Marvel boss, Kevin Feige, is changing up a major MCU business practice. In the early days, Marvel would make splashes by signing cast members to monster contracts. These multi-picture deals locked in Chris Evans to 6-films and Samuel L. Jackson to 9-films. These were common practices in Hollywood’s adolescence, but not seen in decades. But, Kevin Feige has said in a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter, they are done with the big contracts.

“That got a lot of attention way back when, with I think Scarlett, and Hemsworth and Evans and Sam Jackson. It varies now. It varies, project to project, cast to cast. Really, what we want are people that come in, are excited to be in the universe, are excited at the opportunity to do more things, as opposed to being locked into contractual obligations.”

Kevin Feige

When Marvel was first launching their empire, they had a plan. Small solo films that weaved together into a climaxing Avengers. Multi-pictures (and a ton of cash) were needed to prove this crazy project would work. After phase 1, the machine was built. Marvel then needed the staples to stick around as they built out the cosmic and magic sides of Marvel. Over phases 2 and 3 they created a massive MCU featuring over 29 “main” heroes and the doorways to everything in Marvel’s backlog. Finally, the staples could retire.

A side effect of this new empire was its weight on the industry. Instead of convincing a slumping Robert Downy Jr or little-known Chris Evans to join, then build them up. They have the likes of Cate Blanchett and Jeff Goldbloom popping in to shine for a film, then leave. They combine star power with up-and-comers to create their new cast. They even started pulling in new directors, as long as the play by MCU rules. Stars have started to see Marvel as a fun and quick job. Many have stated they joined because their kids “forced” them too. Marvel is so big, they don’t need to lock anyone down.

Kevin Feige is also looking to the future, beyond the blockbusters. Disney+ is performing well, and it is the golden age for episodic content. How do you sign Tom Hiddleston to 5 movies and a multi-season deal as Loki? What if he says no to the film but approves of the series? Marvel wants to ensure they stay on top of the pop culture conversation. And are adapting, and possibly inventing, the new version of franchise entertainment.

I worry about changing characters midstream. It’s the first concern of many fans when they hear this statement. The change in Hulk was jarring for the well-informed and lost on the average movie-goer. We have a cool-looking Shang-Chi releasing this year. But Simu Liu could decide he doesn’t care for the character before the next Avengers. The selfish part of myself feels like it’s a waste of my investment. Of course, I don’t want actors to feel enslaved to a studio. I just grew up enjoying the called shots of the MCU. I trust Kevin Feige, I mean look at what he’s done so far, but this is a risky move. Feige may have just made it harder to make phases 4 and 5 a coherent continuation of the grand Marvel story.

Geek Freaks regular, Diana, had a chance to join the Avengers last week. She came back with a pile of souvenirs and pics!

Guardians of the Galaxy: Breakout

This ride has been a staple of California Adventures since its reopening in 2017. Riders rise and quickly drop in the 183 ft high ride. Rocket Raccoon joins you on this wild adventure. And of course, there is Star Lord’s awesome mixtape blasting.

Web Slingers: A Spider-Man Adventure

Web Slingers is the newest ride in the park and the highlight of Avenger’s Campus. Similar to the Toy Story ride, you sit in a cart and blast rogue Spidey Bots. Diana did not get any of the perks, but riders can upgrade their skills with some souvenirs. Riders are giving web-shooting devices to take down the bots before they overrun New York.

Avenger’s Headquarters

This is the meeting place for all the Marvel heroes you want a selfie with. Black Panther, Doctor Strange, Black Widow, and much more. They’re all here!

Ancient Sanctum

This outdoor garden stroll brings you into the world of Doctor Strange. Ancient ruins and artifacts look beautiful and detailed. If you visit in the evening, you’ll see multicolored lighting descending from the trees. A must-visit for sure.

Pym Tasting Lab and Kitchen

No Disney trip is complete without getting some expensive but worth it food. Check out the OG Antman’s lab for half-shrunken food and tasty craft beers. The place is decorated with super-sized soda cans and condiments. We suggest you grab a quantum pretzel while your there.

Diana and her family loved Avenger’s Campus and give it a “solid A!” She wants to note that the rides were limited by COVID restrictions. So when you go, it may be more crowded. We want to say thanks to Diana for taking some pictures and giving us the scoop on Avenger’s Campus. Also, congrats to her and her new fiance Paul who got engaged while at Disneyland!

Flash director, Andy Muschietti, reveals another suit for his upcoming film. Andy posted a close-up of the Supergirl logo, just as he has done in the past with The Flash and Batman. At first glance, it seems similar to Henry Cavill’s Superman logo. Upon a closer look, you can see an elegant pattern woven through the “S.” The checkered fabric is throughout the suit but each color has a unique pattern.

The detail in the DCEU has always been a highlight. They have tapped Oscar-nominated costume designer Alexandra Byrne for The Flash. Byrne is a veteran in the superhero world. Previously she worked on Dr. Strange, Guardians of the Galaxy, and The Avengers.

This version of Supergirl will be played by Sasha Calle. She is relatively new to the scene but most notably played Lola Rosales on The Young and The Restless. Calle is joining Ezra Miller, playing the Flash, and Micheal Keaton, playing Batman. There have been rumors of a standalone Supergirl film and this could be a soft pitch for the idea.

DC is putting a lot of effort into this film. Flash is a staple of the Justice League, and need him to help carry the franchise against the MCU machine. The Flash film is using one of the best DC stories, Flashpoint. Flash returns to his mother’s death in an attempt to save her. He succeeds but returns to a world on the verge of destruction. He must team up with alternate versions of DC heroes to restore the timeline.

We’ll keep you updated as filming news is revealed. Here is the previously revealed Flash and Batman suits.

Marvel released a full trailer for ‘The Eternals’ this week, giving us our first look at Kit Harington’s Black Knight. Marvel boss Kevin Feige has said in an interview with Good Morning America they have bigger plans for the Black Knight beyond his Eternals appearance. So, who is the Black Knight and what could these plans be?

The Black Knight’s name is Dane Whitman; he’s the 9th member of his family to wield the legendary Ebony Blade. This powerful blade can cut through almost everything, including magical barriers. The Black Knights have generally started out wanting to do good with their new title and weapon. All but two become corrupted by the Ebony Blade. The first uncorrupted knight, and now a spiritual advisor to Dane, was Sir Percy of Scandia. Percy was the original Black Knight in the comics. His books pre-date Marvel and came from Stan Lee himself. Dane Whitman’s uncle, Nathan Garrett, was a villain and even fought the Avengers. Dane now seeks to redeem his lineage and the Black Knight title.

Kevin Feige told Good Morning America in 2019 that the Black Knight “could perhaps grow into something else in the future.” What could the Marvel Studio chief do with the Black Knight? Bring in the fantasy genre! Marvel knows the future of the MCU needs to branch out into new genres to keep the films fresh. Some examples include a space opera with Guardians of the Galaxy and a spy thriller with Winter Soldier. Many MCU movies either bend or change their genres, and the Black Knight could introduce a new one.

The fantasy genre exploded in popularity with 2001’s Lord of the Rings. After a slew of fantasy movies in the early 2000s, things cooled off. Then Game of Thrones roared onto the scenes. Now we have studios making their own Game of Thrones-like properties, including HBO. Marvel can do the same with the Black Knight. Dane is in the modern-day but could bring in villains and characters who are tied to the past. If they tell Percy’s story then we can see a medieval world with wizards and dragons.

Here are some characters that lived during the medieval times that both Dane and Percy could have in their film:

Asgardians: They have been around for a long time and like to visit Midgard (Earth).

Cosmic Characters: With Guardians came a ton of cosmic characters. Many of them have lived a long time. And Ego was a fan of the Earth ladies. He could have come down to hang out.

The Ancient One: This long lived mystic could a Merlin stand in if Marvel want to simplify the world. It would also be a good time to recast the character to the Tibetan version from the comics.

The Celestials: This is unlikely as I’m sure we will get plenty of them through the Eternals. They both

The Black Knight and Kit Harington are exciting additions to the MCU. Catch in Eternals on November 5th, 2021.

Marvel Studios released a new trailer this morning celebrating a return to the movies and Phase four of the MCU.

The trailer is narrated by the late Stan Lee, and he talks about Marvel as “one big family.” The mid-way conclusion recaps the final fight against Thanos and the rallying of the entire MCU. The second half of the trailer ushers in phase four. We get new release dates for many of the upcoming movies, including title cards. We even got our first look at The Eternals, coming later this year. And to end things off, we see that Fantastic 4 is coming to in Phase four! The MCU is back!

Here are all the release dates and title from the trailer:

*Spoilers for “The Falcon and The Winter Soldier”

Following the conclusion of “The Falcon and The Winter Soldier,” Marvel revealed “Captian America 4” is in the works. Anthony Mackie will be Captain America after donning a new suit and taking the name during the TFATWS finale. No other casting has been revealed.

The showrunner of “The Falcon and The Winter Soldier,” Malcolm Spellman will co-write with TFATWS writer, Dalan Musson. Spellman is being trusted after the success of the series; bring in more viewers than any Disney+ series to date. Spellman’s previous work includes “Empire,” “Truth Be Told,” and The Sopranos: Road to Respect game.

Source: THR

A Blue Beetle movie is in the works at Warner Bros! This film will feature Jaime Reyes, the third person to claim the title. According to TheWrap, DC insiders are excited for the first Latino hero of the DCEU and are bringing in Latino talent for the project.

Jaime Reyes discovered the scarab that became the Blue Beetle battle suit. He then took over the mantle after the death of Ted Kord. With the suit, he has super-human abilities and fights crime. Blue Beetle has a youthful personality and often unsure of his powers. Similar to Spider-Man or Rogue.

Gareth Dunnet-Alcocer has been tapped to write the script. He is best known for the “Scarface” remake and “Miss Bala.” Zev Foreman will be the executive producer. And Angel Manuel Soto set to direct. Soto helmed “La Granja” and 2020’s “Charm City King.” The project is in very early development and won’t release until at least 2023.

Source: TheWrap

We have our first look at Jared Leto’s Joker in the upcoming Zack Snyder cut of Justice League. Joker was not in the original plans for Snyder, but he wanted to add Joker when he got the second chance.

The images come from Vanity Fair and show a defeated Joker, apparently in a cell. His makeup is messy and his hair is longer; possibly after Batman captures him. The events of Justice League take place after Suicide Squad but it looks like Joker is missing some tattoos. The makeup could be covering them or this may be a flashback.

Could Justice League give Jared Leto’s Joker a new lease on life? Let us know what you think of the new Joker look on our socials.

Source: Vanity Fair

A new Batman podcast revealed by HBO Max! ‘Batman: The Audio Adventures’ will be a comedic audio drama. Jeffrey Wright will be voicing the Dark Knight. Wright is also playing Commissioner Gordon in 2022’s ‘The Batman.’

This is not the only Batman audio drama podcast in development. Spotify announced in 2020 a new series called ‘Batman Unburied.’ HBO’s series will be a comedy, while Spotify’s will be a look into Bruce Wayne’s struggles with the cowl.

DC has embraced high budget podcasts and audiobooks. There are multiple projects in the works. The most notable comic adaptation is ‘The Sandman’ for Audible. Last week, DC revealed they will be working on parts 2 and 3 with the original cast.

Source: The Hollywood Reporter