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Thursday, August 8, 2019

8 Team-Ups We'd Love to See in Avengers: Endgame

8 Team-Ups We'd Love to See in Avengers: Endgame
Captain America Iron Man Civil War movie

There is so much to look forward to in the upcoming Avengers: Endgame, especially considering it is the culmination of the entire MCU thus far. The highly-anticipated film will find the Avengers dealing with the fallout of their failure to stop Thanos, as well as looking into a way to undo his massacre throughout the universe. Action, high-stakes, and drama are all right there in that previous sentence, but if there is one thing you can count on in an Avengers films, it should be awesome team-ups.


The MCU is filled with larger-than-life personalities and when they clash, it creates sparks. That's the bread and butter of the MCU and it was never more savory than in Avengers: Infinity War. Endgame may be working with fewer pieces, but there's still ample room to produce some fun, weird, and dramatic team-ups. I mean did you see Rocket and War Machine in that trailer? It was rad as hell!


We already know some characters like Black Widow and Hawkeye will be pairing up at times, but here are some other options that I would love to see play out on screen.




Captain America And Iron Man


This is a big one. Fans have been waiting to see these two reunited since their friendship crumbled in Captain America: Civil War. Their division is a big reason why Thanos was able to win in the first place, and if they want any hope in stopping him then they'll have to bury the hatchet. Unfortunately, not telling your friend that his parents were murdered by your brainwashed best friend is a tough hurdle to leap. The two pillars of the MCU should absolutely be working out their troubles, which should make for plenty of drama and some real kickass moments when they finally make up.


Hawkeye And Ant-Man


The Avengers team consists of gods, wizards, kings, geniuses, and super soldiers, which is why Ant-Man and Hawkeye seem like such a natural pairing. Take away their tools, and these two are just regular dudes who happen to know the most powerful beings on the planet. Perhaps more importantly, the two of them are also family men, and gave up their freedom so that they could stay under house arrest with their families. They share something that none of the other Avengers can really relate to. It's also highly likely that both of them lost some of or their entire families in The Snap, which means they should know exactly what the other is going through. Plus, Ant-Man can ride another arrow! That should be reason enough for a team-up.


Black Widow And Nebula


I never would have imagined in a million years that Nebula would survive long enough to be this important of a character in the MCU. However, here we are! She's been right there alongside the Avengers suited up and ready to save the galaxy. It's awesome, and I'm really excited to see how she interacts with Earth's heroes. When it comes to pairings, Black Widow might just be the most interesting. They have both suffered from abuse, but took their pain in opposite directions. Widow eventually learned how to become a selfless hero while Nebula focused on revenge. It'd be interesting to see how the two of them interact, but there's no question they'd kick a lot of butt together.




Iron Man And Rocket


Back during the wait for Avengers: Infinity War, this was probably one of the most requested team-ups. Unfortunately, there wasn't really a way to get Tony Stark and Rocket in the same room during that film, but they absolutely will be meeting in Endgame. Who doesn't want to see these two butt heads? They are both snarky geniuses with big personalities, so there would certainly be sparks. Plus, Rocket just might be smarter than Tony, which would make for some humorous one-upmanship. Rocket might even have some ideas on how to upgrade Tony's suit, and it'd be rad to see the two of them unloading their arsenal on Thanos -- if Rocket isn't busy doing that with War Machine.


Captain Marvel And Captain America


Captain Marvel is getting into position to be the new lead of the MCU, and I would imagine there will be some passing of the torch moments for her. While she looks to be hitting it off with Thor, Captain America is the Avenger I really want to see her team-up with. Obviously, the two of them are captains, which makes for some fun wordplay, but they have other similarities as well. Both of them have a background in the armed forces, they share a strong sense of right and wrong, they're stubborn, and they are beautiful blonde people. I think the two of them would really get along and it'd be great to see a mutual respect or admiration build over the course of the film. This is probably the last time Carol Danvers can spend time with the original Avengers, so I hope she gets to know Steve Rogers while she still can.


Iron Man And Hawkeye


Here's a pairing you don't see every day, despite the fact these two have been in the MCU since Phase One. Iron Man and Hawkeye don't hang out much, and the one time they did, they were beating each other up. As much as there is a divide between Cap and Tony, there's likely still beef between Tony and Clint. The last time they saw each other was fairly intense, as Clint drilled into Tony for his mistakes after Clint was locked in the Raft with the rest of Team Cap. They didn't part on the best of terms, and it'd be interesting to see if there is still any leftover resentment -- especially from Clint, who looks really unhappy in the trailers for Endgame.




Hulk And Black Widow


I will fully admit to being onboard the Bruce Banner X Black Widow train, which is not a popular ride in the MCU community. What can I say? I like the out-of-left-field pairing; I think it's unique, and even though it was pretty rushed, I just enjoy watching the two of them together. We haven't seen this relationship develop much at all since Age of Ultron and it looks like the two had some scenes cut from Avengers: Infinity War. My hope is that the two of them can spend some time together in Endgame and that relationship can finally advance forward. Bruce Banner has a Hulk problem and Natasha has always been a soft spot for the Green Goliath. Whether they end up together or not, Endgame might be the film that devotes enough time to this relationship to get more fans onboard.


Thor, Hulk, And Captain Marvel


I can't think of anything that would send the movie into more applause than seeing Thor, Hulk, and Captain Marvel team-up in a fight against Thanos. That's an idea that sells itself. It features the three most powerful Avengers going head-to-head against the Mad Titan over the fate of the universe. That would be an action set piece in all its glory. It's worth noting that that the three of them are not seen during the Avengers slow-mo walk at the end of the latest trailer, and my theory is that they are off on their own mission as a Thanos Kill Squad. However, Marvel trailers are never to be fully trusted and it's possible that the were simply edited out of the trailer but will be there for the final movie. Still though, it'd make for one epic fight scene.


If I had an infinite amount of time, I would probably have ended up listing every combination possibility for Endgame because I love just seeing these characters talk and hang out. The backbone of the MCU is the characters and matching them up can result unexpected chemistry. Who could have predicted the bromance between Thor and Rocket? It's weird pairings like this that make the MCU films fun to watch 22 films later and let's hope they bring out all the stops in Endgame.



Upcoming Harry Potter Books, Movies And More: What's Ahead In J.K. Rowling's Magical Universe

Upcoming Harry Potter Books, Movies And More: What's Ahead In J.K. Rowling's Magical Universe
Harry Potter reading

When it comes to the Harry Potter universe, J.K. Rowling can't stop, won't stop, and we're not complaining. While the author may be content to leave Harry Potter's story be for now, there's still plenty for Harry Potter fans to look forward to. In an effort to keep it all straight, we've put together this handy guide of what's out and what's coming up for Harry Potter fans.


Upcoming Harry Potter-Related Books


When Harry Potter and the Cursed Child made its official premiere in London's West End, J.K. Rowling said she that "Harry is done now," following the character's reappearance in Cursed Child. While she may be ready to put Harry's story to rest, it's unlikely that she has any intention of abandoning the universe entirely. Her involvement in the Fantastic Beasts spinoff and the sequels that are lined up for the years to come are evidence of that.


In the meantime, new versions of the original Harry Potter books do occasionally find their way onto shelves...


Harry Potter and the Chamber Of Secrets House Edition


In anticipation of the 20th anniversary of the publishing of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Pottermore announced that a House Edition of the second book in the Harry Potter series will be hitting shelves Summer 2018. As you may recall, a similar edition was released to celebrate Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone's anniversary. Those sorted Harry Potter fans can celebrate their house pride by picking up one of the four House Editions of Chamber of Secrets, each with a colored cover matching the house colors for Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff and Slytherin. It hits shelves July 2, but you can pre-order it at Bloomsbury now.


Unlike the Philosopher Stone's editions, which included the house crests on each cover, it looks like Chamber of Secret's House Edition will feature the same snaky illustration on its cover, likely a nod to the titular chamber (#SlytherinPride?), with a variation on the frame around the snake illustration to match the respective house. In addition to the colorful cover makeover, Pottermore says the new edition will also include an illustration of your chosen house's common room by artist Levi Pinfold as well as a written introduction to that house. We'll also get a mini-feature on house-elves. if you recall, Chamber of Secrets introduced the being to the series in the form of non other than Harry Potter enthusiast himself, Dobby.





Harry Potter and the Goblet Of Fire Illustrated Edition


The illustrated edition for Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire has not yet been officially announced, however, assuming Bloomsbury continues to release one a year, as they have so far with the first three books, we expect to see Book 4 arrive in all its illustrated glory in or around October 2018. We'll be sure to update once we have confirmation and details on pre-ordering.


Upcoming Harry Potter Movies


Fantastic Beasts was originally discussed as a planned trilogy, but then in November 2016, J.K. Rowling announced that the story would be spread out over five films. Producer David Heyman confirmed to us that they're aiming to release one film for the series every two years.





Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them 2


Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them 2 -- titled Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald -- is slated to arrive in theaters November 16, 2018. From what we know about the film, the sequel will take Newt Scamander back to the United Kingdom, as well as to Paris, France. (More spoilery information related to the first film ahead!) Newt, Tina, Queenie and Jacob are expected to return, though an official cast list has not been revealed. We're also expecting to see a comeback for Ezra Miller's character Credence. Depp's Grindelwald will obviously make an appearance, and we also know we'll be seeing a relatively young Albus Dumbledore, with Jude Law set to fill the eventual headmaster's shoes. Get more info about the movie here.


Harry Potter and the Cursed Child: The Stage Production


The West End stage production of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is currently showing at the Palace Theatre in London, though tickets are typically hard to come by and should be bought ahead of time, unless you want to try your luck at the lottery.


It was announced in 2017 that Harry Potter and the Cursed Child will be making its way to Australia at Melbourne's Princess Theatre in early 2019. And Wizards, witches and no-majes stateside who aren't able to get to London to see the show will only have to go as far as New York to catch the production when it arrives on Broadway in 2018...


Harry Potter and the Cursed Child in New York City


Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is expected to open at the newly-renovated Lyric Theatre on April 22, 2018. The Broadway theater is being completely redesigned for the production. The original trio of stars -- Jamie Parker (Harry Potter), Noma Dumezweni (Hermione Granger), and Paul Thornley (Ron Weasley) -- will reprise their roles for the show.


In October 2017, registration opened for tickets for Harry Potter and the Cursed Child's Broadway production. Fans are required to register over the five-day window, for a chance to receive an access code to purchase tickets on October 18, 2017.





Harry Potter and the Cursed Child Movie?


J.K. Rowling and Warner Bros have made it pretty clear that there are presently no plans for Harry Potter and the Cursed Child to be made into a movie. And taking into account that tickets for the West End production are sold out through 2017, it seems unlikely that there would be plans to rush this story into cinemas anytime soon.


In early 2017, a rumor began circulating that there was a plan to make a Harry Potter and the Cursed Child movie years from now, when the original Harry Potter stars were close to the age of their respective characters in the 19-years-later setting of the play. Though the rumor seemed viable, given that it put plenty of distance between now and when this potential trilogy would take place, J.K. Rowling promptly shut down speculation on the idea, stating that it is "NO TRUTH" to the rumor. So that's that. (Again.)


It may also be fair to speculate that a Harry Potter and the Cursed Child stage production world tour would happen before a feature adaptation is made, and there hasn't been any official word of that happening anytime soon either (though Rowling did mention that if the demand is there, it'll tour). So for the time being, those who want to experience the magic that is the Cursed Child play -- and I'm almost convinced there are moments of actual magic taking place on stage because some of the special effects are pretty spectacular -- will have to get to London's Palace Theatre or New York City to see it.


Recently and Previously Released Harry Potter books





Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them - Illustrated Edition


Those of us who already own about five copies of Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them will soon have an excuse to buy one more. Hitting shelves November 7, 2017 is the fully illustrated edition of Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them. This is the (updated) text book on which the movie was loosely based, not the screenplay book. As there are quite a few beasts featured in the book that haven't made it to the screen yet, this new grab at Harry Potter fans' wallets will give us our first look at some of the magical beasts wandering the Harry Potter world. The color illustrations come from artist Olivia Lomenech Gill, and will use a variety of artistic techniques to depict the beasts. 10% of the proceeds from the suggested retail price ($34.99) of each copy sold will go to Comic Relief and J.K Rowling's Lumos Foundation. There will also apparently be a collector's edition available for a retail price of $175.00.


Get the Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them Illustrated Edition here.


The British Library did a special exhibition in the U.K. called Harry Potter: A History of Magic. With it came the release of a book called Harry Potter: A Journey Through A History of Magic. Amazon offers both a kindle edition and a paperback. While this book isn't exactly the comprehensive History of Magic tome that hardcore Harry Potter fans have been clamoring for, it's a lovely, illustrated guide filled with oodles of information about J.K. Rowling's magical universe. The book hit shelves October 20, 2017.


Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban Illustrated Edition





Harry Potter and the Prisoner Of Azkaban Illustrated Edition hit shelves October 3, 2017, and features 115 illustrations from artist Jim Kay. The third book in the series is (naturally) the third book to receive the illustrated edition treatment. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone arrived on shelves on October 6, 2015. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets hit shelves October 4, 2016. So it seems Prisoner of Azkaban's release is right on schedule to Scholastic/Bloomsbury's one-a-year plan. We've previously gotten a glimpse of the illustrations for the new edition of Azkaban, including Jim Kay's excellent take on Severus Snape. Among the illustrations included in the book is an excellently creepy look at Sirius Black.


Maybe you've already got enough copies of Harry Potter to satisfying your magical cravings, but if you're looking for an excuse to buy the books again, these illustrated editions do not disappoint.


Get Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban Illustrated Edition here.


Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (rerelease with new content)


The Harry Potter bonus book, Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them, was re-released in the wake of the recent (loose) film adaptation. To be clear, this is the reference guide, which was originally released in 2001 and is formatted like a Hogwarts textbook, indexing and describing the various beasts in the Harry Potter universe. It is not a novel, though the introduction does include a few (somewhat spoilery) tidbits about the books author, Newt Scamander. The new edition arrived on March 14, 2017, and includes six additional magical beasts, as well as a forward by Fantastic Beasts author Newt Scamander. The book also include illustrations by Tomislav Tomic. Get it here.


Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them Audiobook


Well, this is new. In addition to a re-release of Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them, an audiobook edition for the textbook is was released the same day the new edition of the book came out. Eddie Redmayne narrates the book. Normally, I would've hoped that Jim Dale -- narrator of the U.S. versions of the Harry Potter books -- would be back for this, but having the textbook narrated by Newt Scamander himself is far too perfect to complain. Based on Audible's page, it looks like the whole recording is about two hours long. Get it here.


Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone - Hogwarts House Editions


In celebration of the 20th anniversary of the original publication of the first Harry Potter book in the U.K, Bloomsbury -- the publishing house for the books in the United Kingdom -- re-released Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone with special house covers. So those Hufflepuffs, Gryffindors, Ravenclaws and Slytherins out there can celebrate their house pride with a special edition of the book. Expect to see the respective house crest on each cover, as well as sprayed edges in the house colors. These special editions also include fact files and character profiles, as well as line illustrations exclusive to that house. The Hogwarts House Editions hit shelves on June 1, 2017, and are available on Amazon.co.uk, as well as directly through Bloomsbury.





Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them Screenplay Book


Not to be confused with the reference guide by which the film Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them is loosely inspired, Fantastic Beast and Where To Find Them: The Original Screenplay includes the shooting script for Fantastic Beasts. Those hoping for a novel will be disappointed, but the book is actually a really great bonus to the film, as it includes some descriptions and insights to certain scenes that are really left to interpretation in the actual movie. Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them: The Original Screenplay hit shelves the day the film arrived in theaters (November 18), and can be purchased in hardcover and ebook.


Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets - Illustrated edition.


In 2015, a new illustrated edition of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (or Philosopher's Stone) was released in hardcover. Last October, a hardcover version of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets hit shelves. For those who love these books enough to buy them more than once, Jim Kay's incredible illustrations are well worth the reasonable price tag. Amazon currently has Chamber of Secrets available for purchase for $23.99.


Harry Potter and the Cursed Child script book


Following the debut of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, a script book for the play was published, allowing Harry Potter fans to read both parts of the play. To be clear, this book is not a novel, however it does contain the full play, for those who aren't able to get to London to see it, or for those who want to relive the theatrical magic in script form.





Pottermore Essays and eBooks


J.K. Rowling occasionally drops new writings on Pottermore.com, and hopefully that won't cease anytime soon. Also, the Harry Potter site recently released a series of ebooks, which include essays from J.K. Rowling, some new, some previously published on Pottermore.com. Those are out now, and include:


Short Stories from Hogwarts of Power, Politics and Pesky Poltergeists


Hogwarts: An Incomplete and Unreliable Guide


Short Stories from Hogwarts of Heroism, Hardship and Dangerous Hobbies


There are currently no movies directly related to the lead characters featured in the original Harry Potter books, however, Warner Bros. has reignited Harry Potter fans' appetite for magic on the big screen with the debut of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, a film that joins the Potterverse franchise, and is launching a new series of movies.





Previously Released Movie: Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them


Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them arrived in theaters on November 18, 2016. The film is both a spinoff and a prequel to the Harry Potter stories. It centers on Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne), the wizard and magizoologist responsible for penning the titular textbook that would go on to be studied by Harry, Ron and Hermione, not to mention countless other Hogwarts students. The story is set in the 1920s, seventy years before Harry Potter attended Hogwarts. Fantastic Beasts follows Newt as he visits New York for what's supposed to be a short stay, but ends up stuck there for longer when his collection of beasts gets loose in the city. (Vague spoilers ahead!)


Magic and mayhem ensue, as do the introduction of numerous key characters, including former MACUSA auror Tina (Katherine Waterston), her legilimens sister Queenie (Alison Sudol), No-maj Jacob (Dan Fogler), MACUSA auror Percival Graves (Colin Farrell) and Credence Barebone (Ezra Miller). The film also features a crucial appearance by Gellert Grindelwald (Johnny Depp).


Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them is now available on home video, and streaming on HBO Now.





Warner Bros. has released all eight movies together in 4K Ultra HD. Check out the blu-ray box set here.


And More...


Beyond books and movies, there are other ways for Harry Potter fans to get in on the magic. Pottermore.com, the official Harry Potter website, allows fans to register to get sorted into a Hogwarts house, be assigned their wand, and be sorted into their Ilvermorny house (for those aspiring witches and wizards who want to know where they'd be sorted in the North American wizarding school). The most recent addition to Pottermore was the highly (massively, hugely) anticipated Patronus test, which allows fans to take a quiz that will determine their Patronus. J.K. Rowling mentioned on Twitter that she created that test herself, so it's about as official as it gets, short of real magic. You must be logged in to take the test.





Theme Parks


On the theme park side of things, the latest major development was the opening of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios Hollywood. The California park gives U.S. residents and visitors a West Coast alternative to the Universal Studios Orlando location. There's also a Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios in Japan.


For those looking for an even more movies-centered experience, Warner Bros. offers a studio tour in Leavesden, which features various exhibits containing set pieces and props for the original Harry Potter movies. There's also a pretty incredible model of Hogwarts that needs to be seen.


For the gamers, Harry Potter joined the LEGO Dimensions universe. Players are now able to unlock Hogwarts, Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley among the LEGO Dimensions locations. You can also apparently build a flying Ford Anglia and Hogwarts Express, and play as Harry Potter or Lord Voldemort.





Don't see what you're looking for? Leave a comment and we'll do some digging to see what the latest news is on what's ahead for Harry Potter fans.

Wednesday, August 7, 2019

Bill Murray Is Down To Return For The New Ghostbusters Movie

Bill Murray Is Down To Return For The New Ghostbusters Movie
Venkman seeing Slimer for the first time

For a long time, the lack of interest from Bill Murray was one of the impediments to a continuation of the beloved Ghostbusters franchise actually happening, before the actor finally relented and had a cameo in the 2016 reboot of the property. But with a secretive new movie set in the continuity of the first two Ghostbusters films on the way, we are again left to wonder if Murray’s Dr. Peter Venkman will return. Addressing why he came back for the reboot, Bill Murray provided some hope on the matter when he said:



I was in that movie just because they asked me, and I knew if I said no, I was saying I didn’t support that movie. I felt like, OK, I’m going to support them because I support them as people. So I did that one and I would do this next one.



Bill Murray’s friendship with fellow SNL alums Kate McKinnon and Melissa McCarthy is what compelled him to finally return to the Ghostbusters franchise. He wanted to support his friends and the biggest support and vote of confidence he could give them was to be in the Ghostbusters reboot when he was asked. Yet, even though the new Ghostbusters movie will not feature those actors, Bill Murray is still down to return, as he told IndieWire at the Cannes Film Festival.




You hear that Jason Reitman? That’s the sound of legions of Ghostbusters fans telling you to pick up the phone and call Bill Murray. The actor broke the seal with his appearance in Paul Feig’s reboot and isn’t as staunchly against participating in the franchise as he once was. On the contrary, he seems quite open to the possibility of returning for the secretive continuation of the series from original Ghostbusters director Ivan Reitman’s son Jason.


It’s an encouraging response because Bill Murray could have easily just said that he wasn’t interested or equivocated on the topic, but instead he said quite plainly that he would be willing to do the next Ghostbusters movie. Maybe all he needs is to be asked and to see a good script.


Despite Bill Murray’s aversion to working with Sony and in big Hollywood studio movies, likely contributors to his longstanding reticence to return, he still has great affection for the Ghostbusters franchise, as he explained:





This franchise paid for my son’s college. We made this thing. We are the caretakers of it. It’s a great thing and it was a really fun movie to make. It’s a real movie with some really funny stuff in it.



Bill Murray knows how important Ghostbusters was to his career and it’s something that he had a good time making. He also has an appreciation for the enduring nature of the franchise and how important it is to people. The actor also seems to feel some responsibility as a steward of the franchise to take care of it and perhaps that is part of why he has no problem returning for this new movie.


Bill Murray isn’t the only one of the original Ghostbusters willing to be a part of the 2020 film either. Although Harold Ramis sadly passed away in 2014, both Dan Aykroyd and Ernie Hudson have expressed excitement about the new film and presumably a willingness to participate.




We’ll have to wait and see if any of the original Ghostbusters do return. If they do, they’ll be joined by the new actors who have already been cast, including McKenna Grace, Carrie Coon and hitting for a nostalgia trifecta, Stranger Things and IT actor Finn Wolfhard.


Plot details are nonexistent at this point, but this new, untitled Ghostbusters movie will be set in the same continuity as the original 80s movies. So here’s hoping that Bill Murray and the rest of the OG team return in some capacity for a movie that comes as close as possible to the untouchable original.


The untitled Ghostbusters movie hits theaters on July 10, 2020. For movies arriving just a bit sooner, check out our 2019 Release Schedule.



Avengers: Endgame’s Writers Have Characters They Wish Got More Screen Time

Avengers: Endgame’s Writers Have Characters They Wish Got More Screen Time
Rocket in his Quantum Suit

Spoilers ahead for Avengers: Endgame. If you haven't seen it in theaters, look away!


Avengers: Endgame has been in theaters for two weekends, and continues to break box office records and make an outstanding amount of money. The Russo Brothers crafted a complicated and epic story, and the movie is so dense that it warrants a re-watch or two. Writers Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely were tasked with writing the project and balancing out its large ensemble of characters, and did so masterfully.


Given Endgame's massive critical and financial success, you could definitely says that Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely accomplished their goals. But it turns out that the writers still wish certain characters got more time together. McFeely recently opened up about those missed opportunities, saying:





Steve and Bucky would've been good. Rocket and Groot could've had another moment. [Black] Panther and Okoye, even Hope and Scott Lang. Lang in many ways is the driving force of this story. He didn't get time to really have a moment with Hope.



Just when you thought that Avengers: Endgame included everything possibly could, it turns out that the writers would have liked to add a few more reunion scenes during the movie's final battle. And after looking at their list of scenes, the fans might actually agree.


Stephen McFeely's comments to the LA Times might have originally surprised moviegoers, but they make a great deal of sense. After the surviving heroes finish their Time Heist and acquire the Infinity Stones, Thanos from the past arrives and lays waste to the Avengers Compound. All seems lost, until the dusted characters arrive in droves, and the most ambitious MCU battle begins.




During this sequence, there are plenty of reunions and interesting character pairings occurred, as the heroes who were absent from the last few hours got their time to shine. But some of them got cut for time, and they're even more noticeable after hearing the writers point them out. Most of these relationships will continue in future movies, although Steve and Bucky are presumably the exception.


Related: How Anthony Mackie Learned About Avengers: Endgame's Captain America Twist


Thanos' victory in Infinity War accompanied a gut-punch of a scene, where audience was left to watch in horror as countless characters faded to dust. It was heartbreaking to watch Rocket lose Groot, and Bucky was the first hero to fall. Those characters reunions might have deserved a bigger spotlight, although Stephen McFeely and Christopher Markus had to edit down all of their original idea for the battle.




Even for being dusted, Bucky wasn't given a ton to do in Avengers: Endgame. He didn't take on the mantle of Captain America, and didn't get a huge reunion with Steve Rogers before the latter eventually time travelled again. The future of the MCU is largely a mystery, so it should be interesting to see how the characters are serviced in a post-Endgame world.


Avengers: Endgame is in theaters now. Be sure to check out our 2019 release list to plan your next trip to the movies.

The Flash’s Ezra Miller Is Now Working On The Script With A DC Comics Heavyweight

The Flash’s Ezra Miller Is Now Working On The Script With A DC Comics Heavyweight
Ezra Miller as The Flash in Justice League

Despite being one of the first DC Extended Universe projects to be announced, The Flash has faced numerous obstacles over the years. Ezra Miller first cameoed as Barry Allen in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice and Suicide Squad, and later made his full debut as the Scarlet Speedster in Justice League, but the Flash movie itself has continually been delayed due to director departures, script changes, scheduling issues, etc. Now Miller is reportedly tackling writing duties on The Flash as well, but he’s not alone, as longtime DC Comics writer Grant Morrison is helping him out.


According to THR, this latest development on the script front comes as a result of conflicting creative visions between Ezra Miller and The Flash directors John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein. The duo, who were tapped to helm The Flash early last year, want to go in a lighthearted direction with the movie, similar to what’s been done with Aquaman, which has grossed over $1.1 billion worldwide, and Shazam!, which is getting positive early buzz. Miller, on the other hand, wants The Flash to be darker, and he subsequently took the initiative to work on the script with Grant Morrison, whose DC Comics credits include runs on Batman, Justice League of America, Doom Patrol and, especially fitting here, The Flash, not to mention miniseries like All-Star Superman, Final Crisis and The Multiversity.


Needless to say that Ezra Miller working on The Flash’s script is going the extra mile, and the report notes that the actor is “deeply committed to the character.” That said, depending on how this all works out, it could affect Miller’s future as The Fastest Man Alive. If Warner Bros decides it doesn’t like Miller’s take on The Flash, then the actor might leave the project. Miller’s holding deal on The Flash also apparently expires in May, so the involved parties will, ironically, need to work fast to settle all this if the actor is going to stay on board. This new script could be turned into the studio as early as next week.





It should be noted that even if Ezra Miller were to depart from The Flash, it wouldn’t mark the end of his relationship with Warner Bros. He’s still attached to reprise Credence Barebone in Fantastic Beasts 3, which begins shooting this fall. Nevertheless, the prospect of Ezra Miller leaving Flash behind if he can’t reach an understanding with the studio would be a big shakeup, although that wouldn’t be the only DC superhero recasting in the DCEU. In January, Ben Affleck confirmed in January he won’t play Batman again, and a younger actor is being looked for to play the Caped Crusader in Matt Reeves’ The Batman.


We’ll have to wait and see what creative direction The Flash ultimately ends up going and whether Ezra Miller will be a part of it, but at least the actor has a comic book veteran in his corner to help him hash out the story he has in mind. When we last saw Miller’s Barry Allen at the end of Justice League, he had been hired by the Central City Police Department and was continuing his superhero activities. At one point the Flash movie was going to be an adaptation of 2011’s Flashpoint, and while that no longer appears to be happening, it is one of the darker Flash comic book storylines, so maybe the script Miller and Grant Morrison are working on could draw inspiration from it.


Keep checking back with CinemaBlend for any updates on The Flash’s progress, but in the meantime, look through our DC movies guide to learn what else is in development for this superhero franchise.




Tuesday, August 6, 2019

We Saw New Avengers: Endgame Footage And It Revealed The Heroes' Plan To Take On Thanos

We Saw New Avengers: Endgame Footage And It Revealed The Heroes' Plan To Take On Thanos
Captain MArvel in Avengers Endgame Final Trailer, new footage from Marvel

We’re going to get into a spoilery-ish scene we screened from Avengers: Endgame today in this piece. If you want to go into the upcoming Marvel movie fresh – and I totally don’t blame you – please hop out now and check out one of our other lovely articles. If you love reading everything you can about the movie, forage on!


We’re so close to Avengers: Endgame I can taste it. In fact I got a taste of it today at CinemaCon 2019 when Disney shared a lot of brand new footage and other content from its upcoming 2019 slate of films. (No Star Wars Episode IX though, sorry.) Among these moments was an extended scene from Avengers: Endgame that captured more of Captain Marvel interacting with some of the other Avengers as well as revealed a little bit about the heroes’ plan to take on Thanos.


First and foremost, the scene opens with some footage we’ve seen snippets of in the trailers so far. Cap, Rhodey and some of the other Avengers are strategizing about when and how to take down Thanos. Captain Marvel really feels like it’s her fight, but the other Avengers assert “it’s our fight too.”




As it turns out, it’s also Nebula’s fight. We’ve known for a while now that Nebula would play a key role in Avengers: Endgame. In fact, actress Karen Gillan previously revealed she believes Nebula will sway the audience in a different way this time around noting:



She's evolved from a villain to someone we've developed empathy towards. I think she's going to be a character we're all rooting for.



In the new clip, Nebula reveals that while she was busy attempting to earn Thanos’ approval and please him, he always talked about wanting to go to The Garden. (Hilariously, Rhodey quips that’s it’s just peachy Thanos “has a retirement plan.”) The Avengers use some fancy technology to track an energy signature that seems to be a second use of the stones. Assumedly that’s a tie-in to Thanos terraforming the planet.




The team then spends the next few minutes deciding they’ll need to go into space, find the planet, take on Thanos, and then use the stones to undo what happened prior during Avengers: Infinity War.


There’s a little bit of a debate about what will be different this time around. Captain Marvel quietly and effectively says "me," but it seems there may still be some skeptics among the other heroes. I'm assuming they don't know the whole breadth of what the character can do or they wouldn't rib her so much, but it's hard to tell given the context.


You’ve seen part of this clip in a recent trailer for Marvel's Avengers: Endgame, in which Thor stands up, retrieves Stormbreaker and declares about Carol Danvers, “I like her.”




This whole scene fits in line with recent footage we’ve seen. In the last trailer, Thanos noted:



You could not live with your own failure. Where did that bring you? Back to me.



That seemingly implied at the time the Avengers were the ones tracking down Thanos in order to restore balance to the universe and eventually found him, but now we know how they get started. The clip ends with a shot of plenty of Avengers in a space ship: Captain Marvel, Bruce Banner, Captain America, Black Widow, Thor, Nebula, Rhodey and Rocket. That’s footage, too, that was confirmed in a recent trailer.




Still, seeing an extended moment confirmed a little bit more of the plan, it got me even more pumped to get into the nitty gritty of what happens and it reminds me that although a lot of the marketing for Avengers: Endgame has been serious, this movie is going to have some new team-ups among the heroes. In addition, the clip confirmed it’s going to be fun to have Captain Marvel be “the new kid” in the gang, and the convos she has with the other heroes are pretty amusing.


We won’t have much longer to wait to see how this whole story plays out. Avengers: Endgame is finally out on April 26 and if you don't have tickets yet for opening weekend, they seem to be selling quickly.

All The Avengers Are Getting New Suits In Avengers: Endgame

All The Avengers Are Getting New Suits In Avengers: Endgame
Avengers: Endgame Captain America walking in the new suit

Just as Captain Marvel mania has the world primed for the ultimate event in Marvel Cinematic history, we’ve gotten one final trailer for Avengers: Endgame. It has action, it has emotion, and… wait a minute?! Everyone’s got new, matching suits at the end of this trailer! This requires some serious breakdown, but in the meantime, take a look at the photos above and below.


Gotta start with Captain America on this one, because he’s the first one we see in the suit, and it’s all for a good reason. The de-facto leader of The Avengers, he’s going to have the most pressure on him during Avengers: Endgameto deliver in this conflict to end all MCU conflicts. Sporting this new suit, which has a color scheme that uses white as its primary note and a crimson red as an accent color, he certainly looks quite authoritative. But check out the rest of the team in these threads!


Here we've got Paul Rudd's Scott Lang / Ant-Man front and center in this frame, with Karen Gillan's Nebula and Jeremy Renner's Hawkeye flanking him in this walking shot. If you had any doubts about this previously goofy superhero taking his place on this team, let this image put them to rest forever... before Nebula and Hawkeye do it for you.




Seeing Don Cheadle's Col. Rhodes / War Machine, as well as the returning Hawkeye, standing side by side ups the ass-kicking potential here. Both men have a look on their faces that indicates great loss, and an even greater motivation to strike back at Thanos for what he's done to the universe. The Decimation took its fair share of victims, and losses are felt on all sides; but these two look the deadliest when it comes to their intentions.


Last, but not least, you've got this prime shot featuring Nebula a second time, alongside Scarlett Johansson's Black Widow, and Robert Downey Jr's Tony Stark joining the fray. Between Natasha going back to her crimson-hued hair, and Tony actually being back on Earth, alive, and ready to fight, there's a lot we're trying to unpack in this image. But one thing is for certain, these new suits aren't just here to look pretty. In fact, they probably have a very specific purpose to them, which is revealed as you break them down visually and pair them with some of the rumors flying around Avengers: Endgame's potential plot.


The two big plot components that might explain these new Avengers: Endgame suits are the alleged usage of time travel, and the potential meeting between Ant-Man's Scott Lang and Hank Pym in 1983. Looking closely at these new suits, they look similar in design to Scott's Ant-Man suit; and the usage of the particular hue of red in those suits just ties it all together. So if The Avengers are going to go time traveling together, it looks like everyone is ready with the right duds for a trip through some quantum realm time vortexes.




Of course, one has to expect that there will be a helmet piece to these new suits in Avengers: Endgame, as not only will everyone need to pressurize their suits and protect their heads during any ensuing battles; but they also might have to keep their faces shielded during the action. While each suit does have the Avengers' insignia on them, this is discreet enough that they won't be able to be identified at long distances. At the same time, teammates will know who's fighting with them, so it works that way as well.


Keep those theories in mind, as you watch the Avengers: Endgame trailer again. Because, you know you're totally going to click the video below and do just that. Don't fight it, folks.


These new suits look ready for travel through space, time, and anything that could be thrown at The Avengers. And they're certainly going to need all the help they can get, with Thanos already causing tons of devastation, and promising to unleash even more before all is said and done. Avengers: Endgame heads to theaters on April 26, 2019.



 

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