Entertainment Weekly reports it has confirmation that Taylor Swift will not appearing in Deadpool & Wolverine. This news comes shortly after IMAX dropped a new poster for the movie showing the eponymous characters’ arms with friendship bracelets on them, which have become popular fashion items during the singing sensation’s Eras Tour. Keep in mind, we won’t know with 100% certainty that Swift isn’t in Deadpool & Wolverine until the movie comes out or someone from Marvels Studios officially confirms it, but for now, it’s a safe bet to assume she won’t show up.

For a long time, it was rumored that Swift would appear as Dazzler in Deadpool & Wolverine, who was previously played by Halston Sage in Dark Phoenix. However, over the weekend, a new batch of footage was released that included seemingly teasing Lady Deadpool’s MCU debut. This prompted some fans to speculate on if Swift could be playing that character instead, but since she’s reportedly not expected to be in the movie now, that means the theory of Blake Lively, Ryan Reynolds’ wife, being cast in the role holds more weight.

None of this is to say, though, that Taylor Swift couldn’t appear in the MCU someday though. After all, she’s assembled a filmography from appearing in movies and TV shows like The Lorax, Cats, Amsterdam, New Girl and Saturday Night Live. Still, given her massive popularity as a musical artist, if she does end up joining the MCU, we probably shouldn’t expect to be any more than a cameo or a prominent role in just one of the Marvel movies, as opposed to her signing a multi-picture deal.

As far as confirmed Deadpool 3 cast members go, Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman are joined by familiar faces from past Deadpool movies like Morena Baccarin, Leslie Uggams and Karan Soni, and Aaron Stanford will also be back as a variant of Pyro, whom he previously played in X2: X-Men United and X-Men: The Last Stand. The flick’s lineup of newcomers include Emma Corrin as Cassandra Nova and Matthew Macfayden as Paradox, and Reynolds’ Welcome to Wrexham co-star Rob McElhenney is also expected to cameo. Behind the scenes, Shawn Levy directed the movie and co-wrote the script with Reynolds, Rhett Reese, Paul Wernick and Zeb Wells.

Deadpool & Wolverine opens on theaters on July 26. Keep yourself entertained until then by revisiting nearly all of the MCU’s movies and TV shows, or Taylor Swift’s The Eras Tour, with your Disney+ subscription. 

What we know about Thunderbolts* is super limited, as the studio is trying to keep it secrets until the movie's release. But fans are hyped, especially considering how many familiar faces are in the Thunderbolts* cast list. Chief among them is Julia Louis-Dreyfus, who is reprise her role as Valentina Allegra de la Fontaine. While speaking with Variety, she was asked if she wrapped her role in the blockbuster. She responded, offering:

Well, that's exciting. If Louis-Dreyfus is wrapped on Thunderbolts*, then the movie must be pretty far along into production. So hopefully we'll get some hints about what will go on when that blockbuster finally hits theaters next May. 

Those of us who have spent years watching the Marvel movies in order will know that big crossover events have slowed down over the past few years. There hasn't been an Avengers flick since 2019, and the next one won't arrive until 2026. As such, Thunderbolts* has the opportunity to be a massive project when it arrives in theaters.

The story of Thunderbolts* is a complete mystery, and it should be fascinating to see how the various villains and antagonists are pushed together, as well as how they eventually function as the titular team. While some of them have clear connections like Florence Pugh's Yelena and David Harbor's Red Guardian, others have never met in universe just yet. Julia Louis-Dreyfus' character will presumably be one of the forces bringing them together, as she's already got a relationship with Yelena and U.S. Agent. And I assume some of the characters aren't going to get along at first.

The MCU has had a number of box office blunders in recent years, specifically titles like Eternals, Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania, and Thor: Love and Thunder. So the pressure is on for the studio to make money soon, and Thunderbolts* is one title that might get fans back in the theater. Namely because there are some beloved characters involved in the movie, especially Yelena and Sebastian Stan's Bucky Barnes. 

All will be revealed when Thunderbolts* hits theaters May 5th, 2025. In the meantime, check the 2025 movie release dates to plan your trips to the theater next year. 

When the Aquaman 2 cast list became official online, it was clear that we'd be missing out on some characters such as Willem Dafoe's Vulko. Actor Michael Beach played Black Manta's father Jesse Kane in the first movie, and recently told ComicBook that he was originally going to appear in the sequel via flashbacks. In his words: 

Well, my FOMO is through the roof. Black Manta's quest for vengeance against Aquaman and the Atlantans goes back to Jason Momoa killing his father during a conflict under the sea. So it would have made sense if The Lost Kingdom fleshed out that father/son relationship for moviegoers who maybe missed the previous entry. 

Alas, Beach did not end up having a role in Aquaman 2. CinemaBlend's Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom review criticized the movie's quality after James Wan's original, which was the highest grossing DC movie upon its release. Perhaps bringing back Black Manta's father would have helped the audience understand his motivation better, even before he was possessed by a dark force. 

There was a very long gap between the two Aquaman movies, where a ton changed behind the scenes. That includes James Gunn and Peter Safran being named co-CEOs of DC Studios, and crafting an entirely new shared universe. It's still unclear what will come with the new universe, but it seemingly contributed to the last few releases like Aquaman 2 fizzling out at the theaters. After all, why should fans come out to theaters to see movies that ultimately won't be canon anymore? 

Ultimately scheduling prevented Michael Beach from reprising his Aquaman role for the sequel. Black Manta's backstory was instead told through exposition, and references to what went down in the opening sequence of the original film. 

It should be fascinating to see what comes in the new DCU, with its first set of projects titled Gods and Monsters. It's unclear if/when Aquaman lore will factor in or who might play Arthur Curry. Jason Momoa teased a meeting with Gunn, but fans think he might be playing another character like Lobo.

The DCEU is streaming now on Max, and the DCU will begin with Superman on July 11th, 2025. In the meantime, check the 2025 movie release dates to plan your trip to the theater next year.

Barry Keoghan has certainly been on the come up over the past several years, as the Irish actor has landed roles in some major films. All the while, he’s also earned notoriety due to his reported relationship with pop star Sabrina Carpenter. The two just made headlines amid the release of Carpenter’s latest music video, which put Keoghan in handcuffs. And, as that video continues to go viral, it would seem that many now seem to “understand” the hype surrounding the songstress’ boyfriend. What’s really making me break out my popcorn, though, are the Marvel-related comments that some people have shared.

It’s interesting to think that the The Banshees of Inisherin actor is only now seemingly getting praise from a wider audience. Still, it would seem that his appearance in the video for “Please Please Please” has swayed a number of people over to his side. In it, Sabrina Carpenter is released from jail and, while fixing her lipstick, she spots another offender (played by Barry Keoghan) being placed in a cell of his own. From there, viewers see the up-and-down relationship between their two characters play out. Needless to say, it’s a perfect showcase not only for Carpenter but for Keoghan as well. Check out a clip shared by TikTok user @ellegruwell:

@ellegruwell

♬ PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE - adoresariana

The comments of this post are flooded with comments that are very complimentary of the Rebellion alum. It's particularly funny to see a comment like the one belonging to @alleverdreamer, who said that the songstress has now “really made me understand” the hype surrounding the rising Hollywood star. Sentiments from others definitely seem to align with that thought, but a portion of commenters say they’ve understood the appeal for some time. With that, many are saying that their appreciation for the star can be attributed to his performance in Marvel Studios’ Eternals:

• He’s BEEN hot have yall not seen Eternals? - @allyissuperhot
• Some of you didn't watch Eternals, and it shows. HE [HAS] ALWAYS BEEN SO DAMN FINE - @valeria.de.vil
• Proud to say i’ve understood since Eternals like did yall not hear that man say my beautiful beautiful Makkari? - @emi.lyjordan
• [What] do you mean😭😭 Did we all move past "my beautiful beautiful makari" too fast? this man's always been fine 😭😭😭 - @cinnamongrl_xo
• After watching Eternals, I KNEW he was the it boy! - @salmakarenjalakala
• I understood in eternals & lost my understanding in saltburn & now i understand again. - @boo.spookybitch

One of the more unique entries in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Eternals focuses on the titular group of cosmic beings, who must defend Earth from the vicious deviants. Barry Keoghan plays the enigmatic Druig, who has the power to control people’s minds. Notably, the character also becomes disillusioned with his cohort’s goal to stay out of human conflicts that don’t directly involve their aforementioned foes. The star plays the role in a relatively subtle way, and his charm shines through. That's especially true whenever he’s on screen with Lauren Ridloff’s Makkari.

It’s honestly not hard to see why so many have gotten in on the fandom surrounding the actor, regardless of whether it was prompted by Sabrina Carpenter’s video or his MCU debut. He’s proven to be one of the most interesting stars in all of Hollywood over the past several years, intriguing fans with his sweet fits and endearingly quirky personality. And, of course, he’s an impeccable actor, who’s shown off his strong acting chops on more than a few occasions. In addition to his roles in the aforementioned productions, he also has acclaimed films like Dunkirk, The Killing of the Sacred Deer, The Batman and Saltburn (for which he did a NSFW gravesite scene and more) under his belt. The 31-year-old has even made a dent in TV with Love/Hate, Chernobyl and Masters of the Air.

Needless to say, Barry Keoghan is on a roll, and I’m happy to see him getting his flowers. Sabrina Carpenter’s music video may do a lot to boost his public profile, yet I truly smile knowing that his MCU film is what helped put him on so many fans’ radar. It’s unclear whether Eternals 2 is happening, but I’m sure some would flock to the theaters for a chance to see Keoghan as Druig again.

You can check out his performance for yourself by streaming Eternals for yourself with a Disney+ subscription, which will also allow you to stream the Marvel movies in order.

Although My Adventures with Superman’s version of Lex Luthor did appear during Season 1, it wasn’t until Season 2 began that we actually knew this. Initially going by Alex, Max Mittelman's take on the character decided to identify himself as Lex Luthor to Amanda Waller when they joined forces at the end of “Adventures with My Girlfriend.” Then in the final minutes of “Fullmetal Scientist,” Luthor took over Amertek Industries, fired John Henry Irons from the company and admired the Metallo robots he acquired for his and Waller’s schemes. Now with the episode “Two Lanes Diverged,” he’s made his first big move against Jack Quaid’s Man of Steel, and I’m thinking this could lead to one of the DC superhero’s other classic villains being introduced later this season.

How Lex Luthor Made Superman’s Life More Difficult

While Lois and Same Lane were hightailing it from Slade Wilson, Atomic Skull and Damage in “Two Lanes Diverge” (during which time we got flashbacks to what Lois’ childhood with her father was like, as well as met this show’s version of Winslow Schott, a.k.a. Toyman in the comics), Clark and Jimmy attended the 23rd S.T.A.R. Labs Symposium, as the latter was invited to speak at the keynote discussion. What he didn’t realize was this discussion was called The Superman Problem, and Lex Luthor soon appeared on to argue why Superman doesn’t belong on Earth. Jimmy tried desperately to defend Metropolis’ protector while Clark watched awkwardly from the audience.

Eventually the two storylines collided when Lois and Sam ended up at the Symposium, and Superman intervened to save them from their pursuers. Unfortunately, the cutting-edge technology that was on display was all destroyed, and Lex Luthor blamed Super for it, telling the crowd that the Man of Steel is the “#1 threat to humanity.” Many of the attendees found themselves agreeing with him, including representatives from S.T.A.R. Labs and some of the U.S. government departments, who threw their support behind Task Force X. Luthor promised that this decision would make Earth safer than ever before, although he said this as the Kryptonian warrior affiliated with Brainiac from the Season 1 finale looked at our planet from space.

The Classic Superman Villain Who Could Show Up As A Result

Once again, we’re reminded that this warrior and Brainiac are on the way to wreak havoc on Earth, but let’s table further discussion about that for another time. You may recall that in the My Adventures with Superman Season 2 premiere, “More Things in Heaven And Earth” (which ended with the deletion of the Jor-El AI program), Clark, Lois and Jimmy went to S.T.A.R. Labs to meet with Hank, the company’s PR guy and Lois’ old college classmate. What I didn’t realize when I first watched that episode was that Hank was Hank Henshaw, better known to comic book readers as Cyborg Superman.

Hank Henshaw returned in “Two Lanes Diverge” as the S.T.A.R. labs representative who told Lex Luthor and Amanda Waller that he and the others of his ilk were behind Task Force X. So now the show’s Hank already has a bone to pick with Superman, and it could get worse. You see, in the comics, Hank became Cyborg Superman after he was gravely injured in a space flight that his wife Terri and two other crew members were on. Hank’s mind was transferred into the LexCorp mainframe and he constructed a new robot body for himself, but when Terri saw this, she jumped to her death. Hank later blamed Superman for his death, as well as his wife’s and other crew members from the shuttle, and while he initially pretended to be the Man of Steel during the “Reign of the Supermen” era, needless to say he ended up joining the hero’s rogues gallery.

Since My Adventures with Superman’s version of Hank Henshaw is now allied with lex Luthor and Amanda Waller, it’s not a stretch to wonder if he’ll become Cyborg Superman too. Now, that doesn’t mean we’ll get an exact recreation of his origin story from the comics. In fact, now that Luthor has the Metallos, if Hank’s body is practically destroyed, I wouldn’t be surprised if tech from those robots is used to create his new, superpowered body. In fact, I’ll go a step further. Similar to how this series melded Anthony Ivo and Parasite into one character, what if instead of John Corben, Hank is used as My Adventures with Superman’s adaptation of Metallo? Meaning, he’ll still have a robot body, but now one that’s powered by a Kryptonite heart.

It’s also possible that Hank, also voiced by Max Mittelman, will just stay a normal guy. We’ll just have to tune into the rest of My Adventures with Superman Season 2 (which will also see Supergirl flying into action) to see what happens. New episodes premiere Sundays on the 2024 TV schedule during Adult Swim’s Toonami block, and they can be streamed with a Max subscription afterwards.

If there's one thing the internet loves, it's the bromance or faux feud between Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman. Their playful back-and-forth has provided endless entertainment, and the latest chapter in their saga doesn’t disappoint. The highly anticipated Deadpool & Wolverine just dropped new footage, and the action-packed clips have fans buzzing with excitement. But Reynolds' hilarious jab at the Australia star stole the show, and I’m still laughing about it.

Timed perfectly for Best Friends Day, the new footage shows more from Hugh Jackman’s triumphant return as Wolverine. The trailer also highlights the pair of heroes as anything but best buddies. Set to Irv Da Phenom's rap track “Red and Yellow," the footage is a fan’s dream come true. However, amidst the high-octane thrills and laughs, Ryan Reynolds took a moment to remind everyone of his and Hugh Jackman’s legendary off-screen dynamic. Sharing the new footage on his personal X (formerly Twitter) account, the Free Guy star couldn't resist slipping in a cheeky remark aimed at his frenemy. He posted:

Classic Reynolds. For those not in the know, this is just the latest installment in a long-running, good-natured feud between the two stars. Their mock rivalry has been a constant source of amusement, with each actor taking turns roasting the other in interviews, social media posts and even in promotional material for their respective films. Reynolds has dropped some sweet zingers before, but this one really takes the cake for me.

And Hugh Jackman, never one to let a quip slide, fired back on X with a post of his own. He shared a link to the new footage, captioning it with:

This kind of playful interaction has endeared both actors to fans worldwide. As the hilarious f-bomb-dropping trailer for Deadpool 3 has teased, their on-screen chemistry promises to be electric, but it's their off-screen antics that keep us all hooked.

As for the new footage, Wade Wilson hypes up his team up with Weapon X, saying, “Can you imagine the fun and the chaos?” He later adds, “Us? A team? The answer is yes!” Sure, Wolverine cuts the talkative antihero during a handshake, but the sentiment is there. Another clip shows them hilariously dining, with Wolverine asking the Merc with the Mouth to cover his face, leading to the fantastic exchange, “It’s super hard to eat while I’m wearing it.” “It’s super hard to eat when you’re not.”

The clip also includes a dig at Paul Rudd not aging, a glimpse of the so-ugly-he’s-cute Dogpool and a possible tease of Lady Deadpool's debut to the family of upcoming superhero movies. It's a prospect with fans on the edge of their seats, as they're currently guessing who might be in the role. This movie promises to blend action, humor, and the unbeatable Reynolds-Jackman chemistry. Buckle up – this ride is going to be wild! And, as the press tour kicks off, let's hope the two lead actor continue to trade playful barbs.

We'll see how Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman’s fun dynamic unfolds when Deadpool & Wolverine hits theaters on July 26 as part of the 2024 movie schedule. In the meantime, stream the first two installments and catch up with the Marvel movies in order using a Disney+ subscription.

June 8 is Best Friends Day and, as part of the celebration, the D&W team released a new promo for the upcoming Marvel movie. There’s a mix of old and new footage within the minute-long clip package, and some truly awesome and hilarious moments are shown off. And, if you look closely, you can even see a character that appears to be Juggernaut. What really seems to have franchise devotees in a tizzy, though, is a brief shot of a pair of legs walking towards the camera. While they’re decked out in a red combat suit, they seem to be too slender to be Wade Wilson’s. Even the character’s creator, Rob Liefeld, called out the quick scene in an X post:

While it’s far from confirmed that that is indeed Lady Deadpool – a.k.a. Wanda Wilson – it seems very likely that it could indeed be her. After all, the multiverse-centric movie is apparently introducing other variants of the antihero, with Dogpool being the counterpart that’s been shown off the most. The notion of Wanda popping up is definitely exciting, and I’d be curious to see how she figures into Wade and Logan’s journey. 

Of course, if the gun-toting character is indeed showing up, then one has to wonder who might play her. You may not be surprised by the fact that following this latest promo’s debut, many across the Internet shared thoughts on that front. Thus far, two names have popped up the most frequently, and I’d say that either one of these two famous ladies could play the part. Check out what fans are saying down below: 

• LADYPOOL!!! It’s gotta be Blake Lively. - @ilyryanreynolds
• So how much is everyone willing to bet on Lady Pool being played by Taylor Swift? - @MischiefsYT
• I think Blake Lively is LadyPool in Deadpool & Wolverine. Lady Pool 🗡️ - @trustmysauce
• Blake or Taylor as lady pool? Blake as lady pool and dazzler as her GF?? 😍🥰 - @kelcedamnmorris
• If Blake Lively isn’t the one playing LadyPool, then what are we even doing here? - @GroundhogJay_
• All these rumors of Taylor Swift possibly appearing as Dazzler, but what if she’s Lady Deadpool the whole time 😂 Though, [I'm] hoping it’s Blake Lively. 🤞🏽 - @evanslarsons

Both Blake Lively and Taylor Swift would be fascinating choices for Ladypool, and both could easily find their way into the movie given their connections to Ryan Reynolds. Obviously, Lively has been married to Reynolds since 2012 and shares four children with him. The pop singer, on the other hand, is a good friend of the couple’s and has been embroiled in rumors regarding the MCU flick for months now. However, those reports have linked Swift to the role of Dazzler, and Reynolds reacted to them. The spoiler-avoiding leading man didn’t leak any specifics, but he did mention that “anything can happen.” And, based on the newest batch of footage, which you can see below, just about anything and everything really could happen in this flick:

I’m truly excited over the prospect of Lady Deadpool showing up in this threequel and wouldn’t mind seeing either Blake Lively or Taylor Swift in the role should Wanda be involved. Though, if I’m being honest, I think having Lively play a variant of her husband’s famous character would just be too perfect. Or, who knows, maybe Ryan Reynolds and co. will throw us a curveball, and those are someone else’s legs entirely.

We’ll find out who’s who once Deadpool & Wolverine opens in theaters on July 26 as part of the 2024 movie schedule. In the meantime, stream the first two installments along with the Marvel movies in order using a Disney+ subscription.

Take this with a grain of salt for now, but according to Atlanta Filming, the source that snapped pictures of Esposito’s stand-in on the Brave New World set, Benedict Wong will reprise Wong, the main MCU reality’s Sorcerer Supreme, in what will end up being the 35th of the Marvel movies in order. This would be Wong’s seventh time playing the character on film, and ninth overall MCU appearance, as he also reprised Wong the sorcerer for an episode of the animated series What If… ? and as a special guest star in She-Hulk: Attorney at Law. Both shows, like the majority of MCU content, can be streamed with a Disney+ subscription.

Now if you’ve been following news about Captain America: Brave New World, you may have seen director Julius Onah say that the movie’s action will be “grounded and tactile,” so including a sorcerer might sound weird. But even setting fantastical elements like the super intelligent Leader, reprised by Tim Blake Nelson, being the main antagonist and Harrison Ford’s Thunderbolt Ross expected to transform into Red Hulk, including Wong make senses narratively.

For one thing, as seen in Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings’ mid-credits scene, he’s in contact with Carol Danvers and Bruce Banner, so it wouldn’t be a stretch to assume he’s also staying in touch with Anthony Mackie’s Sam Wilson, another Avenger. To go a step further, while Earth’s Mightiest Heroes haven’t been officially banded together since the events of Avengers: Endgame, we know that will change in the coming years since Avengers 5 and Avengers: Secret Wars have been announced. With Wong serving as a Nick Fury-like connective thread over the last few years, perhaps Wong isn’t involved in Brave New World’s main story, but will instead appear in a mid-credits scene to inform Sam of some greater threat on the horizon.

However, there’s also an argument to be made that Wong will be present during Captain America: Brave New World’s main story. Remember, Shang-Chi established that he and Emil Blonsky, a.k.a. The Abomination, were associates, and in She-Hulk: Attorney at Law, we learned that Wong freed Blonsky from prison and fought him in that underground fight club as part of his training to become Sorcerer Supreme. By the end of that Disney+ series, Wong broke Blonsky out of prison again to move him to Kamar-Taj, so given that Samuel Sterns was forced to turn Blonsky into Abomination, maybe Wong will pass along information he got from Blonsky about Sterns that could aid in defeating him in his Leader form. Who knows, perhaps Tim Roth could even cameo alongside Benedict Wong for such a scene.

We’ll find out if Wong is indeed part of Captain America: Brave New World when it arrives in theaters on February 14, 2025. It will follow seven months after the next MCU movie, Deadpool and Wolverine, which comes out on July 26.

One of the most highly anticipated upcoming DC movies is The Brave and The Bold, which will feature Batman and his son/Robin Damian Wayne. There have been plenty of Batman movies (many of which are streaming with a Max subscription), and fans are eager to see who might take on the role next. Fan art on Instagram imagined Ackles in the role, check it out:

I mean, how cool is that? Clearly the Supernatural alum has the bone structure to pull of Batman's signature cowl. And after Ackles played a superhero in The Boys, there are plenty of fans who want to see him back in the genre on the big screen. And being the DCU's Bruce Wayne might be just the choice.

The above image comes to us from the Instagram of artist named Aaron who goes by the username Horrific.Heroics. They've got nearly 8,000 followers thanks to their renderings of DC heroes and villains. And some of these images bring fan theories and casting to life. 

Development on various DC projects is underway by CEOs James Gunn and Peter Safran. A year ago The Brave and The Bold landed Andy Muschietti as director, who was the filmmaker behind the Flash movie and the recent IT remake. The project is in good hands, and fans are eager to learn more information about what the project will entail and what actors will bring the story to life. But whether or not Jensen Ackles is in the running for Bruce Wayne is unclear. 

Not much is know about The Brave and The Bold, other than it will finally bring Batman and Robin together on the big screen. Specifically, it'll be the version of the Boy Wonder which is Bruce Wayne's son, Damian. This will no doubt change the dynamic between hero and sidekick in a fascinating way. While Damian appeared in various media like the Harley Quinn animated series, this will be the first time its adapted for the big screen.

Fans waited the entirety of the DCEU's life for one of Batman's protégés to be brought into the story, to no avail. The best we got was a dead Robin's suit in Batman v Superman, as well as the cancelled Batgirl movie starring Leslie Grace.

There is currently no release date for The Brave and The Bold, but the first DCU movie to hit theaters is Superman on July 11th, 2025. For now, check the 2024 movie release dates. 

The previous movies certainly had that effect on the current The Fantastic Four cast members, including Paul Walter Hauser – who has been cast in a mysterious role. While discussing his decision to join the MCU with The Hollywood Reporter, Hauser opened up about the existing (and troubled) Fantastic Four productions, and why he ultimately looked past them to sign on for this ride. According to Hauser:

There will be a lot of eyes on Marvel Studios’ approach to The Fantastic Four, for so many reasons. To start with, in the absence of a true Avengers team – and only the rumblings of mutants being added in live-action to the MCU – the Fantastic Four might have to be the leaders of the Marvel universe for the next few phases of storytelling. Reed Richards (Pedro Pascal) has the gravity to fill the shoes of a Tony Stark or a Steve Rogers in the MCU, and audiences can rally behind this heroic ensemble… if the movie works well.

Additionally, The Fantastic Four is the first major movie to head into production after Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige declared the studio’s intent to slow down production and refocus on quality over quantity in its pipeline. Blade continues to tread water, and movies like Thunderbolts* and Captain America: Brave New World were in stages of development before the Feige decree. The Fantastic Four needs to deliver on a major promise, setting the table for several years of Marvel storytelling. No pressure.

Will they be able to succeed where the previous efforts – notably, the 2015 Fantastic Four movie with Miles Teller, Michael B. Jordan, Kate Mara, and Jamie Bell – failed to hit the mark? Time will tell, but I think that if the cast members are aware of the impact of the previous FF movies, then director Matt Shakman and his team 100% know the pressure that’s on this movie. We wish them all well!