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.

Arnold Schwarzenegger Reveals How James Cameron Worked On Terminator 6 And The Avatar Sequels At Once

Arnold Schwarzenegger Reveals How James Cameron Worked On Terminator 6 And The Avatar Sequels At Once

For the first time since 1991’s Terminator 2: Judgment Day, James Cameron will have a hands-on role in a new Terminator movie with November’s Terminator: Dark Fate, where he serves as producer and creative consultant. But James Cameron is a busy guy, and he is also still working on his long-awaited Avatar sequels. The Terminator himself, Arnold Schwarzenegger, explained how James Cameron worked on Terminator 6 and Avatar at once, saying:

It was a very interesting film to do with Tim, the dynamic, between him and with Jim Cameron producing. So Jim Cameron is right now directing Avatar films so he’s taken on this enormous challenge and he’s very busy with that BUT he’s a control freak and as you know, Terminator is kind of his baby so he does get involved in the filming so there were interesting discussions about which direction to go with a certain scene or how the dialogue should finish or what the certain look should be of an individual and all that stuff so there was a big collaboration between Jim and Tim Miller. I feel it was in good hands with both of them.

You often hear the names of big Hollywood directors attached to certain movies as producers, but that title doesn’t always mean that person had an active creative role with the film itself. That isn’t the case here. As Arnold Schwarzenegger told TheArnoldFans, James Cameron is a control freak, and the Terminator characters and story are ones he co-created and is attached to. So despite having a lot on his plate filming Avatar 2 and Avatar 3, he still made time for Terminator: Dark Fate.

He didn’t just give a couple of notes either; by the sound of it, James Cameron had an active enough role that Arnold Schwarzenegger actually took note of his influence and collaboration with director Tim Miller. The director and producer had a creative back and forth on this sixth Terminator film, with the franchise’s creator giving his input on its latest entry.

James Cameron discussed big picture stuff like the direction of a scene, down to specific bits of dialogue and the actual design and look of the characters. He and director Tim Miller had a collaborative relationship where they both worked together to form what this film will be and deliver the best possible product.

Arnold Schwarzenegger said that he felt the film was in good hands with Tim Miller and James Cameron, and that pairing is certainly encouraging. Tim Miller’s Deadpool was a smash hit, and the last time this franchise was exceptional (minus the brilliant and cancelled-too-soon Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles TV series, of course) was when James Cameron was last involved with Terminator 2: Judgment Day. He knows this world and these characters, and is two for two in delivering great movies in this universe, so his return is exciting.

How exactly James Cameron made time for his work on Terminator: Dark Fate, while also working on the Avatar sequels in terms of logistics is unclear. But somehow he was directing the Avatar sequels while being a producer on Dark Fate. Perhaps we can just chalk it up to efficiency, excellent time management and that James Cameron is James Cameron. Or some Terminator-esque time travel shenanigans.

The plot for Terminator: Dark Fate is still being kept under wraps, but it is expected to retcon some of the continuity and act as a continuation of the first two films. As such, it will see the return of Linda Hamilton's iconic Sarah Connor and, of course, Arnold Schwarzenegger's Terminator. The film also stars Mackenzie Davis, Natalia Reyes, Diego Boneta and Gabriel Luna.

Terminator: Dark Fate opens in theaters on November 1 and James Cameron’s Avatar 2 is set to hit theaters on December 18, 2020. Check out our 2019 release schedule to keep track of all the biggest movies fighting for your attention this year.

Why Airlines And Studios Should Allow First Run Movies On Flights

Why Airlines And Studios Should Allow First Run Movies On Flights

When it comes to flying, there can be a lot to complain about. Leg room is always an issue, the food is subpar at best, and somehow there's never enough room for luggage. For all the complaints one can find with flying on a commercial flight, however, the television and film selections are usually pretty solid. Most new Digital releases can be found on flights, and sometimes you don't always have to pay to see them!

As good as movie options on airlines typically are, they could always be better. In fact, it would really be the best if studios would collaborate with big companies to allow first run movies to play on flights. Like some in-flight services, it could be offered as a luxury to passengers for an added fee. It doesn't seem like it would be all that hard to implement and could be something that could be mutually beneficial to studios and airlines.

Why Is This A Good Idea?

For airlines, the pros behind providing first run films on flights is obvious. Movies may not be the deciding factor in someone's airline choice, although it's more than fair to say the right movie could potentially factor into choosing an airline. For example, if I were choosing a flight the Friday Avengers: Endgame opens and I saw one provider had it available on my flight, I'd likely choose them provided my flight was as long as its runtime. Plus, there's potential for happier customers who are watching first run movies instead of no movies or content they've already caught before.

Of course, there would probably be some on the flight who wouldn't care about the film or might choose a different flight if it were cheaper or had better times, for example. That's unfortunate, but not a deal breaker as airlines already have a system in place for those to pay for additional content. As long as the price for a film is left off of the plane ticket, folks shouldn't complain.

Of course, theater chains might be less pumped, as many are already scrambling to bring audiences back to movie theaters with various ideas. Giving airlines first run rights likely wouldn't sit well with some at first, especially those with theaters already in some airports. Granted, that's an experience only a select few airports offer worldwide, and it's more than fair to say this an arrangement shouldn't hurt the average theater's bottom line.

After all, it's not like someone is going to book a flight cross-country every time a movie they want to see premieres. Additionally, folks flying to and from locations probably aren't planning to go to a theater that day anyway, although I suppose an argument could be made this might inhibit an eventual trip to a theater. With that in mind, perhaps this is why this plan has not happened yet. But I say theater chains should really get involved!

How Theaters Should Get Involved

This is why it's a good thing theaters can get in on this action as well, and make the allure of watching first run movies on flights even more attractive. Sure a new movie on a flight is awesome, but imagine being able to watch the latest and greatest movies during those crushingly long layovers at airports? Suddenly, six hours sitting in a random terminal sounds a lot more bearable.

There are some logistical issues with this of course, seeing as people would be flying in and out of airports at varying times, and choosing any combination of movies to view. The bottom line is that simply building a movie theater to accommodate this experience is impractical, and would be the wrong way to approach this.

With that said, if a theater chain had a row of kiosks available to travelers getting off flights to resume their movie, that would be great. A kiosk prevents multiple people from crowding in (comfortably anyway) to piggy back on one purchased film, and would allow another person a reasonable amount of privacy to relax and enjoy the rest of their film and possibly another while waiting on a connection.

So How Would This Work? 

Presumably, a person's progress on a film would be linked to their plane ticket and could be scanned at a kiosk, or they could be given a QR code to photograph with their smartphone to pull the film back up at the airport. Either way, a method like this would be necessary, as buying the rights to view a film twice when the first viewing was interrupted would be something most consumers wouldn't tolerate.

Additionally, a way of tracking one's progress in a film and transferring it would be handy for those with connecting flights. Pausing a film and then being able to seamlessly resume it on the next flight would be remarkably simple, which quite frankly, would be a godsend considering how stressful making a connecting flight can be. Of course, there'd probably be instances where airlines wouldn't honor each others purchases, so this plan isn't full proof.

A third party were to do the legwork on making this a thing. That would at least encourage mass adoption across airlines, and resolve the headache of them having to directly interact with each other. It's a niche market, but surely there's enough demand for one company to do it well and usher in a brave new movie experience? I don't have a business degree, I just have ideas.

I also have a mild anxiety of flying that would be severely lessened by the fact I'd get a chance to see a new movie. As mentioned, the options on flights are sometimes pretty solid, so a move like this would merely be an upgrade to one of the nicest parts of a flying experience. That is, until VR on planes becomes a thing and I can simulate any other type of experience that isn't flying high in the sky.

Readers, would you pay the extra money on a flight for a first run film? Sound off in our poll, and hop down to the comments for any additional thoughts you may have. For more on things happening with theaters, check out one form of transportation that may be getting a unique viewing experience in the future.

Shazam! Star Zachary Levi Doesn’t Know What’s Next For The DC Hero

Shazam! Star Zachary Levi Doesn’t Know What’s Next For The DC Hero

What the hell did you guys do to Shazam!? Despite David F. Sandberg turning in a winning origin story for the teenage DC hero, one that mixed humor and horror with the right dash of family heart, Shazam! stalled out at the box office with $137 million domestically. I think Avengers: Endgame earned that much in a single day last week.

Shazam! didn’t exactly catch fire with audiences, which explains why the movie’s star, Zachary Levi, is unsure about the fate of a possible sequel. During a fan panel at Fan Expo Dallas, Levi was asked about a next chapter for Shazam, and he told the audience (via ComicBook.com):

I see him wherever my bosses tell me to take him. That's above my pay grade, bro. Like, literally, I ... And I'm totally fine with that, too. You know, I'm still being introduced to the character that I played and to the world that he inhabits. You know, there are Geoff Johns and Walter Hamada, and all the people at DC, who are very smart and very talented. And they are putting together, I think, some very cool things and journeys for all of these characters, Shazam included, Captain Marvel included.

That sounds like a textbook answer when an actor is asked a question about a sequel that might be in doubt. Shazam! isn’t posting the types of numbers that guarantee a follow-up story. Sure, it’s going better overseas, posting a grand total of $358 million. But it’s the lowest grossing film in the DCEU to date, sitting far below the disaster that is Justice League, so that’s not a vote of confidence in a Shazam! sequel, no matter how good the reviews were.

Which is disappointing, because almost everything in the DCEU is getting a sequel at this point. Jason Momoa recently proclaimed that the story for Aquaman 2 is locked. We’re waiting patiently for Patty Jenkins and Gal Gadot to deliver Wonder Woman 1984. And James Gunn is about to deliver a second Suicide Squad.

There are even some very cool places that another Shazam! movie could go. The post-credits scene teased the arrival of Mister Mind and the Monster Society of Evil. And there have been plans to bring The Rock’s villain Black Adam into the fold for some time now. But if there isn’t a sequel, none of this will happen.

Maybe DC and Warner Bros. look at Shazam! as a successful soft launch for a character who didn’t exactly have household name recognition? The reviews were solid for the movie – it sits at 90% Fresh with critics on Rotten Tomatoes, with an 87% Fresh from audiences. And Levi largely got raves for his portrayal of the titular character.

We’ll see if a second Shazam! ever gets added to DC’s release slate, but for the time being, Levi himself seems to be in the dark. To stay up to date on all of the happenings in the DCEU, bookmark CinemaBlend’s DC Portal Page for this cinematic universe, and visit it often.

Yes, Disneyland Will Hand Out Bathroom Passes For People In Long Galaxy's Edge Lines

Yes, Disneyland Will Hand Out Bathroom Passes For People In Long Galaxy's Edge Lines

Disneyland is a place where we love in indulge ourselves. While buying food at Disneyland tends to get expensive, it's also incredibly good, and so whether you schedule reservations for dinner at the Napa Rose or just eat your weight in churros, food is as much a part of the Disneyland experience as anything. However, with Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge about to open, and insane lines expected from day one, guests might have been afraid to drink gallons of blue milk, so as not to have to worry about bathroom runs while standing in line for Millennium Falcon: Smuggler's Run. However, you won't need to choose because Disneyland will be providing bathroom passes for those in line at the new land.

It's also all the more important as Disneyland will apparently make snacks and drinks available for purchase to people standing in line. The queues for both new E-ticket attractions will also be designed with interesting things for guests to look at and interact with to keep guests' attention as a way to make the prolonged waits a little easier to deal with. Although, Disney has yet to reveal much about exactly what the queues will include. A collection of app based games that are only available while inside Galaxy's Edge will also be playable for guests to keep them busy while in line.

In actuality, according to People, hopping out of line to use the bathroom has always been an option at Disney Parks, though it's not something that the parks have made much a point to publicize. Still, it's good to know for sure that the option will be available when Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge opens, as it's likely to be even more important. Galaxy's Edge will be the first place the public can purchase alcohol at Disneyland, so the restrooms will probably be getting more a workout than ever before.

Star Wars; Galaxy's Edge is set to open at Disneyland in less than two months. The crowds might not be quite as insane on opening day as anticipated, because for the first three weeks after opening the land will require reservations to enter. Still, one certainly expects that nearly everybody who can get into the land will be making their way to the Millennium Falcon attraction first. The Rise of the Resistance attraction won't be available on opening day, which means the crowds won't even be broken up between the two attractions and the line for Smuggler's Run will be even longer than expected until the second attraction opens. That will happen later this year, though an exact date is unknown.

So the good news is you can drink as much blue or green milk as you want an you won't need to worry about losing your place in line. Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge opens at Disneyland May 31  and at Disney's Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World August 29.