But what about an alternate universe, one where The Justice League prevails?

How The Justice League Could Beat The Avengers

So, how do The Justice League prevail in this epic battle against The Avengers? Well, they have Superman, and that alone gives them a major advantage. Cyborg is the key though.

Superman could take mighty blows from Hulk and Thor all day if Cyborg is able hack Jarvis, preventing Iron Man from releasing a hail of kryptonite particles on Superman. If Superman is at full strength, he could easily do a rope-a-dope against Thor and The Hulk until the other Avengers were taken out. But how does that happen?

With Jarvis hacked, Iron Man would be easy to take out. Wonder Woman would be free to take on Captain Marvel in a classic head-to-head matchup of the two most powerful women in the Universe. Wonder Woman’s best chance here would be to land some heavy blows and count in The Flash to harass Carol Danvers enough to allow for Wonder Woman’s blows to take effect. Wonder Woman’s god-level strength would overcome Captain Marvel and leave her jetting the other direction.

After Iron Man and Captain Marvel were sidelined, Batman would need to win his one on one with Captain America. To do this, he would need to be stealth, something he can excel at. Batman would need to devise a plan to get around Captain America’s shield and to do that, he’ll need to use his combat knowledge. Attacking Captain America from behind would be his best chance. Once he does, he would wrap Cap up and force him to watch from the sidelines.

Once Batman has done this, he and Cyborg would need to face Black Panther together. Only their combination of brains and brawn could match the Wakandan’s brains and brawn. They might be able to get some help from Wonder Woman at this point. It would be an epic hand-to-hand fight, but three on one is probably too much, even for Black Panther.

Now the attention of the entire Justice League could turn to the two most powerful Avengers, Thor and Hulk. Superman would be able to focus all his attention on Hulk, in what would be the most epic boxing match of all time, while Wonder Woman, The Flash, Cyborg, Aquaman and Cyborg would be able to focus on Thor. Cyborg would be a little out of his element, but in a battle of seriously powerful gods, Aquaman and Wonder Woman would be key to defeating Thor.

If Wonder Woman could deflect or even – gasp – catch Thor’s Hammer, Aquaman would have free reign to come down on the mighty Thor, meaning a God from the sea could sink the hero named for a Norse god.

With Thor out, it’s going to take all six members of Justice League to take out Hulk, unless Superman alone can demoralize him until he quits, which is probably what would happen.

Is This A Battle That Could Ever Really Happen?

Well, probably not. Sure, there have been some epic crossover issues between DC and Marvel over the years, including a big one in 2002, but those came at time when both companies were struggling financially, which is definitely no longer the case and, of course, there are real-world constraints to this too. Both imprints are owned by two different enormous media companies DC is owned AT&T through Warner Brothers and Marvel is owned by Disney.

If The Predator can fight The Alien, and Jason can battle Freddy, What are the chances those two rivals would come together allow this battle to happen, to determine the supremacy of one media world over another? About as good a chance as Ant-Man would have against a giant bottle of Raid, so for now, we’ll just have to live with speculation.

Avengers: Endgame Rumors That Turned Out To Be True

Avengers: Endgame Rumors That Turned Out To Be True

Warning: spoilers for Avengers: Endgame are in play. If you haven’t seen the film yet, use the Time Stone to rewind and see the film before reading this piece. And if you have seen the film, please make sure not to spoil the Endgame for those who haven’t made it out yet.

Readers, it’s time to take a big, deep breath. We made it through Avengers: Endgame, and now we know where the path has led us. All secrets are revealed, tears have been shed, and the foundation to the future has been laid out.

But most importantly, the biggest theories circulating on the internet before the film’s release have now been either proven or disproven. So while your friends are processing the results of their death pools, and you’re recovering from the emotional highs and lows that filled Avengers: Endgame, it’s a good time to look at those theories and see who obviously had Pym Particles in their suits. Anyone who made the following guesses before seeing Avengers: Endgame is either a great guesser, a time traveler, or a Marvel Studios employee.

Hawkeye’s Family Disappeared, Spurring Him To Become Ronin

Right out of the gate, one pretty big theory was proven to be A-#1 accurate. As the trailers had teased, and anyone who saw Avengers: Infinity War had guessed, there was a good reason for Hawkeye to return after being absent in that first half of the combined story Avengers: Endgame closed off.

As we saw at the beginning of the film, the Barton clan disappeared in their own individual dust clouds, one by one, leaving Clint alone with all of the hot dogs he could ever want to eat. Of course, not wanting those hot dogs more than he wanted his family back, he went dark and became Ronin, a vigilante that we saw killing up a ton of Yakuza.

There Was A Five Year Time Jump

What do you do when you go on a quest to avenge your friends, and the guy that killed them wastes the Infinity Stones he used to do the job? If you’re Thor, you behead the beast in a fit of anger. If you’re Avengers: Endgame, you cut to black and flash the words “Five Years Later” on the screen, real slow like.

Folks had called out the possibility that there would be a jump in time, and they flagged that call correctly. And as it turns out, the casting involving Scott Lang’s daughter Cassie was exactly the clue that tipped fans off to that very possibility, and now proven theory.

Bruce Banner and The Hulk Became One Entity

The fact that The Hulk was as small a part of Avengers: Infinity War as he was had fans wondering what exactly happened to the large, green rage monster that everybody knew and loved. Scared away by Thanos, it was only a matter of time until he came back, and some thought that rather than splitting apart into two entities or going back to business as usual, a happy medium would be struck.

And it was indeed a happy outcome, as a sort of crossroads Hulk appeared in Avengers: Endgame. We finally saw Bruce and The Hulk in a state of co-existence, where the brains of Banner met the brawn of Hulk, in a mid-sized package that was very selfie ready. It took them a while, but both halves of the Banner package became a workable unit.

Time Travel Played A Big Part In The Endgame

One of the biggest theories to come out of the pre-release scrum of Avengers: Endgame press was the usage of time travel. With leaked set photos showing, in the most telling case, Steve Rogers in his Captain America costume from 2012’s The Avengers, there was a lot of speculation that to save the future our heroes would have to go back in time.

Score another one for the fans, as four separate time heists were carried out, with the Battle of New York being one of the most key examples. While it was also theorized that Hank Pym would be brought into the fold through these methods, that theory only gets half credit, as Pym was shown as being duped to leave his Pym Particles unattended in 1970, rather than directly aiding Ant-Man in 1983.

The Quantum Realm Was A Key Element In Said Time Travel

Ant-Man and The Wasp was a fun romp that made Avengers: Infinity War’s dour cliffhanger ending more palatable in the long run. But what it also did was provide the perfect cover for just how everything could be solved, as the exploration of the Quantum Realm opened a lot of temporal doors.

Between the plot of trying to rescue Janet Van Dyne, who was previously lost to the realm herself, and the post-credits sequence seeing Scott Lang trapped for five years in Earth time, we learned that time works differently in the Quantum Realm. So differently, that it’s apparently really easy to guess that it would be used to pull off the biggest time heist ever.

Pepper Potts Got To Become Rescue

This theory wasn’t too hard of a sell, considering the evidence that supported it. As you’ll remember, Gwyneth Paltrow showed off some photos of herself during the filming of Avengers: Endgame, sporting a classic mo-cap tennis ball suit. So obviously, there was one pretty good reason why Ms. Potts would be wearing such gear in her time on set.

It also wasn’t that hard of a theory to cook up considering not only did Pepper previously wear a suit for a brief spell in Iron Man 3, but her role in Tony’s life was even greater than ever. So if Tony trusted anyone to accept/use a suit of iron responsibly, it was his wife.

Tony Stark Died A Hero’s Death

Speaking of Tony, a late phase sentiment swept the fandom, thinking that Iron Man himself was on borrowed time. With Robert Downey Jr. himself promising a huge finale, and his time as the character looking like it was going to be drawing to a close, the audience wasn’t feeling so good about Mr. Stark’s chances in Avengers: Endgame.

Sure enough, the 55% of readers that thought Tony was going to go to the great beyond were correct. Dying the most heroic death possible, he got control of the Infinity Gauntlet, cracked off the perfect one-liner, and set the universe in order for good. Sometimes, being right sucks.

Steve Rogers Finally Went Back To The Past

Captain America’s origin story is a bittersweet tale. While the world gained a stalwart fighter for truth and freedom, he lost an entire life that could have been in the process. But with time travel in play, there was always a thought about Steve Rogers going back in time to have that dance with Peggy.

And as you could see through all of the tears in your eyes, Steve went back after returning those Infinity Stones to the past, and did just that. Coming back as Old Man Rogers, Steve admitted to a life that was full of happiness. While he wouldn’t speak on the exact circumstances when pressed by Sam Wilson, Steve did give his Falcon buddy something even better.

Falcon Is The New Captain America

As Chris Evans was also one of the original six Avengers team to be rumored as leaving, the line of succession was a burning question. While the comics originally had Bucky Barnes taking over as the new Captain America, a recent run introduced Sam Wilson, aka Falcon, as the Star Spangled Man of today.

While both guesses seemed pretty valid, Sam had the edge of being the more recent replacement in the source books, as well as striking a blow in the name of progressive representation on screen. Anthony Mackie looks good with the shield, and the approving nod of Sebastian Stan’s Bucky in Avengers: Endgame is all anyone should need to see how good of an idea this truly is.

There Was No End Credits Scene

Perhaps the latest, and most interesting theory, came out of the Avengers: Endgame premiere. While the credits were cut off during appearances from the cast of the film, it was initially reported that there may be no end credits scene. This only intensified as the press screenings held last week had no scene attached to them, though this had happened previously in Marvel Cinematic Universe history when 2012’s The Avengers added that shawarma stinger for public release.

But sure enough, there was an absence of any sort of tease for the future. Instead, the world got an audio cue of a hammer striking iron, symbolizing the closing of a story arc, and the opening of the future.

These theories, above all others, proved to make Avengers: Endgame a film that lived up to fan expectations, while also exceeding them. And ultimately, that’s the name of the game when delivering a film such as this to the masses. With just the right blend of surprising twists, but foreseeable developments, you can close the book in a proper, satisfying manner.

See for yourself if Avengers: Endgame met your expectations, and defied some of your best fan theories, as it’s currently unfurling in theaters with a record breaking debut.

X-Men: Dark Phoenix International Trailer Finally Shows Us Some Cool Space Action

X-Men: Dark Phoenix International Trailer Finally Shows Us Some Cool Space Action

Thus far, the marketing for Simon Kinberg's Dark Phoenix hasn't exactly been top notch. Only two domestic trailers have been released so far, and more than anything they've brought back unfortunate memories of X-Men: The Last Stand (a.k.a. the last time this storyline was adapted). Not much has been done to show the unique elements of the new release, but fortunately we have this fresh international package filled with new footage:

It's not uncommon for there to be differences between domestic and international trailers, as we just saw another example of this a couple months ago with Jon Watt's Spider-Man: Far From Home. The difference here is that this look at Dark Phoenix is way better than the previous trailers we've seen. This is partially because of certain small details that are included, but primarily because this actually gives us a legitimate look at the X-Men's first big screen space adventure.

Previous previews have given us dribs and drabs of what to expect when the X-Men travel beyond Earth's atmosphere, but this is the first Dark Phoenix trailer to actually dedicate a significant chunk of time to the subject. Everyone aware of the movie knows it's coming, and it's expected that the incident will happen in the first act, and now we finally have a better idea of what to expect. There is a 20 second stretch in this new look that sums the whole thing up rather nicely: the X-Men travel into space to help during an emergency, however, things don't go exactly as planned, and Jean Grey (Sophie Turner) gets left behind after all of the astronauts from a space station are rescued. There is a massive burst of cosmic energy that Jean seems to absorb, and while she should be dead, she instead is able to travel with the team back down to Earth. It looks surprisingly great, and it has us wondering why the marketing has kept it hidden for the most part so far.

Alongside the extended space material, this Dark Phoenix international trailer also offers some familiar stuff - such as the incident with young Jean Grey and her parents, as well as the big train lift at the end, but there is also some other cool stuff peppered in as well. For example, we're apparently getting some form of new Quicksilver sequence, as Evan Peter's character can be seen charging at Phoenix in "slow motion," and there's a bit more of Jessica Chastain's mystery character doing her very best to manipulate the extraordinarily powerful titular mutant. There is also once again heavy suggestion that the film will be the end of the line for Jennifer Lawrence's Mystique - but it's actually less obvious here than it is in the spot from last week.

This is arguably our most intriguing look at Dark Phoenix, and despite numerous past delays, we are now getting legitimately close to actually seeing the thing. Co-starring James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Nicholas Hoult, Tye Sheridan, Alexandra Shipp, and Kodi Smit-McPhee in addition to all the names mentioned earlier, the film will be arriving in theaters on June 7th.

The Russo Brothers Reveal The One Avengers: Endgame Actor Who Got The Full Script

The Russo Brothers Reveal The One Avengers: Endgame Actor Who Got The Full Script

If you were one of the many fans who broke the internet (and records) when Avengers: Endgame pre-sale opening night tickets went online, today it’s time to start the final week countdown. Due to all the secrecy surrounding this MCU installment, you better believe the Avengers cast are feeling the anticipation about the release – partly so they can finally talk about it but also to find out what happens in their own movie.

Much of the Avengers cast were not trusted with the full scripts for the Avengers films, except for one per recent comments by the Russo Brothers. In Joe Russo’s words:

[Robert Downey, Jr.] was probably the only one to actually read the entire script. I think Benedict [Cumberbatch] got the script that included his scenes only. [Chris] Evans might have read the whole script.

Looks like Iron Man may be the only actor entrusted with keeping the entirety of Endgame underwraps ahead of the release. The remainder of the cast were only given parts of the script that included their character’s lines or in Tom Holland’s case only his own lines as Joe Russo recently told IndieWire:

He doesn’t even know who he’s acting opposite of. We use like, very vague terms to describe to him what is happening in the scene because he has a very difficult time keeping his mouth shut.

Wait… was Tom Holland’s Spider-Man dusted in Infinity War just so he wouldn’t be able to do press for Endgame? The press tour has been a stressful undertaking for the surviving Avengers cast, who have had to dance around questions about the little they do know about the movie. So imagine what it’s like for RDJ, who may know just as much as the filmmakers. He does have the talent of being a good actor on his side to cover up the secrets for fans.

It makes sense that Iron Man and potentially Captain America would be on the shortlist of the actors able to read these scripts since their story arcs are at the forefront as Endgame closes out their arcs with this film. Anthony Russo did admit in the Rotten Tomatoes interview that behind-the-scenes this method isn’t always an easy option with these words:

It is a more tedious way to work to be honest with you because we do have to do more discussion on set about context because they don’t have the entirety of the script to work off of. So you do need to work harder this way but we believe it’s worth it because that pay off is that special experience in the movie theater for all the audiences.

The Russo’s explained that they keep the scripts away from the cast to make it easier for the actors to not have conversations about spoilers and because they want to replicate the unique experience they had as a kid going to the movies when the spoiler-ridden internet wasn’t a place they could go.

There is something special about going into a movie and not knowing what you’re going to see and it’s why Avengers: Endgame will be such an exciting experience for fans. The movie arrives on April 26th.