Kevin Feige Teases The Young Avengers In The MCU’s Future

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June 25, 2018

As the MCU enters its second decade (!!!), Marvel may be ready to launch a youth a movement. Strangely enough, the one thing we hadn’t really seen until Spider-Man: Homecoming was a major teenage hero on the big screen, as most of those characters made their way to TV with Cloak & Dagger and Runaways. Now Kevin Feige tells Heroic Hollywood that plans are in the works for Young Avengers, the team of youthful heroes closely linked to the Avengers’ older members. Here’s Feige’s response when asked about bringing younger characters to the MCU…

“Well…sure. And both of those you just mentioned we talked about for a long time and they went over to be successful TV shows. We’ve always been fans of Power Pack and figuring that out. And yes. So…where and when we would see the evolution of that? I don’t know. And certainly – taking our cue from the comics as we always do – that’s why we wanted Cassie, a very young Cassie in this movie, to be inspired by her father. Just planting seeds.”

The Cassie he’s speaking of is the daughter of Scott Lang (Paul Rudd), and seen in both Ant-Man and the sequel Ant-Man and the Wasp played by Abby Ryder Fortson. Cassie, full name Cassandra Lang, eventually becomes known as Stature and uses Pym Particles in a similar manner as her father. She’s the first member of the Young Avengers to be seen on screen, however some may recall that Elijah Bradley aka Patriot was in early drafts of the Black Panther script.

The members of the Young Avengers could easily help make up for the expected losses of Captain America, Iron Man, and Thor. It could be a way for Marvel to give this next phase a burst of creative energy with characters like Kate Bishop aka Hawkeye, Patriot, and Hulkling. Of particular interest could be the introduction of Wiccan and Speed, the children of Scarlet Witch and Vision. I think it’s entirely possible Avengers 4 ends by teasing the Young Avengers in some way.

Alamo Drafthouse Is Next To Take On MoviePass With A Subscription Service

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John Nolan

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June 25, 2018

As MoviePass continues to struggle, we’ve begun to see the larger theater chains close in like a pack of wolves on the subscription market. Last week it was AMC jumping in with both feet, and now today comes word that Alamo Drafthouse is testing their own subscription plan. The program will enter beta testing mode later this summer exclusively at their Yonkers, NY location. Those interesting in testing the Alamo Season Pass can apply here.

Details are slim at this point, as Alamo has not revealed how much the subscription service will cost, even to those just participating in the pilot program. They’ve also not said if 3D movies will be available, or if films can be seen multiple times. We also don’t know if it will be available at all 35 of their specialized locations across the country.

Here’s the statement from an Alamo spokesperson: “The beta test will be run exclusively at our Yonkers, NY location, with the first invites going out on July 18th. Our guests have been asking for quite some time for us to offer an affordable monthly subscription plan that allows for unlimited movies and the ability to reserve tickets in advance at Alamo Drafthouse. We plan to test a variety of models and pricing structures to see what works as a sustainable model. At this time there’s no firm timeline for a wider rollout to other Alamo Drafthouse locations, but when there is we’ll let our Alamo Victory loyalty members know first.”

‘King Of Thieves’ Trailer: Michael Caine Is Out There Pulling Heists Again

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John Nolan

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June 25, 2018

Get this, Michael Caine is starring as one of a handful of older gentlemen who attempt to pull off a heist. This completely original story is titled King of Thieves and….wait, you say you’ve heard this one before? That Caine just pulled this plot in Zach Braff’s Going in Style remake? Oh well, then you’ll just have to enjoy him doing the same thing again, because this movie looks a lot better.

Directed by James Marsh, best known for Man on Wire, The Theory of Everything, Project NIM, and more, the film teams Caine with fellow Brit seniors Jim Broadbent, Tom Courtenay, Ray Winstone, Charlie Cox, and Michael Gambon. The story centers on the real-life Hatton Garden robbery of 2015, which has been called the largest in English history. Here’s the synopsis:

From the producers of Legend and Baby Driver, and featuring an all-star cast of homegrown legends led by Sir Michael Caine, King of Thieves is the darkly funny, incredible true story of the Hatton Garden robbery, the most daring heist in British criminal history.

King of Thieves hits the UK in September and probably stateside soon after.

Here’s When We May Learn The ‘Avengers 4’ Title

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John Nolan

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June 25, 2018

We can’t count on Comic-Con to be the place where the latest Marvel news debuts, so we have to look beyond that for updates on Avengers 4. And the main thing we need to know first is the movie’s title, which has been called a major spoiler for the story. Kevin Feige has said we wouldn’t learn of it until after Avengers: Infiinity War and…well, here we are. So what is it? Of course, if it’s a major spoiler then Marvel is going to sit on it for as long as possible, which is basically what Feige has just confirmed to Collider.

When asked when we might learn what to call the next Avengers movie, Feige replied…

“That’ll be after the Captain Marvel teaser probably, announcing that title. It’ll be towards the end of the year with however we launch that film.”

Makes sense if you look at the timing. Captain Marvel opens first in March 2019, so it will get heavy promotion before we ever see or hear anything from Avengers 4, which opens two months later. Knowing Marvel they will drop the title at roughly the same time as the first footage arrives, and that will likely be around November or early December. We got the first Avengers: Infinity War trailer last year on November 29th and things aren’t likely to change much. Why screw around with what isn’t broken? Did you see how much money Infinity War has made?

Now, this whole timeline could change if somebody tells Tom Holland beause he’ll probably spoil it during a Q&A or something.

DC Readers: Win Passes To A Free Screening Of ‘Ant-Man And The Wasp’

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John Nolan

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June 25, 2018

We’re happy to offer our DC readers the chance to attend a free advance screening of Marvel’s Ant-Man & the Wasp, starring Paul Rudd, Evangeline Lilly, and Michael Douglas in the further adventures of the Avengers’ tiniest hero.

SYNOPSIS: From the Marvel Cinematic Universe comes “Ant Man and The Wasp,” a new chapter featuring heroes with the astonishing ability to shrink. In the aftermath of “Captain America: Civil War,” Scott Lang grapples with the consequences of his choices as both a Super Hero and a father. As he struggles to rebalance his home life with his responsibilities as Ant-Man, he’s confronted by Hope van Dyne and Dr. Hank Pym with an urgent new mission. Scott must once again put on the suit and learn to fight alongside The Wasp as the team works together to uncover secrets from the past.

The screening takes place on Monday, July 2nd at 7:30pm at Regal Majestic in Silver Spring. If you’d like a chance to attend, simply complete the Raffelcopter contest form below. Winners will be selected on Friday, June 29th and notified by email. Good luck!

Ant-Man & the Wasp opens July 6th.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Rumor: ‘Man Of Steel 2’ May Be Announced At Comic-Con Next Month

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John Nolan

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June 25, 2018

I’ve been trying to keep you all up to date on what will be making a big splash next month in San Diego Comic-Con’s Hall H, the place where all of the biggest announcements happen. Warner Bros. looks to be in the pole position with Marvel taking a year off, and so far we’ve got confirmations of Wonder Woman 1984 and Aquaman, with the possibility of Shazam! showing off some footage. It would be weird to have a DC presentation without Superman, though, and now a new rumor says we should expect something on the Man of Steel.

According to the El Fanboy Podcast (via ThePlaylist), Man of Steel 2 could be part of the show. Furthermore, Superman could be appearing in Shazam! as a kind of lead-in to it. Ohhh really???? ::wrings hands eagerly:: I don’t know what any of this means, but here’s what I do know: Warner Bros. is NOT having a Hall H presentation without Superman being a part of it. Period. It would be a huge missed opportunity for them not to, and nowis the perfect time as any to show how far they’ve come from the Zack Snyder era by announcing plans for the character he brought back to the big screen. If they’re smart they’ll also have the new director come walking out on stage to shock the crowd. If they end Saturday’s events with a solid Man of Steel 2 reveal they will have stolen the show.

Numerous directors have been rumored for sequel, including Matthew Vaughn and George Miller. Who knows if any of them will be involved creatively, but it’s been clear for a while that there is a lot of interest in charting the Kryptonian’s next solo adventure.

Fingers crossed. San Diego Comic-Con runs from July 19th-22nd.

The MCU May Be Getting More LGBTQ Heroes Soon

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John Nolan

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June 25, 2018

While Marvel Studios has been ahead of the game in most ways, they fell behind when it came to representing female heroes and hiring female directors. That’s all changing now with Captain Marvel and the upcoming Black Widow film, but one area Marvel still needs to step it up is showing some love to the LGBTQ community. While there was some talk that Tessa Thompson’s Valkyrie from Thor: Ragnarok is bisexual, any overt reference to it was cut from the movie. So basically there’s still nobody who is officially out in the MCU. Well, it sounds like that is about to change.

ThePlaylist caught up with Kevin Feige and asked him flat out when we may see a gay, bi, or LGBTQ character. Feige’s answer is a bit confusing at first, but the gist of it is that it’s happening, and one, presumably Valkyrie, has already been seen.

The Playlist: When are we getting a Gay, Bi, LGBTQ, out character in the MCU? Is it even in the works?

Kevin Feige: Yes.

The Playlist: That’s the answer?

Kevin Feige: Yeah, that’s the answer.

The Playlist: It’s not someone we’ve seen yet, I’m guessing?

Kevin Feige: Both.

The Playlist: Both?

Kevin Feige: Both ones you’ve seen and ones you haven’t seen.

Any guesses as to who he may be referring to? There’s nothing to suggest this new hero is a major character, either. Feige could be referring to a supporting character from Captain Marvel, Spider-Man: Far From Home, or some other movie in the works. My guess? It’s going to be Jake Gyllenhaal’s Mysterio. Call it a hunch. I have no reason in the world to think that other than my gut, which frequently has sh*t for brains.

Or Feige has no idea. It’s a given there will be a gay character in the MCU and he may just be acknowledging that without having anybody specific in mind. We won’t know until it’s written and up on the screen, will we?

‘Star Wars’ Rumors: Obi-Wan Kenobi In ‘Episode 9’, Mos Eisley Cantina Spinoff, And More

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John Nolan

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June 25, 2018

There are always a bunch of Star Wars rumors floating around at any given time but the last week or so has been ridiculous. Ever since a story surfaced that Star Wars spinoffs were being put on hold, somehow that didn’t stop reports on them (Which would be logical, right?) but has only seen them increase in number. The latest has the movies still going forward, although Boba Fett and Obi-Wan films may be reevaluated in order to avoid another failure like Solo: A Star Wars Story.

So let’s dive into a few of the latest whispers going around the Internet, or at least the ones I deem to have the most merit. The first two have to do with the Obi-Wan movie and its cloudy future. Most recently we’d heard that Stephen Daldry may be off as director, but there were no details as to why or when it happened? ThePlaylist now adds a rumor they heard months ago that Daldry had left the film and that may be why Lucasfilm never offered a confirmation of his hiring. Makes sense, but it leaves the question open as to his replacement, especially if the hope is to start production next year as has long been suspected.

Speaking of which, the 2019 timeframe for Obi-Wan would put it in the ballpark of Disney’s streaming service launch. Is it possible they could be considering it as an exclusive for those who pony up for the subscription service? That’s another rumor going around and honestly, it’s what I’ve expected Disney to do from the beginning. What better way to get people to sign up than to give them a Star Wars movie they can’t get anywhere else?

While rumors of Ewan McGregor’s return as the Jedi master have been going around for years, it hasn’t been confirmed. That was always for his own standalone movie, though, not as part of the core trilogy. The Sun is hearing different, though, and they say McGregor may appear as Obi-Wan in Star Wars: Episode 9. The gossip site doesn’t have further information, and their cred with this sort of thing is sketchy at best, but I feel like there’s a possibility of this happening. Think of how we were all taken aback by Yoda’s surprise appearance in The Last Jedi. It proved pivotal, and Obi-Wan could have similarly important information to pass along to Rey as she battles Kylo Ren.

Finally, the popular Star Wars fansite Making Star Wars says they’ve caught wind of a different spinoff movie that was cancelled or postponed, and it isn’t Obi-Wan Kenobi or Boba Fett. It’s actually a film that would center on the Mos Eisley Spaceport, y’know, that “wretched hive of scum and villainy” seen in A New Hope? The Tatooine cantina is where Luke and Obi-Wan (there’s that name again) first meet up with Han Solo and Chewbacca, and it undoubtedly has ties to the Star Wars criminal underground. The series probably would have involved Jabba the Hutt since he lived on Tatooine and runs its most dangerous criminal networks.

While the site doesn’t say it, I wonder if the Mos Eisley film would have been a followup of sorts to the storyline threads dropped in Solo: A Star Wars Story. It goes pretty deep into the galaxy’s underbelly and even re-introduces Maul during his crime boss phase. Could Solo’s failure be the cause of this project being tossed into limbo?

You know the drill. None of this stuff is remotely confirmed and who knows if it ever will be. The most we’ve gotten out of Lucasfilm is that things aren’t slowing down, but I have to believe they are giving everything a harder look for the time being.

‘Miami Love Affair’ Trailer: Burt Reynolds Is A Tour Guide through Art And Love

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John Nolan

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June 25, 2018

Burt Reynolds’ casting in Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon A Time In Hollywood is just the continuation of what has been a busy year for the legendary actor. He’s been making the festival rounds with Miami Love Affair, an ensemble rom-com that, if I’m honest, looks like it should be on late night Cinemax.

Written, directed, and co-starring Ralph Kinnard (A Mi Me Gusta), the film follows three couples as they navigate the highs and lows of their relationships during the biggest international art fair in Miami. Reynolds plays a wealthy businessman and art dealer who also serves as their guide through the city’s romantic, elegant high-life. He’s also the movie’s narrator, and seems to be doing a “most interesting man in the world” shtick.

The film has been playing around at various festivals around the world, including a win for Best Ensemble at the Flager Film Festival. There doesn’t seem to be an actual release date, though, and maybe this trailer is meant to drum up interest. We’ll see how that goes.

‘The Hate U Give’ Trailer: Amandla Stenberg Speaks Up Against Police Violence

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John Nolan

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June 25, 2018

The adaptation of Angie Thomas’s book The Hate U Give deals with a subject that is an unfortunate part of our lives each day, that of the killing of unarmed black men by police. The film’s first trailer arrived tonight at the BET Awards and it’s a powerful look at what will be one of a handful of stories taking on this painful subject.

Starring Amandla Stenberg and directed by George Tillman Jr., The Hate U Give centers on 16-year-old Starr Carter, who is inspired to activism after witnessing the fatal shooting of her childhood best friend Khalil by cops. Starr finds herself torn by the two worlds she exists in daily: the poor, mostly black neighborhood in which she lives and the prep school she attends mostly made up of rich white kids. The cast for this is worth the price of admission alone as it includes Algee Smith, Anthony Mackie, Common, Regina Hall, Issa Rae, Russell Hornsby, Dominique Fishback, KJ Apa, and Sabrina Carpenter.

There may not be another actor whose choices on screen reflect their personality more than Stenberg. Her activism seems to be a crucial component in many of the roles she takes and I find it fascinating to watch.

The Hate U Give opens October 19th.