Latest news with #MultiverseSaga
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Marvel superstar Robert Downey Jr's Instagram posts from the set of Avengers: Doomsday have given me renewed hope that he'll be a great Doctor Doom
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Robert Downey Jr has posted two new behind-the-scenes images from the set The photographs don't give anything away about the Marvel movie However, they've given fans renewed hope over his performance as the film's Big Bad Ever since Robert Downey Jr took to the stage at Comic-Con 2024 to reveal he'd be playing Doctor Doom in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), it's safe to say fans have been divided into two camps. Indeed, Marvel optimists believe the returning MCU superstar, who previously played Tony Stark and Iron Man between 2008 and 2019, is a great fit for the Multiverse Saga's new Big Bad. However, others hold the opinion that his return is a sign of the comic titan's desperation amid the mixed reception to its recent film and TV releases. It seems, though, that the number of those who were seated firmly in the naysayers' camp is slowly dwindling. That's been particularly noticeable over the past few days, too, especially in light of new behind-the-scenes images that Downey Jr has posted from the Avengers: Doomsday set. It should be noted that there are no story spoilers for Doomsday from this point onwards. Nevertheless, I feel compelled to say that, if you don't want to know a single thing about the highly anticipated Marvel Phase 6 film, you're best turning back now. The first image, which was uploaded to Downey Jr's Instagram account on May 14, showed the A-lister reading fellow MCU actor Jeremy Renner's recently-released autobiography. Ordinarily, you'd think that's nothing worth reporting on. But if you look closer at said photograph, you'll notice two things. For one, Downey Jr is wearing a muscle suit. This implies his take on one of The Fantastic Four's most notorious foes will be as physically imposing as he is mentally, and suggests he'll be able to go toe-to-toe with many of the Marvel heroes who were included as part of Doomsday's initial 27-strong cast. The other, arguably more important detail is the black dots on Downey Jr's face. This indicates that, with a bit of CGI trickery, Marvel will give Downey Jr's Doctor Victor von Doom his unmistakable scarred face, which he usually hides behind his iconic metal-based mask. Now, this doesn't confirm that Downey Jr won't show his face as Doom at some point in one of 2026's new movies. My reading of the situation, though, is that his disfigured face will be covered by said mask for a fair amount of this movie's runtime. I believe it'll only be revealed if his mask is knocked off during a fight, or if Doom wants his adversaries to take a look at the permanent physical damage he's endured in his potential quest to halt (or cause, we don't know which yet) the Multiverse's destruction. The other image, which appeared online yesterday (May 16), doesn't contain any teases that might spark new fan theories about this iteration of Doom. Nonetheless, it's intriguing to see that Downey Jr is reading Marvel comics that star Doom, especially ones written by Jonathan Hickman. For the uninitiated: Hickman is the scribe behind the 2015 edition of Marvel's 'Secret Wars' comic series. Joe and Anthony Russo, who returned to the MCU alongside Downey Jr to direct the next two Avengers films, previously told me that Hickman's run, plus the original 'Secret Wars' storyline, have inspired the plot of Doomsday and its sequel, aka the 2027 MCU flick Avengers: Secret Wars. Considering both comic runs will influence this movie duo, it's no great surprise to see Downey Jr reading Marvel literary works penned by Hickman, especially those that involve Doom. Downey Jr is someone who appears to conduct plenty of research for whatever role he's playing, but it's still pleasing to see that he'll tackle this role with the same gusto and seriousness as any other. Such preparation hasn't gone unnoticed, either. As I alluded to at the beginning of this article, fans have unsurprisingly picked up on the work that Downey Jr is putting into this role, and many are becoming increasingly impressed. Indeed, a quick scan of threads on the Marvel Studios and Marvel Studios Spoilers Reddit pages confirms as much. Of course, as the saying goes, the proof will be in the pudding as to whether Downey Jr's performance is as good as fans expect. I'm still concerned that his Doom will be revealed as a multiversal Stark variant, which would be the wrong approach to take for such an iconic Marvel supervillain. That said, I have renewed hope that Downey Jr will be a good, if not great, Doom, and these images definitely prove why he likely will be. After Thunderbolts*, Marvel has the perfect opportunity to do the unthinkable with The Fantastic Four: First Steps and Avengers: Doomsday Marvel sleuths think they've solved the case about Avengers: Doomsday's story, and it's all down to a single chair's shadow 17 Marvel heroes I want to see added to the Avengers: Doomsday cast
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Marvel reportedly eyeing four big names for its X-Men movie reboot, and one rumor is so outlandish I'd be astonished if it's true
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. A spate of cast rumors concerning Marvel's X-Men movie reboot have emerged online Various leakers claim four big names have been tapped to play a trio of iconic mutants Fans are being advised to take the aforementioned speculation with a big pinch of salt Marvel's X-Men movie reboot is still a few years away. But, after numerous rumors appeared online last week (May 16-21) linking various big-name actors with roles in said film, the latest round of silly season casting is absolutely upon us. The comic giant's iconic mutants are set to play some part in the Multiverse Saga's next two Avengers movies. Indeed, with legacy characters including Patrick Stewart's Professor X and Ian McKellen's Magneto among Avengers: Doomsday's initial 27-strong cast, actors who appeared in 20th Century Fox's now-defunct X-Men franchise will return for one last hurrah before they pass the torch onto the next generation. Despite the fact that Avengers: Doomsday and its sequel Avengers: Secret Wars won't land in theaters until May 2026 and May 2027, Marvel is already scouring the globe (according to industry insiders, anyway) for A-listers to portray the X-Men in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). Now, before we dig into these rumors, I should point out that it's not the actors who've been linked with each role that have irked me. They're all incredibly talented individuals, so I've no problem with any of them. My gripe relates to the fact that the next X-Men film is still years away, yet this is just the start of what I expect to be hundreds of stars reportedly tapped to appear as part of the mutant ensemble. But back to the rumors in hand. The first – and certainly the most eyebrow-raising – piece of gossip that's appeared online comes from prominent leaker MyTimeToShineHello (MTTSH). According to the industry insider, whose recent track record can be described as 'mixed' at best, none other than Daniel Day-Lewis was being eyed to succeed McKellen and fellow Magneto actor Michael Fassbender as the metal-manipulating big a coup as it would be for Marvel to persuade Day-Lewis to join the MCU, this particular piece of speculation feels like unlikely, to say the least. The award-winning actor announced his retirement from acting over seven years ago and, apart from appearing in Anemone, an upcoming drama directed by his son Ronan, Day-Lewis hasn't starred in another big- or small-screen project since 2017's Phantom Thread. It seems improbable, then, that he'd be coaxed out of retirement in what would likely to be a multi-picture MCU deal. Day-Lewis isn't the only fan-favorite actor who's been linked with a significant role as part of the MCU's new X-Men line-up. Bryan Cranston – yes, he of Breaking Bad and Malcolm in the Middle fame, to name just two of his most notable roles – is said to be in the running to potentially star opposite Day-Lewis as the MCU's Charles Xavier. Again, this seems like an unusual fit for an actor whose best roles have seen him embody morally complex characters. In that sense, playing an X-Men adjacent individual/antagonist, such as Mister Sinister – a role Cranston has previously spoken about wanting to tackle (per Digital Spy) a decade ago – would be a better fit. Then there's speculation about who'll play Ororo Munroe, otherwise known as the iconic weather-manipulating mutant called Storm. Per MainMiddleMan, Marvel has approached Kirby Howell-Baptiste (The Sandman) and Jodie Turner-Smith (Star Wars: The Acolyte) to play her. Now, it would be remiss of me not to say that all of the above should be taken with a massive pinch of salt. For one, another industry leaker – Apocalyptic Horseman – has said they haven't even heard that a cast shortlist has been drawn up by Marvel. Regardless of how accurate Apocalyptic Horseman's sources may be, remember the unrelenting rumor mill about who'd play The Fantastic Four, aka Marvel's First Family, in The Fantastic Four: First Steps and beyond in the MCU? Everyone from Adam Driver and Penn Badgley with linked with playing Reed Richards, while the likes of Margot Robbie and Jodie Comer were supposedly tapped to portray Sue Storm. In the end, such hearsay proved to be nothing more than idle gossip. So, just because Day-Lewis and company have been tentatively linked with roles in the MCU, it doesn't mean they'll actually sign on to appear in films once the Multiverse Saga ends at some point during or after Marvel Phase 6. If Marvel is aiming for a middle ground between the elder acting statespeople who appeared in the first X-Men trilogy and their younger counterparts who starred in Fox's own X-Men reboot, Howell-Baptiste or Turner-Smith would be good fits for a mid-30s Munroe. Where Cranston and Day-Lewis are concerned, though, I'd be amazed if they ink deals to play Professor X and Magneto. We'll have to wait and see if any of these rumors have substance to them. The one thing that's absolutely certain, though, is these won't be the last X-Men casting rumors we read about. It's going to be a long and at times frustrating period of speculation, so strap in for plenty more outlandish rumors in the weeks, months, and even years to come, everyone. In the meantime, find out how to watch the X-Men movies in order and how to watch the Marvel movies in order. Marvel gives exciting update about the MCU's future after Avengers: Secret Wars, and it'll be all about the X-Men: 'It really leads us into a new age of mutants' New Avengers: Doomsday behind-the-scenes images from Robert Downey Jr are getting Marvel fans excited about his portrayal of Doctor Doom Marvel reveals first trailer for its long-gestating Ironheart TV show, but its rumored episodic release format has got me worried
Time of India
30-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Marvel's 'Thunderbolts' Lands Impressive 95% on the review aggregator website; a near-record for the MCU
'Thunderbolts' has recently achieved a noteworthy distinction within the Marvel Cinematic Universe . The film boasts a prominent ensemble cast, uniting anti-heroic figures from various MCU films and television series, many of whom are encountering each other for the first time on screen. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now In a phase of the Multiverse Saga that has been perceived by some as lacking in significant character interactions and team-centric projects, particularly with the absence of an Avengers movie thus far, 'Thunderbolts*' is being viewed as a refreshing addition, contributing to heightened anticipation for its release. Ahead of the MCU's latest offering hitting theaters, audiences now have an initial indication of its critical reception through early reviews. On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, Marvel Studios' 'Thunderbolts' made its debut with an impressive 95% approval rating, marking the second-highest score ever recorded for an MCU film. 'Black Panther,' with a rating of 96%, is currently the only MCU film that stands above it. However, it is important to note that as more critical reviews are published leading up to and during its release week, the 2025 MCU movie's score has the potential to fluctuate, as is common with films during this period. The Multiverse Saga, as a whole, has elicited a mixed response from both critics and audiences, with films like 'Spider-Man: No Way Home' and 'Deadpool & Wolverine' achieving universal acclaim, while others such as 'Eternals' and the upcoming 'Captain America: Brave New World' have faced more challenges in terms of reception. The emotional narrative of 'Thunderbolts*' appears to have resonated positively with critics in these early assessments, which bodes well for the film's potential box office performance. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The significance of Thunderbolts's high Rotten Tomatoes score is particularly noteworthy when considered within the context of the broader MCU and, more specifically, the Multiverse Saga. Given the divisive nature of this current phase of the franchise, which has resulted in several MCU films receiving 'Rotten' scores from critics, Marvel Studios was in need of its new team-up movie to be a significant success. Based on the overwhelmingly positive initial response from critics, there is a strong indication that 'Thunderbolts' could elicit a similar level of enthusiasm from fans, potentially becoming the box office hit that the studio requires. A significant portion of the 'Thunderbolts' cast is expected to reprise their roles in the upcoming 'Avengers: Doomsday'. With Marvel's strategic shift towards Doctor Doom as the central antagonist of the Multiverse Saga, following the dismissal of Jonathan Majors, the actor who portrayed Kang the Conqueror, much of the narrative setup that had been established for Kang is now rendered moot. The build-up to the next two Avengers films has not been as seamless or universally praised as the lead-up to 'Infinity War' and 'Endgame' in the MCU's Infinity Saga. Considering that 'Thunderbolts' introduces a new team that is anticipated to play a crucial role in 'Avengers: Doomsday,' the overwhelmingly positive early reviews for 'Thunderbolts*' offer an encouraging sign for the reception of the 2026 Avengers film. The debut of 'Thunderbolts' with the MCU's second-highest Rotten Tomatoes score is a welcome development, while 'The Fantastic Four: First Steps' has long been considered Marvel's most prominent release of 2025, the initial trailers for 'Thunderbolts' generated a significant level of personal anticipation for this particular MCU movie. Given the sentiment among some critics that they have become somewhat critical of the MCU in recent years, such a strong and positive initial response to 'Thunderbolts' is indeed exciting. There is a strong belief that Marvel Studios may have a standout film on its hands, and the anticipation to experience 'Thunderbolts' Firsthand is considerable.
Hindustan Times
30-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Thunderbolts* post-credit scene leak sparks speculation on Reddit
{Spoiler Warning! This article contains huge spoilers for Marvel Studios' Thunderbolts*} Marvel Studios' Thunderbolts doesn't officially hit theatres until May 2, 2025, but that hasn't stopped fans from diving headfirst into spoiler territory. Thanks to last week's early fan screenings, a flood of leaked footage is now circulating across Reddit, YouTube, and social media. won't be linking the footage here; it's out there. Directed by Jake Schreier and written by Eric Pearson, Lee Sung Jin, and Joanna Calo, the film boasts an all-star cast including Florence Pugh, Sebastian Stan, David Harbour, Wyatt Russell, Hannah John-Kamen, Olga Kurylenko, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, and Lewis Pullman. ALSO READ| Why is there an asterisk after Thunderbolts in the title? Know the meaning The leaked post-credit scene finally confirms that the US Government has officially sanctioned this unlikely New Avengers lineup. But the real showstopper comes in the final seconds: the Fantastic Four make their debut in Earth-616 as their ship pierces the atmosphere. It puts Thunderbolts in direct conversation with Avengers: Doomsday—suggesting that, unlike some of the Multiverse Saga's previous mid- or post-credits scenes, this one truly carries weight. One nerd on Reddit, actually speculated the plot, 'The leaked plot doesn't actually spoil the ending, because the person who leaked it said they only had access to a partial script, but the basic idea of the plot is the following .The movie starts with the FF living in this 60s retro futuristic universe where they are the main heroes and protectors….' '…The F4 decide to stay in this universe and help save it, and Galactus makes his first steps in Manhattan, as the third act starts. But that's where the plot leak stops. We don't know if the heroes save the universe or not, but they will definitely travel back to their home world of 616 by the end, possibly bringing Galactus with them.' However, another Redditor literally denounced the clip, noting, 'I figured they were fake. Leader having pretty much the same post-credits scene as BNW again and Doom's debut being in Thunderbolts instead of the F4 movie coming 2 months later was weird. From what I've been reading in Twitter and other subs, looks like everyone's saying the same about the Red Guardian and F4 scenes.' 'So since it seems like Val officially renames the Thunderbolts to the New Avengers before the credits, does the final credits logo change to reflect that? Like how The Falcon and The Winter Soldier's final credits logo for Episode 6 was Captain America and The Winter Soldier?' even one user questioned. ALSO READ| Marvel Thunderbolts movie cast: Meet the full lineup of actors and actresses The official Hollywood premiere took place just yesterday, and while full reviews are still under wraps until later today, early reactions are trickling in. Whether that translates to a strong Rotten Tomatoes score is another question. The film itself follows a ragtag band of antiheroes—Yelena Belova, Bucky Barnes, Red Guardian, Ghost, Taskmaster, and John Walker—thrust together on a dangerous mission after being manipulated by Valentina Allegra de Fontaine. Now the bigger question looms: will they fall apart, or rise as something more?
San Francisco Chronicle
29-04-2025
- Entertainment
- San Francisco Chronicle
‘Thunderbolts*' review: Gritty, grounded adventure of chaotic superlosers revitalizes the MCU
Populated by the schlubs of the superhero world, 'Thunderbolts*' is another step in the right direction for the Marvel Cinematic Universe as it continues extricating itself from the mess of the Multiverse Saga. By bringing the conflict down to street level with questionable heroes and investing sincerely in characters and relationships, the final Phase V movie is one of the MCU's recent highlights. The grubby heroes in question are all anti- heroes with complicated pasts. Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh as Black Widow 's pseudo-sister, another 'Red Room' assassin), Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan as the former Winter Soldier), John Walker (Wyatt Russell as a botched attempt at recreating Captain America), Red Guardian (David Harbour as Russia's version of Captain America, Yelena's pseudo-dad), Taskmaster (Olga Kurylenko as the Avengers-mimicking assassin) and Ghost (Hannah John-Kamen as the 'Ant-Man and the Wasp' phasing enigma) were all Marvel antagonists, more or less; events throw them together most reluctantly. The bickering bunch of B-listers initially has to struggle to survive before discovering a serious threat in the form of Valentina Allegra de Fontaine's (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) 'Sentry' project and its sole survivor, Bob (Lewis Pullman). 'Thunderbolts*' makes hay with its heroes' limitations, as they can't easily escape situations that would be a snap (so to speak) for the MCU's more-powerful denizens. Those limitations lead to some of Marvel's best action sequences, in part because the heroes can't fly around, firing undefined, but plot-serving, blasts. Fighting each other makes for entertaining, in-your-face battles. Fighting together makes for some awesome sequences, especially when they face a nemesis way above their pay grade. Unfortunately, fidelity to that spirit leads to an unsatisfying denouement, but at least the film is trying something different. Most of all, it signals a return to humanness that should hearten Marvel fans. Phase V's missteps (i.e., 'Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania,' 'The Marvels,' 'Secret Invasion' and 'Echo') have tarnished the MCU brand more than any competitor could. But down-to-Earth outings such as ' Captain America: Brave New World ' and ' Daredevil: Born Again ' have the biggest film franchise ever back on track. 'Thunderbolts*' is even 'less super' than those, because not only are the characters weaker than some in the Avengers' pantheon, they're all kind of losers. And that's their great charm. One waggish headline in the film calls them the 'B-Vengers.' Directed by Berkeley native Jake Schreier ('Robot and Frank'; ' Beef '), 'Thunderbolts*'s' filmmaking is notably gritty (as in dirt under one's nails), messy and real-feeling. And that's good. Sets can be appropriately chaotic, like Red Guardian's unkempt domicile or a ransacked vault. The costumes can be purely functional or bargain basement, like the stitching on Guardian's uniform that looks like he did it himself; elegant, like Ghost's containment suit; or surprisingly impressive, like the Golden God/Scary Superman look of a fully realized Sentry. Top-flight VFX also help Schreier and Co. set this in a realer world. That approach pays off most of all in the tangled web of psyches deflated by inferiority complexes that inform these, as Elvis Costello might call them, Less Than Heroes. Their inner landscapes feel more tangible, relatable and genuine than most superheroes'. The skilled, versatile Pugh is well-equipped to anchor a popcorn movie with emotional complexity. One of the themes in 'The Falcon and the Winter Soldier' was Bucky's climb back from PTSD after years of killing; Pugh's Yelena has, as Scarlett Johansson's Natasha said, 'a lot of red on her ledger.' Her self-doubt and depression are unusual colors in a comic-movie portrait. Stan is a welcome sight as Bucky. Harbour's Red Guardian earns the most laughs – what his dialect may lack in consistency, he more than makes up for in enthusiasm. Russell is another standout as the dime-store Captain America, memorably (and accurately) called an '—hole' by another character. Louis-Dreyfus elevates anything she's in. And Pullman will turn a lot of heads as the timid guy-turned-scariest MCU baddie since Thanos. The fun and human 'Thunderbolts*' is an encouraging sign for the MCU's future. Fans should make sure to stay until the end of the credits.
