The Marvel Cinematic Universe: The Avengers, etc.

[swanpride]

Yeah, maybe it should have been. But yeah, it is odd that Steve takes the responsibility onto himself in the talk with Wanda, but does little to defend her (or Thor or Bruce for that matter) against Ross. Granted, he is busy actually reading the accords in the scene (something Tony maybe should have done). 

[Bruinsfan]

I wish Bruce had been present to ask Ross if he'd also be under oversight per the Accords after mutating and unleashing Emil Blonsky on New York City.

[Spartan Girl]

5 hours ago, Bruinsfan said:

I wish Bruce had been present to ask Ross if he'd also be under oversight per the Accords after mutating and unleashing Emil Blonsky on New York City.

SERIOUSLY!!!!!!

[Starfish35]

I’m just thinking how they could have structured it.  I know they were probably limited by contracts, at the very least, and probably the time constraints of the whole overall Infinity Arc.  But what if they’d done CA3 focused on the hunt for Bucky, but in the background you could have the foundations for Civil War being built up.  That might require Tony being in the movie, so that might be somewhat of a problem, and would require them ensuring that he didn’t take over the movie.  But one of my (many many) problems with CA:CW is that the MCU really never gives the Steve/Tony relationship much depth, and so their big CW “breakup” isn’t that impacting on a personal level.   Give that relationship some depth in CA3, keeping the focus on Steve and Sam looking for Bucky of course, while in the background building up Tony dealing with the fallout from Ultron, and maybe an growing anti-Avengers sentiment?  Maybe at the end Tony finds out about Bucky killing his parents, leading to him feeling betrayed by Steve, but that’s a private confrontation between Steve and Tony, not a final act knockdown dragout fight with Tony trying to kill Bucky.    Then in a post credits scene we see Tony being approached with the Accords.  

After that, Avengers: Civil War could actually focus on the Accords themselves and actually engage with the issue, allowing each side to make their arguments fairly, something CA:CW never really did.

🤷🏻‍♀️I don’t know, just some idle thoughts.  

Edited October 26, 2021 by Starfish35

[swanpride]

But Civil War did. There is a whole scene in which all arguments are laid out AND pretty much all concerns from BOTH sides come true before the movie is over. Tony is worried about the Avengers eventually being not better than the bad guys if there are no restrictions on them, and his team ends up hunting and nearly killing an innocent man. Rhodey points out that the world will turn against them if they don't follow through, and exactly that is happening. Vision points to the possible escalation and catastrophy, and that is exactly what happens. Steve asks what happens if they want to go somewhere and they are not allowed to, and Tony already breaks the accord before the movie is even over because he wouldn't be allowed to do what he feels is necessary otherwise (that he and Steve are both wrong about the true nature of the threat again proves the point that the Avengers aren't infallible). Sam is worried that they might end up in prison without any rights and look, that is exactly what happens. And Natasha fears that if they don't fight for staying together, the team will end up being torn apart which again is exactly what happens. 

As I said the movie is not meant to give easy answers. Because there aren't any, both sides are right. And both sides are wrong. 

[KatWay]

6 hours ago, swanpride said:

As I said the movie is not meant to give easy answers. Because there aren't any, both sides are right. And both sides are wrong. 

I don't know, for me the movie started by reasonably pointing out arguments for and against and portraying it as a complex issue with no easy answers but just did the typical movie thing of making one side so cartoonishly evil (Ross) that the other emerged as the moral highground holders by default. And all the initial arguments that were actually reasonable for the accords were automatically off the table with that. Also because they set it up with one of the most flawed heroes of the MCU, Tony, vs can-do-no-wrong Steve, to me there was never really a question we were meant to side with Captain America, they just had to justify the others a bit so they wouldn't come across as bad guys.

[Kel Varnsen]

17 hours ago, Starfish35 said:

Wanda was in no way responsible for that - she was just the convenient scapegoat.  

I am not sure I agree with that. When a catastrophe like that happens there is usually enough blame where percentages of responsibility can be passed around to a lot of people. Of course it is not all Wanda's fault but her responsibility seems like it would be a number greater than 0%. And it would seem like for situations like this there should be a system for assigning that percentage.

[Raja]

24 minutes ago, Kel Varnsen said:

I am not sure I agree with that. When a catastrophe like that happens there is usually enough blame where percentages of responsibility can be passed around to a lot of people. Of course it is not all Wanda's fault but her responsibility seems like it would be a number greater than 0%. And it would seem like for situations like this there should be a system for assigning that percentage.

Ultimately the sin was the Avengers going in alone without the local Nigerian government being ready to assist and get their population out of the way as would be done for a police raid. And as the leader it falls on Captain Rogers, not one of his troops who in effect kicked away a live grenade.

Now the public may be expecting unlimited powers from Wanda Maximoff at this point, but this being the first Avengers mission shown to us on screen I do wonder if her fame is up there with Steve Rogers and Tony Stark. So instead of blaming Cap, American folk hero we/Ross blames her for her potential. But they missed the story beat where Captain America steps up to quash that talk and say I was the commander it is on me.

[tv echo]

Victoria Alonso is President of Physical, Post Production, VFX and Animation at Marvel Studios...

Saturn Awards Winners: ‘Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker’ Leads With Five Prizes – Full List
By Nancy Tartaglione   October 27, 2021
https://deadline.com/2021/10/saturn-awards-winners-2021-full-list-star-wars-the-rise-of-skywalker-once-upon-a-time-in-hollywood-knives-out-star-trek-1234863222/ 

Quote

The Producers Showcase Award
Victoria Alonso

 

Edited October 27, 2021 by tv echo

[tv echo]

Take a cruise with some Avengers...

Paul Rudd, Brie Larson, and More Reprise Their Super Hero Roles Aboard the Disney Wish
BY RACHEL PAIGE     October 26, 2021
https://www.marvel.com/articles/culture-lifestyle/avengers-stars-disney-wish-cruise-line 

Quote

Get ready to experience the Marvel Cinematic Universe like you never have before: in an immersive dining experience aboard the Disney Wish. When the latest ship to join the Disney Cruise Line fleet sets sail in summer 2022, a handful of Avengers will be aboard the ship as well, inviting guests to help them save the day — and also dine at the first-of-its-kind Marvel restaurant which features cinematic technology, including hundreds of screens and special effects embedded throughout. 

At Worlds of Marvel, guests will be part of a real-life Avengers mission — ”Avengers: Quantum Encounter” —  and witness some heroes in action, including Paul Rudd as Ant-Man, Evangeline Lilly as The Wasp, Anthony Mackie as Captain America, and Brie Larson as Captain Marvel! Additionally, Kerry Condon will also reprise her role as the voice of F.R.I.D.A.Y., and actor Ross Marquand will lend his villainous vocal skills to Ultron. There’s also one more Super Hero who will make an appearance during the show, to be revealed at a later date…

The show will follow Ant-Man and The Wasp as they host a presentation of the most powerful Super Hero technologies in the world, including a hands-on demonstration of the latest and greatest Pym Tech. But when Ultron turns up with an army of robot sentries eager to take control of this world-changing technology, Ant-Man, and The Wasp will need all the help they can get to save the day – calling on Captain America, Captain Marvel and even the brave diners of the Disney Wish for back-up.
*  *  *
This extensive, immersive Marvel experience is just one that you’ll find on the Disney Wish. The Disney Wish will sail its maiden voyage on June 9, 2022, followed by a season of three- and four-night cruises to the Nassau, Bahamas, and Disney’s private island, Castaway Cay, from Port Canaveral, Florida. Bookings are now open to the general public, and discover more about the Disney Wish and additional Disney Cruise Line ships at disneycruise.com.

 

Edited October 27, 2021 by tv echo

[tv echo]

Nominees include Black Widow, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, Simu Liu, Awkwafina, Florence Pugh and Scarlett Johansson...

2021 People's Choice Awards: Complete List of Nominees
By ALLISON CRIST      OCT 27, 2021 
https://www.eonline.com/news/1305316/2021-peoples-choice-awards-complete-list-of-nominees 

Quote

Take a look at the full list of 2021 People's Choice Awards nominees below and vote now on the official PCAs site.

The People's Choice Awards airs live on E! and NBC on Tuesday, Dec. 7 at 9 p.m.

 

Edited October 28, 2021 by tv echo

[tv echo]

Robert Downey Jr Credits 47 People, Including Tobey Maguire & Ryan Reynolds, for Marvel Success
By Richard Nebens   October 28, 2021
https://thedirect.com/article/marvel-robert-downey-jr-tobey-maguire-ryan-reynolds-success 

Quote

In the afterword of The Story of Marvel Studios: The Making of the Marvel Cinematic Universe , Tony Stark actor Robert Downey, Jr. listed off 47 names that had a hand in building the Marvel Cinematic Universe to prominence. The franchise's first leading man put people into the spotlight who were directly involved with the MCU or played a part in making the MCU possible.

Downey started by thanking two of Marvel Comics' late iconic personalities for "(dreaming) it up and (fleshing) it out, sorta" during the company's earliest days:

• Stan Lee - Former Head of Marvel Comics
• Jack Kirby - Former Writer/Editor, Marvel Comics

The star then paid tribute to three key players in the 2000s Spider-Man trilogy, including starring actor Tobey Maguire, all of whom "brought it to life, pretty much" with Marvel's new era of movies in the 21st century:

• Laura Ziskin - Producer on Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man trilogy and Marc Webb’s The Amazing Spider-Man
• Sam Raimi - Director of the 2000s Spider-Man trilogy and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness
• Tobey Maguire - Actor, Spider-Man/Peter Parker in Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man trilogy

Four key members of the Marvel Studios team behind Iron Man made the list for selling Downey on "the idea of ( him ) as Tony" before he took on the Iron Man-tle:

• Jon Favreau - Director of Iron Man and Iron Man 2 /Actor, Happy Hogan
• Kevin Feige - President of Marvel Studios
• Avi Arad - former CCO of Marvel Entertainment, Producer of various Fox and Sony Marvel movies, including all of Sony’s Spider-Man movies
• Loius D'Esposito - Co-President of Marvel Studios

A long list of actors, writers, and executives followed after the top names behind Marvel Studios' first movie. Downey even included Deadpool and Deadpool 2 star Ryan Reynolds simply to prove that he's "not distributor-specific regarding fellowship , " with Reynolds' films having been produced by Fox before the merger with Walt Disney Studios:

• Jeff Bridges - Actor, Obadiah Stane/Iron Monger, Iron Man
• Gwyneth Paltrow - Actor, Pepper Potts
• Mark Fergus - Writer, Iron Man
• Hawk Ostby - Writer, Iron Man
• Art Marcum - Writer, Iron Man
• Matthew Holloway - Writer, Iron Man
• John August - Writer, Iron Man
• Chris Hemsworth - Actor, Thor
• Chris Evans - Actor, Captain America
• Scarlett Johansson - Actor, Black Widow
• Jeremy Renner - Actor, Hawkeye
• Mark Ruffalo - Actor, Hulk
• Joss Whedon - Director/Writer, Avengers and Avengers: Age of Ultron
• Chris Pratt - Actor, Star-Lord
• Paul Rudd - Actor/Writer, Ant-Man
• Benedict Cumberbatch - Actor, Doctor Strange
• Ryan Coogler - Director/Writer, Black Panther and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
• Chadwick Boseman - Actor, Black Panther
• Paul Bettany - Actor, JARVIS/Vision
• Samuel L. Jackson - Actor, Nick Fury
• Don Cheadle - Actor, War Machine
• Elizabeth Olsen - Actor, Scarlet Witch
• Evangeline Lilly - Actor, the Wasp
• Brie Larson - Actor, Capitan Marvel
• Tom Holland - Actor, Spider-Man
• Jon Watts - Director, MCU Spider-Man trilogy
• Ryan Reynolds - Actor, Deadpool
• Terrance Howard - Actor, James Rhodes in Iron Man
• Mickey Rourke - Actor, Whiplash in Iron Man 2
• Ben Kingsley - Actor, Trevor Slattery in Iron Man 3 and Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings
• Guy Pearce - Actor, Aldrich Killian in Iron Man 3
• Tom Hiddleston - Actor, Loki
• James Spader - Actor, Ultron in Avengers: Age of Ultron
• Josh Brolin - Actor, Thanos
• Shane Black - Director/Writer, Iron Man 3
• Anthony and Joe Russo - Co-Directors, Captain America: The Winter Soldier , Captain America: Civil War , Avengers: Infinity War , Avengers: Endgame
• Victoria Alonso - Producer, Marvel Studios President of Physical, Post Production, VFX and Animation

The last name on the list was simply "YOU," with Downey showing his appreciation to the MCU's expansive fanbase, which he played a big role in building over the years.

 

Edited October 28, 2021 by tv echo

[tv echo]

More behind-the-scenes revelations from The Story of Marvel Studios: The Making of the Marvel Cinematic Universe...

Endgame Almost Killed All 6 Original Avengers
BY COOPER HOOD   PUBLISHED 5 DAYS AGO
https://screenrant.com/avengers-endgame-killed-original-heroes-plans-canceled/ 

Quote

Marvel Studios spent years developing Avengers: Endgame with directors Anthony and Joe Russo and writers Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely, and that included floating multiple ideas around for what could happen. Some elements were clearly going to happen early on, but other details were ironed out during the development process. It turns out that Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige originally proposed that all of the original Avengers should die according to The Story of Marvel Studios: The Making of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

"Kevin's initial pitch was that it was Toy Story 3 - a 'they're all gonna jump into a furnace together' concept,' reveals Joe Russo. The brothers' pushback was that there was no possible way for the story to be able to take the time to celebrate each one of them. And that, for the fans, it was an impossible scenario to walk out of the theater and process.

Robert Downey Jr cried when he heard the 'Avengers: Endgame' pitch: Russo Brothers
WION Web Team  : Oct 31, 2021,
https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/hollywood/news-robert-downey-jr-cried-when-he-heard-the-avengers-endgame-pitch-russo-brothers-425518 

Quote

In the latest book 'The Story of Marvel Studios: The Making of the Marvel Cinematic Universe' by authors Tara Bennett and Paul Terry, Joe and Anthony have reportedly revealed Downey Jr's reaction upon learning about the details of his death in 'Endgame'.

"When we started winding down the pitch, and getting to his death, Robert started crying. And when we were done, he said, 'That's f***ing awesome.' That's when we knew that we had to do it. Because he felt it," Joe said, as per reports. 

"In a way, it's almost like a death in the family. When you're saying to someone, 'All these people you've loved and have hung out with for 10 years? That's all gonna go away because we want to tell a story a certain way'," Joe added.

Anthony further added that getting Downey Jr's approval on Tony Stark's end was of paramount importance to them. "What we wanted to do is communicate the entire pitch to Robert, to sort of take his temperature on it, because he had so much creative ownership over the character. We were like, 'If Robert gets this, if Robert feels this, then we know we're in a good place'."

Marvel Rejected Chris Hemsworth's First Thor Audition Tape
BY MATH ERAO   PUBLISHED 2 DAYS AGO
https://www.cbr.com/marvel-thor-chris-hemsworth-first-audition-rejected/ 

Quote

In the new book The Story of Marvel Studios: The Making of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Thor co-producer and future franchise writer Craig Kyle explained how the future God of Thunder actor almost lost his most iconic role. "Chris was sick at the time, and we didn't know that," Craig Kyle said of Hemsworth's first audition tape. The poor performance took the Australian actor out of the running, with Torn Hiddleston and Sons of Anarchy's Charlie Hunnam leading the pack of prospective performers. But the team wasn't ready to lock anyone in yet, so they kept up their search.

"We put out some other sides that were inspired by [writer J. Michael] Straczynski's run [on the comics]—basically a bar room scene where Thor's regaling the room with a captivating tale. That scene gave the character a chance to bluster and be fun," Kyle said.

When Hemsworth learned about the new scene floating around, he had his mom film a new audition video on her phone. This time, things turned out much differently. "It stopped us all in our tracks," Kyle said.

Hemsworth was brought in for a screen test, which wowed all involved. In the end, director Kenneth Branagh, Marvel Studios executives Kevin Feige, Louis D'Esposito, and Victoria Alonso, costume designer Alexandra Byrne, and production designer Bo Welch all unanimously voted for Hemsworth to play the hero.

"It was meant to be," Kyle continued. "Chris had a vocal coach that helped him with his accent. She was working with another [Elsa Pataky] and said, 'Oh, I think you guys would hit it off splendidly." They did hit it off, and the pair got married in 2010. "So Thor brought Chris lots of good things," Kyle concluded.

Of course, Hemsworth had one more hiccup down the road, or so he thought. When news of Captain America: Civil War was circulating, the actor thought Thor was being written out of the MCU. Instead, he went on to star in Thor: Ragnarok, co-written by Kyle, which reinvigorated the somewhat stale character and became one of Marvel's most acclaimed films.

Captain America: Marvel's Advisors Voted Against The First Avenger's WWII Setting
BY JIM JOHNSON   OCTOBER 30, 2021
https://www.cbr.com/captain-america-marvel-advisors-leery-first-avenger-ww2-setting/ 

Quote

There was internal resistance making the film a period piece, according to Tara Bennett and Paul Terry's recently published The Story of Marvel Studios: The Making of the Marvel Cinematic Universe from Abrams Books. But Feige pushed back, responding, "What are you talking about? Raiders of the Lost Ark is a period piece."

But it wasn't just the World War II setting that was a concern -- the advisors were also worried about just how marketable the movie would be, specifically in regards to merchandising, and whether kids would be interested in buying toys based on 1940s-era technology. Feige in turn came up with an idea using a more modern Marvel story device that would make the era more interesting to younger Marvel fans.

"I thought, 'The Red Skull can use the Cosmic Cube to make all of these cool advanced weapons and vehicles,'" said Feige. "So it's a World War II movie, but you've got these enhanced motorcycles and tanks and Hydra soldiers blasting blue energy that you've never seen before. I remember getting in my car, going, 'That's how we can do it.'"

Marvel Actually Filmed the Hulk's Suicide Attempt Described in The Avengers
BY HENRY VARONA    OCTOBER 30, 2021
https://www.cbr.com/incredible-hulk-suicide-attempt-scene/ 

Quote

Tara Bennett and Paul Terry, authors of The Story of Marvel Studios: The Making of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, describe the tumultuous beginnings of the MCU. The Incredible Hulk, the studio’s second film, was noticeably grim: The movie featured intense action, psychological trauma and elements of body horror. Still, the darkest movie in the MCU to date was almost a lot darker. The Incredible Hulk was originally going to open with Bruce Banner attempting to kill himself — and the scene almost made it to theaters.

As the book tells it, the original opening would have seen Banner hitchhike to the arctic circle before shooting himself. Banner would then turn into the Hulk, surviving the gunshot, before leaping out into the ice and shattering a glacier. The film would have then flashed to a fleeting glimpse of Captain America’s shield, years before The First Avenger.

Although the scene was filmed and made it as far as post-production, it was ultimately cut. Stephen Broussard, who served as associate producer for The Incredible Hulk, said of the decision, "That scene works and is really cool. There's nothing wrong with it. But if it's not right for the movie, and the movie is telling you it doesn't want to start that way, there's a fearlessness in walking away from that." A version of this scene was described by Banner in The Avengers to explain that it was impossible to kill the Hulk.

 

Edited October 31, 2021 by tv echo

[Starfish35]

Halloween binge watch of Loki. 😂🎃  Seemed appropriate.

It’s really late/early, and I’ve been reading reactions/theories for a couple hours now.  Still kind of processing it.  What do you all think about this theory that the Loki finale and the WandaVision finale were deliberately synced, and that the “threshold” that Kang/HWR mentioned was Wanda becoming the Scarlet Witch? 🧐

A few scattered thoughts:

• This, for me, was definitively a show to binge-watch.  I know not everyone likes watching shows that way, but for me, for this series, it worked.
• I will agree that this series felt more like direct setup for Phase 4 than the two prior series, not so much in setting up characters (like Scarlet Witch and the new Captain America), but in setting the stage, i.e. the multi-verse.  It does leave me wondering what part, if any, Loki and the TVA will play in upcoming movies.  
• I was getting some Doctor Who vibes off and on from the show.  I guess all the running and the British accents and the androids. 😂  Not sure if that was intentional or not.
• I think, after seeing all the Disney+ shows, so far, I would put Loki second behind WandaVision.  “What If?” is hard to rank because I loved some episodes and hated others.  And FATWS, while I didn’t hate it, overall ended up being a disappointment.  Hopefully Hawkeye will be as fun as advertised.
• The scene where Classic!Loki conjures the powerful illusions, and Loki tells Silvie…”I think we’re more powerful than we know”…. I wondered if that was their way of giving Loki a power-up.  I’ve seen a lot of complaints over the years that MCU!Loki is distinctly underpowered compared to Comics!Loki, and I wondered if that was their way of addressing that issue.   Which led me to wondering whether we may eventually see a more powerful Loki being worked back into MCU movies.  
• I think Revonna may end up the wild card that we don’t expect. 
• Speaking of “What If?”, that show exists after the multiverse comes back into play here?  So the Watcher didn’t exist until the “sacred timeline” unraveled”?  What a big ball of wibbly wobbly timey wimey stuff. 🤣

[tv echo]

Many MCU glimpses included in this promo...

Edited November 3, 2021 by tv echo

[FnkyChkn34]

Marvel casting/contract rumor:

Spoiler

Harry Styles signed a 5 movie deal. As a huge fan of his, I can't wait!!

(This is also an Eternals spoiler. Don't read if you haven't seen the movie.) 

[tv echo]

More revelations from The Story of Marvel Studios: The Making of the Marvel Cinematic Universe...

Marvel Replaced Captain America's Shield at the Last Minute - 'It Looked Cartoonish'
BY NOAH DOMINGUEZ     NOVEMBER 4, 2021
https://www.cbr.com/marvel-replaced-captain-america-shield-last-minute-cartoonish/ 

Quote

Played by Chris Evans, Steve Rogers/Captain America made his MCU debut in the 2011 film Captain America: The First Avenger. According to the new book The Story of Marvel Studios: The Making of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Feige was impressed with how the costume team managed to bring Steve Rogers' Captain America suit to life, praising how it looked "real and believable." Cap's shield, on the other hand, was a different story.

Apparently, Feige "wasn't as sure about the look of the shield and suggested they step back into design to improve it. The current on-screen weapon was essentially a consumer products shield and was very smooth and vibrant." The First Avenger co-producer Stephen Broussard recalls that "[the shield] was kind of cartoonish."

The book goes on to explain that Marvel Studios character designer and concept artist Ryan Meinerding "revisited his vis-dev art for the shield and added the rivets, the leather strap, and gave it a much more weathered and lived-in look. That went to the film's property master, Barry Gibbs, and his team, who then brought the new-look shield to life. But without Feige pumping the brakes at the eleventh hour and allowing the team to figure out and execute a better idea, fans would have been discussing Cap's iconic weapon for all the wrong reasons."

Marvel Reveals Why the Fate of the MCU Once Rested on Thor's Shoulders
BY JIM JOHNSON    NOVEMBER 3, 2021
https://www.cbr.com/marvel-mcu-fate-on-thor-shoulders/ 

Quote

When The Avengers went into production in 2011, Thor was just hitting theaters, and there was some trepidation regarding inclusion of the largely unknown character in the film, according to Tara Bennett and Paul Terry's recently published The Story of Marvel Studios: The Making of the Marvel Cinematic Universe from Abrams Books. "Chris Hemsworth was on set in Thor costume, standing next to the other Avengers," said producer Stephen Broussard, "But he was just being introduced in a movie that's opening and we have no idea how he's going to be received."

Writer Craig Kyle was a little more optimistic. "The trailers were received pretty well, but I think everyone was in 'let's wait and see' mode," said Craig, and noted that optimism was well founded when the producers went to see Thor in theaters. "To go into a theater where you heard the first laughs in the right places? And the cheers you were hoping and praying for but were never sure if they would come? It was extraordinary."

"We went around to all the theaters with [Thor director Kenneth Branagh], and we got to hear that response, and it was amazing. Because that's when you know. It was a really special occasion because it was another notch to show maybe we can pull any of these kinds of movies off."

Audience reaction and box office earnings proved Thor was a success, and the characters from the film were deserving of being featured in The Avengers. "I'm very proud of the casting and the performances," said Branagh, "And I have to say, hats off to all who made that possible. Chris Hemsworth is a magnificent Thor, and Tom Hiddleston is a superb Loki. They will live forever in Marvel and movie history as indelible characters."

 

Edited November 4, 2021 by tv echo

[tv echo]

More revelations from The Story of Marvel Studios: The Making of the Marvel Cinematic Universe...

Kevin Feige Reveals The Origin Of The Term "Marvel Cinematic Universe"
Daniel Klissmman | 11/5/2021
https://www.comicbookmovie.com/marvel_studios/kevin-feige-reveals-the-origin-of-the-term-marvel-cinematic-universe-a189388#gs.f2du07 

Quote

The Marvel Cinematic Universe has been ubiquitous in the pop culture lexicon for over ten years now. It's an instantly recognizable name, but have you ever stopped to think about how the now-famous moniker came to be? Well, "The Story of Marvel Studios: The Making of the Marvel Cinematic Universe" — a book which chronicles Marvel Studios' journey — just revealed the story behind it.

In one of its early chapters, the book delves into how Tony Stark's appearance at the end of The Incredible Hulk kickstarted the interconnected nature of the MCU. As detailed in the book, at the time the scene was unveiled to the public, the internet went into overdrive with speculation regarding how the studio's then-planned superhero slate (which included Captain America and an early version of Ant-Man) would pan out.

Naturally, such frantic speculation put the MCU's name at the forefront of such conversations, eventually solidifying it as arguably one of Hollywood's most recognizable terms. And, as Kevin Feige revealed in the book, he came up with the franchise's name to differentiate it from the Marvel Comics Universe: 

"I wanted people to understand that this was a unique thing that we were doing. These are individual movies with their own franchises, and they are under this umbrella of a shared continuity, which hadn't been done before."

Admittedly, it's easy to follow the logic that led to the birth of the MCU's name, but its story goes a little deeper than that. Marvel Studios Producer Stephen Broussard further revealed that, just like Marvel Comics had its 616 and Ultimate universes, their intention was to give their burgeoning superhero franchise its own identity as a parallel world in the House of Ideas' tapestry:

"[We] said, 'We're doing something like that. Please consider the movies as their own parallel canon universe: The Marvel Cinematic Universe."

Captain America Star Hayley Atwell's MCU Audition Brought People to Tears
BY BEN WASSERMAN   PUBLISHED 2 DAYS AGO
https://www.cbr.com/captain-america-hayley-atwell-audition-tears/ 

Quote

Much of Peggy Carter's enduring popularity across the Marvel Cinematic Universe can be attributed to the personality and depth Haley Atwell brought to the character, something evident as early as her original Captain America: The First Avenger screen test.

As revealed in Tara Bennett and Paul Terry's book The Story of Marvel Studios: The Making of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, director Joe Johnston nearly cried when Atwell was brought in to perform Peggy and Steve Roger's tragic radio call. "We're all sitting there in this quiet room in Shepperton. Chris Evans wasn't in town, so one of the assistants was off camera, reading his dialogue," he said. "We're shooting this scene and I start thinking 'This is really emotional.'"

However, it was Atwell's delivery of Peggy's lines that gave the scene an unexpected additional gravitas, eventually leaving Johnston thinking, "I'm going to burst into tears any second." That sentiment was also felt by his first assistant director and the hair and makeup team, whom the book described as actually crying and comforting one another afterward. In response to the emotions felt during that moment, Johnston acknowledged, "It was just so amazing."

 

Edited November 6, 2021 by tv echo

[scarynikki12]

I will say the moment at the end of Eternals when Arishem arrived at Earth was legit scary. Sersi being unable to move, the clouds parting, and his face showing up in the sky was well done. If a god were to show its face to us I can imagine it being done that way. They also did a great job of really showing how big the Celestials are in comparison to the Earth and its inhabitants so, whenever Galactus does make his MCU appearance, they've laid the groundwork well. I know Galactus isn't a Celestial but he's huge and eats planets so this foundation applies to him too.

[tv echo]

More behind-the-scenes revelations from The Story of Marvel Studios: The Making of the Marvel Cinematic Universe...

James Gunn Started His First GotG Meeting by Pitching a Different Marvel Movie
BY SEAN GRIBBIN    NOVEMBER 6, 2021
https://www.cbr.com/james-gunn-guardians-of-the-galaxy-pitching-different-marvel-movie/ 

Quote

When James Gunn was invited to meet with Marvel Studios, Guardians of the Galaxy was not on his mind. However, he did give a pitch centered around another Marvel Comics character.

The book The Story of Marvel Studios: The Making of the Marvel Cinematic Universe recounts how Gunn was brought in after seeing his work with films like 2010's Super. According to Marvel Studios executive Jeremy Latcham, "James clearly didn't mind taking risks," so he extended an invitation to Gunn. While Latcham and fellow executive Jonathan Schwartz were ready to talk Guardians of the Galaxy, Gunn walked in and pitched a very different movie: Hit-Monkey.

Gunn's idea was based on the character created by Daniel Way and Dalibor Talajić and first introduced into Marvel Comics just four years prior to Guardians of the Galaxy's release date in 2014. Simply going by the name Hit-Monkey and featured in a solo title by the same name, the character's story focuses around a monkey whose tribe would take in and nurture a wounded assassin, the act eventually leading to their demise by soldiers looking for the assassin. From that point onward, Hit-Monkey swears to seek vengeance on those who killed his tribe, with the spirit of the dead assassin guiding him on his mission.

Latcham and Schwartz tried to steer Gunn away from Hit-Monkey and onto Guardians, but Gunn was not interested originally, especially because of the character Rocket Raccoon being involved. "I was beyond hesitant," Gunn said. "I did not necessarily think it was a good idea," even comparing the inclusion of Rocket to having Bugs Bunny in the Avengers.

"I was not attracted to that. I was going to pass." After a long, traffic-ridden car ride on the 405 Freeway though, Gunn eventually changed his mind and began to think on how he might make Guardians of the Galaxy.

Marvel Studios Was Unhappy With How Universal Marketed The Incredible Hulk
BY RICHARD FINK   NOVEMBER 6, 2021
https://screenrant.com/incredible-hulk-movie-poor-marketing-marvel-studios-universal/ 

Quote

Marvel Studios was reportedly unhappy with Universal Pictures' marketing for The Incredible Hulk. Before Disney purchased Marvel in 2009 and the distribution rights for The Avengers and the films following it, Marvel Studios had a distribution deal at Paramount Pictures for Iron Man, Thor, and Captain America. Yet due to Universal Pictures releasing the prior Hulk film, they held the distribution rights to The Incredible Hulk.

The Incredible Hulk was the second film in the MCU, released just one month after Iron Man. The film was Universal Pictures' second attempt at a Hulk film after the critical and commercial disappointment of Ang Lee's 2003 film. Universal hoped that the popularity of the character would give them a box office smash on par with the X-Men or Spider-Man films. However, despite the studio's best attempts, including reruns of the original Bill Bixby and Lou Ferrigno-led series on the SyFy network and a big father's day weekend promotion, The Incredible Hulk ended up barely making more than the 2003 Ang Lee Hulk film.

In the recently published book The Story of Marvel Studios: The Making of the Marvel Cinematic Universe by Tara Bennett and Paul Terry, Marvel Studio was reportedly unhappy with how Universal was marketing The Incredible Hulk, and the general feeling was that the deal with Universal ended up harming the film. Since the studio had no investment in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, they felt the studio phoned in the marketing. Stephen Broussard, who was an associate producer on The Incredible Hulk and is now the VP of Production of Development at Marvel Studios, said they felt pressure as it became apparent the film would become less successful than Iron Man. The full passage can be read below:

"With no long-term benefits for their efforts, it became a concern that Universal was, for lack of a better phrase, phoning in the marketing of the movie. Pragmatically, they had no incentive to invest in Marvel Studios. [Marvel Studios producer Stephen Broussard] knew The Incredible Hulk was going to place second [to Iron Man], so there was personal pressure about landing the movie that might lose money for the studio's risky two-picture launch."
*  *  *
The marketing campaign for The Incredible Hulk started late for not just a Marvel superhero film but a summer blockbuster. The first teaser trailer for the movie was not released until March 2008, just three months before its theatrical release, with the final trailer released in May to go alongside Iron Man. The film's TV spots even spoiled the reveal of Tony Stark at the end of the movie, as a possible way to get more audiences in the theater after Iron Man became a surprise summer hit. This is likely a reveal that Marvel Studios would have wanted to save for audiences who saw the film.

 

Edited November 7, 2021 by tv echo

[Ailianna]

18 hours ago, scarynikki12 said:

 

This post seems like it was meant for the Eternals thread, so those who haven't seen the movie and are avoiding the thread won't be spoiled instead of in the generic MCU thread. Especially since it didn't relate to any ongoing conversation here. 

[tv echo]

More revelations from The Story of Marvel Studios: The Making of the Marvel Cinematic Universe...

MCU Head Of Visual Development Ryan Meinerding Dishes On The Story Of Marvel Studios - Exclusive Interview
BY XANDRA HARBET / NOV. 8, 2021 
https://www.looper.com/652910/mcu-head-of-visual-development-ryan-meinerding-dishes-on-the-story-of-marvel-studios-exclusive-interview/ 

Quote

In an exclusive email interview with Looper, Meinerding expanded on his many quotes throughout the book's pages, dished on which MCU project was the most difficult to work on, and revealed how some eBay purchases assisted him in creating Cap's iconic WWII world in "The First Avenger."
*  *  *
The book reveals how you helped conceptualize Iron Man's suit. At this point, the MCU didn't even exist yet. What did that process look like, and what were some of your early inspirations for helping design what would later become one of the most important super suits in cinematic history? Did you have any idea then how massive this franchise would come to be?
I worked on the Iron Man Mark 1 on that first film and supporting tech like one of the RT designs, Howard Stark's Arc Reactor, Tony's boot test costume, and keyframes from various parts of the film. My grandfather had a machine shop when I was growing up, and my dad would take me there every few days. A lot of the early stuff I worked on for "Iron Man" was centered around things I remembered from that shop — the huge machines, the grime, the hands-on quality of all of it.

I pitched a number of those elements to Jon [Favreau] and that time, and some of that made it into the movie. Michael Riva and his team did such a great job on Tony's workshop.
*  *  *
As far as the Mark 1, I was looking at what Phil [Saunders] and Adi [Granov] were doing with the Mark II and III and thought I could try and take the comic reference for Iron Man's first grey suit and add as much reality to it as I could. So that meant keeping the center RT and designing forms around it that allowed highlights to look like they are radiating outward from that center light. I was also looking at doing different finishes on the different parts of the suit so it would appear as if they were coming from multiple different sources.

There was a degree of trying to include enough bulkiness so Tony could've hidden what he was working on, as well as showcasing how protective and strong the suit is. I added belt drives to the legs to keep the drive mechanism outside the armor of the suit—mostly to add a bit more interest and realism.

The last important component was keeping much of the armor on the front of the suit — he didn't have time to armor the back — which allowed some additional interest to the back but also made the suit vulnerable in a way that made sense with the story. The suit was also meant to be a one-direction, one-way ticket — straight ahead — which obviously means its existence is meant to be short-lived. I showed a few examples of those ideas to Jon [Favreau] and Marvel, and it came together pretty quickly from a design point of view. I then got to work closely with Stan Winston Studios to model it in preparation for 3D printing.

"Iron Man" was the first big movie I worked on—not only did I have no idea how big the franchise would become, I just felt lucky to be there on that single film. Despite not seeing the future, there was an electricity surrounding that production—just the notion that this was the first movie from a new studio felt like something really special.
*  *  *
The book also mentions that you played a significant part in formulating "The First Avenger," and you mention your passion for history helping inform that vision for '40s Cap. What did that research process look like, and what beats of history, costume, and sets were you most excited about incorporating? Did any of your favorites end up not making it into the film, and do you still have those eBay purchases you used to help with the design work?
One of the coolest things about being a concept artist is that you get to learn so much for every job  doing the research and finding your footing in the world of the story is a really enriching experience. I bought so many books for the first Cap movie — mostly about WWII gear and equipment and different types of uniforms. I also did buy a lot of stuff on eBay. It was incredibly useful to get a jacket and see how a collar folded or how to tighten the straps on a pack or goggles.

The equipment from that period is very evocative, and I tried to get as much of that into the designs I was working on for Cap and the Howling Commandos as possible. I still have a lot of the gear I bought, specifically the American goggles and helmets, and boots.

Some of my favorite stuff I did for that show included Cap's designs—which also included designing the "A" on his helmet and the wings and the star on his chest. I really enjoyed doing paintings of Cap with the troops and trying to evoke a Norman Rockwell sensibility for those images.
*  *  *
Your business partner Charlie Wen first came into the picture for "Thor," and his addition would later lay the groundwork for the visual development team. How did you know that he was the right person for the job? And what has it been like working together to turn the visual development process into a massive infrastructure that sets the MCU apart from other productions?
Charlie paints epic warriors like no other artist I knew and is awesome to work with. He was the obvious choice for helping to bring Thor to life in the MCU. We had a great time working together in those early days, trying to figure out how to start Vis Dev in the fast-paced environment of Marvel Studios. Luckily we had a lot of support from Marvel, and our team was really officially created for "Avengers." It took a team of concept artists to help bring that Super Hero team to life.

Reason Chris Pratt didn’t want to play Star Lord at Marvel Studios
PARIS BEACON    NOVEMBER 8, 2021
https://www.parisbeacon.com/reason-chris-pratt-didnt-want-to-play-star-lord-at-marvel-studios/ 

Quote

But it is curious that in the casting process, the actor Chris Pratt did not seem very interested in participating in the film and also the director James Gunn I hardly knew him. But one of the producers of Marvel Studios He insisted on bringing the two of them together in the same room and at that moment the spark arose and we have already seen the actor in a lot of installments such as Star Lord.

In the book The Story of Marvel Studios: The Making of the Marvel Cinematic UniversThey have revealed that there were some actors who were also close to landing the role such as Glenn Howerton, Joel Edgerton, Jack Huston, Eddie Redmayne, Lee Pace, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Zachary Levi and Michael Rosenbaum. Especially because Chris Pratt missed some auditions as he has commented:

“At the time, as an actor, I really didn’t think I was the right fit for Quill. It was really redefining who I was as an actor. I didn’t think it would fit in unless I was playing a supporting character. I didn’t see myself as a Star-Lord type, or a hero type. This is going to sound crazy, but I even missed the opportunity to audition a couple of times. “

Luckily, he accepted the job and has showcased charisma throughout the galaxy of Marvel Studios.

Marvel rejected Hela as a villain in Thor 2 because they believed her toys would not sell
HELEN HERNANDEZ    NOVEMBER 7, 2021
https://oicanadian.com/marvel-rejected-hela-as-a-villain-in-thor-2-because-they-believed-her-toys-would-not-sell/ 

Quote

The Story of Marvel Studios: The Making of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the new book that collects anecdotes from the saga, includes an interesting statement from the executive producer Craig kyle, who reveals that “initially, they introduced Hela … She was in the first documents of Don Payne’s story [guionista de Thor 2]. ” But the interests of the executives behind the MCU were clear and Odin’s daughter was left out due to the belief that a female character surely wouldn’t sell as many toys as Thor or even Loki.

 

Edited November 8, 2021 by tv echo

[FnkyChkn34]

On 11/7/2021 at 3:53 PM, Ailianna said:

This post seems like it was meant for the Eternals thread, so those who haven't seen the movie and are avoiding the thread won't be spoiled instead of in the generic MCU thread. Especially since it didn't relate to any ongoing conversation here. 

Thank you!  There should have been a spoiler tag on the first post!!!  

[tv echo]

Captain America 4: Nate Moore Reveals Exclusive New Movie Details
By BRANDON DAVIS - November 10, 2021
https://comicbook.com/marvel/news/captain-america-4-anthony-mackie-marvel-producer-nate-moore/ 

Quote

... While not much has been revealed for the film yet, Moore was part of the conversation which resulted in including The Falcon in Captain America: The Winter Soldier and casting Anthony Mackie for the role. With Mackie now serving as the MCU's Captain America, his first solo film will set itself apart from the first three Cap movies.

"I think, he's not Steve Rogers and I think that's a good thing," Moore said on ComicBook.com's Phase Zero podcast. "Because to me, this new Cap is Rocky. He's going to be the underdog in any situation. He's not a super soldier. He's not a hundred years old. He doesn't have the Avengers. What happens with this guy who announces publicly kind of, without the support, 'I'm new Captain America.' What happens next? I think is fascinating because he's a guy. He's a guy with wings and a shield, but he is a guy. So, we're going to put him through the wringer and make him earn it, and see what happens when he is outweighed, outclassed, out-everything. What makes somebody Captain America? I'm going to argue it's not being a super soldier. And I think we're going to prove that with Mackie and Sam Wilson."

 

Edited November 11, 2021 by tv echo

[tv echo]

Tomorrow (Nov. 12) is Disney Plus Day...

Disney Plus Day marks the streaming service's 2-year anniversary on November 12 with new releases like 'Shang-Chi' and 'Jungle Cruise'
Reece Rogers    Nov 10, 2021
https://www.businessinsider.com/disney-plus-day-2021-11 

Quote

On November 12, Disney Plus will celebrate its second anniversary with a special event called Disney Plus Day. ...
*  *  *
From blockbuster movies to kid-friendly series, many new entertainment options will be available to stream on Disney Plus Day. Below, is a full list of everything set to premiere on November 12 on Disney Plus: 

• "Shang-Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings"
  ...
• "Marvel Assembled: The Making of Shang-Chi and The Legend of The Ten Rings"
• "Marvel Studios Legends: Hawkeye"
• Marvel Studios' 2021 Disney Plus Day Special

*  *  *
Starting November 12, IMAX Enhanced versions of select Marvel movies will be available to stream on Disney Plus.
*  *  *
Here's a full list of every Marvel movie that will be IMAX Enhanced on Disney Plus Day:

• "Iron Man" (2008)
• "Guardians of the Galaxy" (2014)
• "Captain America: Civil War" (2016)
• "Doctor Strange" (2016)
• "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2" (2017)
• "Thor: Ragnarok" (2017)
• "Black Panther" (2018)
• "Avengers: Infinity War" (2018)
• "Ant-Man and The Wasp" (2018)
• "Captain Marvel" (2019)
• "Avengers: Endgame" (2019)
• "Black Widow" (2021)
• "Shang-Chi and The Legend of The Ten Rings" (2021)

 

Edited November 11, 2021 by tv echo

[Spartan Girl]

2 hours ago, tv echo said:

Captain America 4: Nate Moore Reveals Exclusive New Movie Details
By BRANDON DAVIS - November 10, 2021
https://comicbook.com/marvel/news/captain-america-4-anthony-mackie-marvel-producer-nate-moore/ 

 

What do they mean “make him earn the shield”?!? Like he didn’t earn it in TFAWS?!? I just can’t with these writers anymore…

[Raja]

1 hour ago, Spartan Girl said:

What do they mean “make him earn the shield”?!? Like he didn’t earn it in TFAWS?!? I just can’t with these writers anymore…

It comes back to "its all connected" and does watching a Disney+ show be something you can skip when watching the next movie or will it just be something that can lag and be fitted in  just like Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and the Defenders universe of Netflix did.

Edited November 11, 2021 by Raja

[Brn2bwild]

I have Disney+.  Not seeing the Marvel Studios Disney+ Day special.

ETA: Never mind - it's a stream dropping at 8:45 pm PST.

About 11.5 minutes of content we already know about, followed by 2.5 minutes of a blast of new stuff.  Par for the course.  Good to see some brief previews of shows we've been anticipating.  

Edited November 12, 2021 by Brn2bwild

[Guest]

Unsurprisingly most of Disney plus day was old news but the did confirm the rumored Hawkeye spinoff, Echo, and an Agatha Harkness series. Plus an animated Spider-Man series and an animated zombies series. 
Ms. Marvel has been pushed back to summer 2022. 

[tv echo]

Pic only:
 

Edited November 12, 2021 by tv echo

[Guest]

 

[tv echo]

All of the Marvel Studios News Coming out of Disney+ Day 2021
BY RACHEL PAIGE     November 12, 2021
https://www.marvel.com/articles/tv-shows/disney-plus-day-marvel-studios-wrap-up-2021

X-MEN ‘97 Animated Series Announced
First Look at Moon Knight
First Look at She-Hulk
First Look at Ms. Marvel
What If…? Season 2 Announced
Echo Series Starring Alaqua Cox as Maya Lopez Announced
Spider-Man: Freshman Year Announced
New Look at I Am Groot
New Look at Ironheart
Kathryn Hahn Returns for Agatha: House of Harkness
Animated Marvel Zombies Announced
New Look at Secret Invasion

Edited November 13, 2021 by tv echo

[tv echo]

I just watched Marvel Studios' 2021 Disney Plus Day Special (on Disney+) - it's about 14 minutes long...

The first half of this special was a compilation of video footage from WandaVision, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, Loki and What If...?.

Then there was a sneak peek extended scene from the upcoming Hawkeye series. I think most of it was new and not from previously released trailers.

Then there were short trailers for Moon Knight, She-Hulk and Ms. Marvel.

The special ended by showing the new series logos for I Am Groot, The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special, What If...? Season 2, Echo, Loki Season 2, X-Men '97, Spider-Man: Freshman Year, Ironheart, Agatha: House of Harkness, Armor Wars, Marvel Zombies and Secret Invasion.

Edited November 13, 2021 by tv echo

[tv echo]

FYI...

YOUR FULL LIST OF ALL UPCOMING MARVEL MOVIES — WITH KEY DETAILS!
NEW DETAILS GLEANED FROM SHANG-CHI AND THE LEGEND OF THE TEN RINGS AND THE FIRST EYE-OPENING TEASER FOR SPIDER-MAN: NO WAY HOME.
by Erik Amaya | November 12, 2021
https://editorial.rottentomatoes.com/article/full-list-of-all-upcoming-marvel-movies/ 

Edited November 13, 2021 by tv echo

[tv echo]

Portions of this recent TH interview relating to the larger MCU...

Tom Holland Is In the Center of the Web
BY OLIVER FRANKLIN-WALLIS     November 17, 2021
https://www.gq.com/story/tom-holland-superhero-of-the-year-2021 

Quote

The stakes for No Way Home are even higher. For several movies, Marvel has been establishing Holland as the new center of Marvel’s world. “Tom is stepping into the role that Robert Downey once occupied for Marvel, which is the favorite character, and in a lot of ways the soul of the Marvel universe,” says Joe Russo, who, alongside his brother Anthony, has directed Holland in four movies, including Avengers: Endgame. What’s more, No Way Home will finally collide Marvel’s increasingly byzantine cinematic universe with Sony’s own equally convoluted Spider-Verse (currently comprising Tom Hardy’s Venom movies, plus the forthcoming Morbius and Kraven the Hunter), thereby planting the seed from which years of sequels and limited series and sundry other subscription-generating content will surely bloom.
*  *  *
The production of No Way Home sounds like total chaos. As the first day of filming approached, several key actors hadn’t signed on yet. “Some people were trying to figure out whether they wanted to do it, and we needed all of them or none,” Holland says. The movie was reportedly going to be released after the upcoming Doctor Strange sequel, but when that film was delayed by COVID, it was decided that No Way Home would go first, requiring changes to the plot. Even once filming was underway, the script was being rewritten on an almost daily basis. “You could ask the director, ‘What happens in act three?’ And his response would be, ‘I’m still trying to figure it out,’ ” Holland says.

 

Edited November 18, 2021 by tv echo

[tv echo]

Scarlett Johansson Receives American Cinematheque Tribute; Kevin Feige Teases “Top Secret” Marvel Project With Actress, Unrelated To ‘Black Widow’
By Matt Grobar    November 18, 2021 
https://deadline.com/2021/11/scarlett-johansson-receives-american-cinematheque-award-kevin-feige-teases-top-secret-marvel-project-1234877118/ 

Quote

Tonight at the Beverly Hilton Hotel, Black Widow‘s Scarlett Johansson became the 35th recipient of the American Cinematheque Award.

Among those in attendance to pay tribute to the two-time Oscar nominee was Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige, who praised her for her “talent,” “vision”, intelligence and savvy, both as an actress and a producer, also teasing a “top secret Marvel Studios project” on which the studio is reteaming with the actress, which he said has nothing to do with her Black Widow character, Natasha Romanoff. Feige noted that Johansson, who became the first Marvel actor to exec produce one of the studio’s movies with Black Widow, will also serve on the upcoming project as a producer.

“Scarlett has lent her talent and star power to the Marvel Cinematic Universe for over a decade. That she’s chosen to play a key part in it for so many years, I am extremely grateful for,” the MCU producer said. “Working with [her] has truly been one of the most memorable and rewarding collaborations of my career.”

(Not spoken of tonight by Feige or anyone else was the lawsuit that Johansson filed against Disney back in July, surrounding the release of Black Widow, which makes the announcement of her latest team-up with Marvel all the more noteworthy. Johansson alleged in her suit that Disney breached her contract by releasing the film on Disney+ at the same time it was released in theaters. While The Walt Disney Co. initially released a statement saying that there was “no merit whatsoever” to Johansson’s filing, sparking a very public war of words with the actress and her representatives, it ultimately settled with her for more than $40 million, according to our sources.)

Additional speakers paying tribute to Johansson tonight included filmmaker Jon Favreau (who worked with her on the films Iron Man 2, Chef and The Jungle Book), her Jojo Rabbit co-star Thomasin McKenzie, late night’s Andy Richter, actress Abbie Cornish, Jamie Lee Curtis, her twin brother Hunter Johansson, and her fellow MCU stars, Sam Rockwell, Chris Evans, Samuel L. Jackson, Robert Downey Jr. and Jeremy Renner.

Favreau praised his “good friend” Johansson, noting that “she’s smart and she’s funny” and “she was familiar” to him from the very beginning, given their shared East Coast roots. He also talked about the concept of “repeat business,” noting that there’s a good reason the same people have ended up working with her over and over again. “Everybody who works with Scarlett wants to work with Scarlett,” the director observed. “She’s dedicated, and she always lets passion dictate what she does next.” Favreau added that while the American Cinematheque Award is a great honor, “the highest honor you could really get is longevity in your career.” He noted that this is something Johansson has already achieved, having worked as an actress since she was a child, adding that she will continue to endure in the industry because she has been “brave, flexible, and smart enough” to pivot consistently, throughout her career.
*  *  *
Then, there was Renner, who shared that he “looked up to Scarlett from afar, way before we ever met,” expressing his gratitude for finding the opportunity to work with the “beautiful and powerful individual” on numerous Marvel films.

Rockwell, Evans, Jackson and Downey chimed in via video messages, with Rockwell addressing the damage Johansson inflicted on him in fight scenes past. “My balls have stopped bleeding since Jojo Rabbit… I can’t have any children, of course. But, hey, Who needs kids?” the actor joked. “Sorry I couldn’t be there, but my psychiatrist said it might trigger a regression.”

Evans noted that he and Johansson did their first movie together “20 years ago” and have made eight more since, sharing that he thinks of her as an older sister not only because of her wisdom, but also because “there’s just no one else in the world I would rather annoy.”

Jackson noted that Johansson’s honors to date constitute “not even a smidgeon” of how she’ll be honored for the rest of her life. Downey Jr., meanwhile, feigned disinterest in the pre-taped tribute to someone off camera (“This is Hollywood. We live to f**king congratulate ourselves”) before sharing a sincere message about Johansson’s ability to overcome all obstacles in her path.

Scarlett Johansson Touts “Positive Impact” of ‘Black Widow’ Lawsuit, Kevin Feige Teases “Top-Secret” Marvel Project With Her as Producer
BY CHRIS GARDNER    NOVEMBER 19, 2021 
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/scarlett-johansson-black-widow-lawsuit-secret-marvel-project-producer-1235050257/

Quote

Feige couldn’t help himself from saying that while he “may be biased,” organizers saved the best for last in spotlighting Johansson’s work as Natasha Romanoff aka Black Widow. Though it was hard not to think about how awkward the moment could have been had they not settled the lawsuit, all of that was erased with Feige’s effusive comments.

“As Marvel’s Studios first and longest-running female hero, Scarlett has stood her ground amongst a sea of men — many named Chris — and paved the way for so many other characters in the MCU: Carol Danvers, Wanda Maximoff, Shuri, Jennifer Walters, Monica Rambeau, Kamala Khan, just to name but a few,” said the Marvel chief. “Scarlett embodied Natasha brilliantly over an incredible action-packed period spanning 11 years, eight films featuring countless stunts and fight scenes, a Civil War, an Infinity War and dozens of different hairstyles, all culminating in one of the MCU’s most anticipated stand-alone movies, Black Widow.”
*  *  *
Feige went on to praise Johansson’s skill as an actor-producer, a first for the MCU, saying how she helped bring in director Cate Shortland and shape the film as an ensemble “with equally fantastic” actors. “That’s what a smart producer does. She is a very, very smart producer,” said Feige before confirming an unannounced project.

“We are already working with Scarlett on another non-Black Widow related top-secret Marvel Studios project with her as a producer,” he said. “Scarlett is one of the most talented, versatile and beloved actors of our time. It has truly been a pleasure to work with someone of her caliber. From those epic training sessions preparing for the hallway fight in Iron Man 2, to the around-the-world press tour in Avengers: Endgame to partnering with you as a producer on Black Widow, working with you Scarlett has truly been one of the most memorable and rewarding collaborations of my career.”

 

Edited November 19, 2021 by tv echo

[tv echo]

Jamie Dornan Goes Back to ‘Belfast,’ but Not Without Worry
By Kyle Buchanan   Nov 18, 2021
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/11/18/movies/jamie-dornan-belfast.html

Quote

Dornan is open about the movies he covets, and he has met with the Marvel Studios head Kevin Feige about donning a cape and tights. “I’m more ambitious than I’ve ever been before,” Dornan said. Part of it is becoming a parent. “It's like a necessity to deliver and provide, very caveman-esque: I must succeed for these precious little people. Also, since my father died, it's lit this extra fire within me, this extra burner of wanting to succeed. “

 

Edited November 19, 2021 by tv echo

[BetterButter]

‘Blade’: Delroy Lindo Joins Mahershala Ali in Marvel Studios’ Vampire Adventure

[Bruinsfan]

I don't know which character he'll play, but hiring Lindo is certainly another good sign for the level of talent involved in the movie.

[tv echo]

More video clips (Renner, Favreau, Rockwell, Evans, Jackson, Downey) from Scarlett Johansson's American Cinematheque Award event - RDJ's video is hilarious and so in character...

FYI, here's a transcript of Kevin Feige's comments:

(source)

Edited November 20, 2021 by tv echo

[tv echo]

The MCU in order: The Marvel Cinematic Universe timeline in chronological order
BY IAN SANDWELL AND GABRIELLA GEISINGER     November 5, 2021
https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a825774/marvel-cinematic-universe-in-chronological-order/ 

Quote

MCU in order - how to watch the Marvel Cinematic Universe in order

1. Captain America: The First Avenger

2. Agent Carter (season 1)

3. Agent Carter (season 2)

4. Agent Carter (one-shot on Iron Man 3 DVD)

5. Captain Marvel

6. Iron Man

7. Iron Man 2

8. The Incredible Hulk

9. The Consultant (one-shot on the Thor DVD)

10. A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Thor's Hammer (one-shot on the Captain America: The First Avenger DVD)

11. Thor

12. The Avengers (aka Avengers Assemble in some regions)

13. Item 47 (one-shot on the Avengers Assemble DVD)

14. Iron Man 3
...
15. All Hail the King (one-shot on the Thor: The Dark World DVD)

16. Agents of SHIELD (season 1, eps 1-7)

17. Thor: The Dark World

18. Agents of SHIELD (season 1, eps 8-16)

19. Captain America: The Winter Soldier

20. Agents of SHIELD (season 1, eps 17-22)

21. Guardians of the Galaxy

22. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2

23. Daredevil (season 1)

24. Agents of SHIELD (season 2, eps 1-10)

25. Jessica Jones (season 1)

26. Agents of SHIELD (season 2, eps 11-19)

27. Avengers: Age of Ultron
...
28. Agents of SHIELD (season 2, eps 20-22)

29. Daredevil (season 2, eps 1-4)

30. Luke Cage (season 1, eps 1-4)

31. Daredevil (season 2, eps 5-11)

32. Luke Cage (season 1, eps 5-8)

33. Daredevil (season 2, eps 12-13)

34. Luke Cage (season 1, eps 9-13)

35. Ant-Man

36. Agents of SHIELD (season 3, eps 1-10)

37. Agents of SHIELD (season 3, eps 11-19)

38. Iron Fist (season 1)

39. Captain America: Civil War
...
40. Black Widow (watch credits scene after Avengers: Endgame)

41. Agents of SHIELD (season 3, eps 20-22)

42. The Defenders (season 1)

43. Agents of SHIELD (season 4, eps 1-6)

44. Doctor Strange

45. Black Panther

46. Agents of SHIELD (season 4, eps 7-8)

47. Agents of SHIELD: Slingshot (season 1, eps 1-6)

48. Agents of SHIELD (season 4, eps 9-22)

49. Spider-Man: Homecoming

50. Thor: Ragnarok
...
51. Inhumans (season 1)

52. The Punisher (season 1)

53. Runaways (season 1)

54. Agents of SHIELD (season 5, eps 1-10) – allowing for time travel craziness

55. Jessica Jones (season 2)

56. Agents of SHIELD (season 5, eps 11-18)

57. Cloak & Dagger (season 1)

58. Cloak & Dagger (season 2)

59. Luke Cage (season 2)

60. Iron Fist (season 2)

61. Daredevil (season 3)

62. Runaways (season 2)

63. The Punisher (season 2)

64. Jessica Jones (season 3)

65. Ant-Man and the Wasp (watch credits scene after Infinity War)

66. Avengers: Infinity War

67. Agents of SHIELD (season 5, eps 19-22) – Concurrent with Infinity War

68. Agents of SHIELD (season 6) – takes place in Endgame's five-year time jump

69. Agents of SHIELD (season 7) – takes place in Endgame's five-year time jump

70. Runaways (season 3) – seems to mostly take place post-Snap, but with no references to it

71. Avengers: Endgame
...
72. Loki (allowing for timey-wimey, alternate timeline weirdness)

73. What If...?

74. WandaVision

75. The Falcon and the Winter Soldier

76. Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings

77. Eternals

78. Spider-Man: Far From Home

 

Edited November 20, 2021 by tv echo

[swanpride]

I am actually not sure if the last two season of AoS take place in the 5 year jump. It's a little bit hazy. 

[Captain Carrot]

Also, I have the feeling that Feige has never considered the Netflix shows or AOS to be cannon. And I have to wonder if he's going to use the multiverse to remove them from the main MCU universe. (They happened in universe X that was similar to, but different from the ones that the movies occur in).

[swanpride]

Frankly, I don't care what Feige has to say about that. Agent Carter and AoS will always be canon in my book. 

[BaggythePanther]

I don’t think Feige is going to confirm or deny the canonicity of AoS and the Netflix shows any time soon. The shows have been discussed in interviews and that would have been the perfect time to clarify that the shows aren’t part of the MCU but he didn’t. I think they’re keeping their options open on the small chance they want to bring any characters into the movies/Disney+ shows. There’s no upside to officially dismissing the shows from canon. It would just annoy fans of the shows and discourage people from watching AoS, which is part of Disney+ in most countries.

[Guest]

1 hour ago, BaggythePanther said:

I don’t think Feige is going to confirm or deny the canonicity of AoS and the Netflix shows any time soon. The shows have been discussed in interviews and that would have been the perfect time to clarify that the shows aren’t part of the MCU but he didn’t. I think they’re keeping their options open on the small chance they want to bring any characters into the movies/Disney+ shows. There’s no upside to officially dismissing the shows from canon. It would just annoy fans of the shows and discourage people from watching AoS, which is part of Disney+ in most countries.

I think it will depend on what they decide to do with Daredevil. There are so many rumors that he is going to appear in No Way Home and it has been confirmed that Keige wanted him and Ghost Rider for the MCU years ago. I would be surprised if at least a partial answer doesn’t come soon. 

[Kel Varnsen]

8 hours ago, BaggythePanther said:

There’s no upside to officially dismissing the shows from canon. It would just annoy fans of the shows and discourage people from watching AoS, which is part of Disney+ in most countries.

Definitely no reason to say anything. Most MCU fans probably don't have enough awareness of the show to care one way or the other. And a big chunk of the fans who watched show would be annoyed if there was some kind of official statement. Plus if they decided for some reason down the road that they did want to bring back some element of the show into the MCU that door would still be open if you say nothing.

7 hours ago, Dani said:

I think it will depend on what they decide to do with Daredevil. There are so many rumors that he is going to appear in No Way Home and it has been confirmed that Keige wanted him and Ghost Rider for the MCU years ago. I would be surprised if at least a partial answer doesn’t come soon. 

I feel like there has been rumours of Daredevil (or possibly Kingpin) coming back into the MCU showing up at least monthly in my Google news feed since the show ended. Since none of those have happened it is hard to take any other rumours seriously.

[Guest]

7 minutes ago, Kel Varnsen said:

I feel like there has been rumours of Daredevil (or possibly Kingpin) coming back into the MCU showing up at least monthly in my Google news feed since the show ended. Since none of those have happened it is hard to take any other rumours seriously.

That really doesn’t mean anything because the Netflix contract blocked Marvel from using the characters until this year. I have no clue if it will happen but the No Way Home Rumor is coming from one of the more reliable sources. It’s far from a guarantee but it’s possible. 

The thing that makes me think there is or has been something with Daredevil in the works is The Making of the Marvel Cinematic Universe book reveal that Fiege was blocking from using the character and how he talks about Daredevil. It just seems that when he is interested in a character early on he finds a way to use them him eventually. 

[Raja]

7 hours ago, Dani said:

I think it will depend on what they decide to do with Daredevil. There are so many rumors that he is going to appear in No Way Home and it has been confirmed that Keige wanted him and Ghost Rider for the MCU years ago. I would be surprised if at least a partial answer doesn’t come soon. 

Daredevil along with Kingpin and the Punisher from the Netflix Defenders all have their fans. All have been seen by past producers as potential leads for movies with what? 3 Punisher movies and a Daredevil movie long before the Netflix series. And they seem  most likely to fit in with the current MCU roster of Spider-Man and Hawkeye. The question becomes that once we get to future stories will something about their characters contradict what has been shown on their TV seasons.

The other main possibilities I see are the Ms. Marvel origin. That teaser trailer made it look like some kind of wave hit her suggesting the comic terrigen bomb which would be different from the Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.  terrigen in the food supply  creating the In(Nu)humans. And somebody suggesting that a Bobbi Hunter Easter Egg would be possible in the Hawkeye miniseries.

[Perfect Xero]

I loved Agent Carter, and AoS was okay, but I'm ready to burn the entire TV arm down if it means we get to start fresh with the Inhuman royal family in the MCU.