Marvel Weekly News #22

This week was the slowest in the past few weeks for Marvel. They did not announce anything officially but there was a bit of leaked and rumored news as usual. Some of the points that will be looked at more below is the possible villain of AKA Jessica Jones, new Guardians of the Galaxy info, new roles in Avengers: Age of Ultron, and an actor being courted by Marvel for Doctor Strange.

Jessica Jones Villain Revealed?

Now that Krysten Ritter has been cast as Jessica Jones, the production for the second Netflix show should start production soon. A.K.A. Jessica Jones does not have a set release date, but a tweet from a Marvel worker, Agent M, seemed to indicate it will come out before 2015 is done. It may have been revealed this week who the main villain Jessica will face during season 1. Some videos from auditions for the show seem to indicate that The Purple Man will be featured in the show.

Agent Carter Finishes Season 1

Marvel's Agent Carter had a one week hiatus this past week. With episode 4 premiering next week, we will hit the halfway point for the show. This week, Marvel finished filming the first season of their new hit. Hopefully the show will get renewed for a second season that could potentially be longer than 8 episodes.

Vision's Been a Plan For 3 Years

We have yet to get our first official look at Paul Bettany as Vision but just like everything at Marvel, he's been in the plans for a while. Bettany said in an interview this week that he has known about him transforming into Vision for 3 years. Marvel will likely have a TV Spot or new teaser during the Super Bowl and hopefully will give us our first look at the newest addition to the team.

Marvel Looking at Ejiofor

Even though Marvel has 3 movies sitting between them and Doctor Strange, it appears they are starting to look for more cast members to put next to Benedict Cumberbatch and possibly Daniel Brühl. This week, The Hollywood Reporter was told that Marvel is currently courting the star of 12 Years a Slave, Chiwetel Ejiofor! The role is a complete mystery but it is reportedly not a villainous role but it will be significant. 

James Gunn Gives New Info in Q&A

James Gunn held a live Q&A on Facebook this week while having a simulcast viewing of Guardians of the Galaxy with fans across the world. As he shared his own thoughts on different scenes and answered fan questions, some new information became known. Here is some of the new information- 1) Gunn elaborated on the inclusion of Thanos in the film. He said that despite what previous interviews made it seem, he very much wanted Thanos in the film because he "didn't want to lose the connection to the Avengers since more people would see the movie. I also like Thanos. But he was difficult because he made the relationships to the other characters so difficult and more complicated - and he served future stories more than this one." 2) Gunn once again said he wanted more Nebula but would not say when she will return. 3) Gunn said that Ronan will not return in Guardians of the Galaxy 2 despite what Lee Pace wants, but would not rule him out entirely for returning at some point. 4) Gunn revealed that he originally planned to blow up Yondu's ship at the end of the movie by Rocket placing a bomb in the orb. He said he removed it because he knew fans would love Yondu.

Serkis's Role in Age of Ultron Confirmed

Since the first Avengers: Age of Ultron trailer when we first saw Andy Serkis's character, everyone has assumed that he will play Black Panther villain Ulysses Klaw. Now, Schmoes Know is reporting that their sources have confirmed that Serkis is playing Klaw.

New Guardian may Appear in Age of Ultron

As Schmoes Know was dropping the news about Serkis playing Klaw, they also revealed that a new female character may also pop up during the movie. If this is true, the character has strong ties to both the Avengers and the Guardians in the comics and could serve as a way to tie the cosmic side and the earth side of Marvel's universe together. According to Schmoes Know's sources, that character may be Mantis. This is the first time Mantis' name has come up for Avengers: Age of Ultron so it is an interesting report but one I would be okay with.

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10 Things We Want in Guardians of the Galaxy 2

Guardians of the Galaxy is officially a hit for Marvel. It had the 3rd highest opening weekend of any movie to come out this year. Marvel knew it was going to be success based off early reactions and wasted no time announcing a sequel at Comic-Con. 

James Gunn will once again be the master mind for the sequel and revealed via Facebook that he has already started brainstorming on what will happen when Guardians of the Galaxy 2 hits theaters July 28, 2016. Since Gunn has started getting a rough idea on what to put into the movie, I thought I would help him help.

Here are 10 things I want to see in Guardians of the Galaxy 2-

***** Potential SPOILERS for Guardians of the Galaxy to follow *****

1) Introduction to Nova

Richard Rider is one of the characters many fans want included in the Marvel universe. In the comics he joins the Nova Corps after being selected by Rhomann Dey, who is dying. Rhomann Dey was introduced in Guardians of the Galaxy and played by John C. Reilly. He has a past with Thanos and Star-Lord, going so far as dying alongside Star-Lord to defeat Thanos. He is more of an Avengers member than he is one of the Guardians of the Galaxy but his origin could easily be introduced in Guardians of the Galaxy 2. 

2) Introduction to Adam Warlock

Adam Warlock is one of the most powerful members of the Guardians of the Galaxy in the comics. He was born from a cocoon, much like the one seen in The Collector's possession. Whether he still has it is in question after his collection is now in shambles. If Warlock is on the loose, he could be a big factor in the sequel. He was in possession of the Soul Stone for quite some time in the comics and the Soul Stone is one of the 3 not yet introduced to Marvel's cinematic universe.

3) Bigger Role for Thanos

Thanos is without a doubt coming and so far we have only got a glimpse of who Thanos is. We have heard his voice and have seen his full body look now. Giving him more screen time before he most likely becomes the main villain in Avengers 3 would be very smart. Thanos is one of the most powerful beings in the entire galaxy. Seeing what he can do now without any Infinity Stones would be a good way to show fans how powerful he will become once he has all 6.

4) Deeper Backstories for the Guardians

While Guardians of the Galaxy was fantastic, it still feels like we do not know a lot about these characters pasts. For instance, Rocket Raccoon is obviously still scarred by all the enhancements and surgeries he went through. Getting to see a glimpse of what has happened to him and how he and Groot became partners would be neat. Also getting to see what Drax was like before Ronan killed his family would be a new dynamic. 

5) Who is Star-Lord's Father

One thing was made clear at the end of Guardians of the Galaxy. Whoever is the father of Star-Lord is not normal. Ronan and the Nova Corps were astounded when he was able to absorb the Power Stone. Only the strongest and powerful beings in the galaxy can control the power the Infinity Stones contain. Star-Lord is half human and the other half comes from his father who is from an ancient species. His father sent Yondu to retrieve Star-Lord for him but Yondu had different plans. Star-Lord's father is obviously very powerful and wants him back. Finding out who he is could answer some questions. Just a thought of mine as a fan, what if Marvel decides to make Star-Lord the son of..... THANOS! Thanos has regularly had kids with many different species and races, so adding Star-Lord to the mix would be crazy confusing and awesome. Especially when they inevitably meet. 

6) Gamora and Nebula Rivalry

It was obvious during their moments of interaction and confrontation that Gamora and Nebula have an intense rivalry. I mean growing up as the daughters of Thanos could not have been easy. Getting a look at what it was like for them growing up would add depth to their characters respectively and give more screen time to Thanos.

7) Another Prominent Female Character

It is obvious that Marvel movies are stuffed with male characters. Even the ones I want to be introduced the most are male but that does not matter. Marvel has two main female characters, Black Widow and Gamora. They are introducing Scarlet Witch in Avengers: Age of Ultron next spring and then Hope Pym, who may become Wasp, in Ant-Man in 2015. Adding another female character to the Marvel universe and more importantly the Guardians team should be a focus. Ms Marvel, Mantis, Moondragon, Nicholette Gold, or Aleta Ogord could all be possibilities.

8) Killer Soundtrack

Normally I am not one to go crazy for the music in a film and most of the time I hardly notice it honestly, but Guardians of the Galaxy was different. The planning and song choices James Gunn put into the soundtrack fit the movie perfectly. I really want another great soundtrack for the sequel. I already bought Awesome Mix Vol. 1 on iTunes and I want Awesome Mix Vol. 2 to be just as good if not better.

9) Cosmo the Space Dog

We got a glimpse at Cosmo when The Collector's collection was destroyed. From what we saw, he wasn't the talking dog with telekinetic powers that we know from the comics. He is currently in Knowhere where he was the head of security in the comics. He is also a regular member of the Guardians of the Galaxy and would be another unique addition to the team.

10) Cameo by an Avenger

This one seems far fetched but remains a possibility, especially depending on how things play out in Avengers: Age of Ultron. The most commonly linked Avenger is Hulk but adding another prominent CGI character doesn't seem likely. If not Hulk, then Iron Man with a space suit or Thor could have a shot at crossing paths with the Guardians. It doesn't have to be a long appearance by one of the members. Just some sort of interaction between them would be cool.

Share your thoughts on my ideas and share your own in the comments below!

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Guardians of the Galaxy Review

Guardians of the Galaxy has officially hit theaters and opened up with a bang. It raked in over $11 million on opening night. I saw it at midnight in a crowded theater. If you haven't seen it yet, I highly recommend seeing it in IMAX 3D. James Gunn even made a video about how this movie was planned from the beginning for IMAX 3D and was well worth it.

***** Some slight SPOILERS for Guardians of the Galaxy below *****

Guardians of the Galaxy captures your attention right after the Marvel logo pops up. Star-Lord dancing and singing on an abandoned planet sets up the tone for this movie perfectly. As a whole, the movie is incredibly funny, action packed, and pulls you in. Star-Lord and Rocket Raccoon are constantly throwing witty one liners in every situation. Whether it is Star-Lord making jokes about the girls he has been with or Rocket constantly mocking everyone he encounters. Groot is also funny in his own unique way. The way he smiles after taking down a group of bad guys is one of the best Groot moments in the film.

The action sequences in the movie are captivating. The first scene when Gamora, Star-Lord, Rocket, and Groot are fighting is a great way to introduce how incredible they are. The prison break scene absolutely insane and that is where Rocket really shines for the first time. 

The visuals in the movie are some of the best in any Marvel movie, especially in IMAX 3D. All of the new planets and environments are eye opening and completely beautiful. Whether it is Xandar, Knowhere, or the Klyn prison, each place has a unique feel and look that is unlike many places we have seen so far in Marvel's universe.

Everyone in this movie delivered high quality performances. Chris Pratt, who plays Star-Lord, gives me a reminder of dare I say a young Tony Stark. He has a huge ego, looks the part, and turned away from his selfish ways to help the greater good of the galaxy. Zoe Saldana (Gamora) is both terrifying and captivating in this movie. Dave Bautista (Drax) may not be the actor that the rest of the cast is but the way he speaks and the words he used I thought were perfect for his role. At different points in the movie you are scared of him one second and then you blink and you are rooting for him and care about his well being. Bradley Cooper (Rocket) and Vin Diesel (Groot) both did a great job voicing their characters. Cooper's voice felt perfect in the tiny (not raccoon) body of Rocket. Vin Diesel was actually very good with all the different ways he was able to deliver the same 3 words, I am Groot, over and over.

The villains were, at times, underwhelming and I would've liked to see more screen time for Ronan, Nebula, Korath, and Thanos. Ronan scared the crap out of me every time he was on screen and getting to see more scenes, specifically fight scenes, with him would have been very enjoyable. Nebula and all of her technological enhancements caught my eye and the way Karen Gillan showed off the jealousy she has towards Gamora was great. I'm hoping we get more back story on their sibling rivalry in the sequel. Josh Brolin's voice as Thanos was deep and just perfect. I really wanted to see him standing for the first time to get a look at just how big he actually is.

All in all Guardians of the Galaxy is packed with fun, will make you laugh, cry, and maybe even scare you a bit. I highly recommend seeing it as soon as you can and in IMAX 3D. Also go pick up the soundtrack on iTunes because I thoroughly enjoyed it in the movie. Guardians of the Galaxy is one of the best Marvel movies they have made so far and has earned itself a 4.5 out of 5 on my rating scale.

Share your thoughts on Guardians of the Galaxy in the comments below!

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Marvel Sets Future Movie Dates

Comic-Con is less than a week away, and while some may think that's when Marvel would spend time announcing various items, they have decided to do otherwise. This week has been filled with various promotions for Guardians of the Galaxy. We have gotten solo posters for Ronan, Nebula, Korath, Nova Prime, Yondu, the Collector, and Rhomann Dey. With all the hype surrounding the release of Guardians of the Galaxy in two weeks, Marvel decided to switch it up a bit and announce something about their future plans.

Marvel just announced they have 5 set dates for future movies. In 2017, they will debut new movies on July 28th and November 3rd. In 2018, they have dates set for July 6th and November 2nd. Finally in 2019, they have one date set for May 3rd. They did not announce which titles will be in each slot, which will only give this news more of a buzz among fans as they debate which movies should take the slots. And as a fan myself, I will provide you with what I believe we will see from Marvel from 2017 to 2019.

First off, Marvel has made it clear that the first movie of every year will be a recurring property and then the second movie starting a new franchise. We are going to assume that the layout after Avengers: Age of Ultron will look like this, Ant-Man on July 17, 2015, Captain America 3 on May 6th, 2016, Doctor Strange on July 8th, 2016, and Thor 3 on May 5th. Now what do I think Marvel will do?

July 28th

This spot is a weird one to project. Why? Marvel has made it clear they want to stick to a 2 movie per year standard. But after today's announcement they have 3 dates set in 2017. So it is possible that the May 5th slot that we assume will be Thor 3 could be pushed back to this date. If that is not the case, Marvel gives themselves the opportunity to give two sequels in one year or two new properties. I think it would be two new properties. So what film would make the most sense to come after Thor 3? The Inhumans. Fans have wanted to see this superhuman team on the big screen for some time now and this seems like a good fit for Marvel to show them off.

November 3rd

Assuming Thor 3 stays in May, then Black Panther is the likely movie that gets made. If Thor 3 takes the July 28th spot, then Marvel could easily slide Inhumans back a few months to take this spot. Black Panther is without question in Marvel's plans and should come sooner rather than later. 

July 6th

This spot all but screams a Guardians of the Galaxy sequel. As long as Guardians of the Galaxy does well in the box office like many people are expecting, waiting 4 years for a sequel could seem like an eternity. This movie could set up the inevitable battle with Thanos in Avengers 3, which will be discussed very soon, and also give some screen time to some fan favorites. A Guardians of the Galaxy and Hulk team up movie would make a lot of fans, myself included, happy.

November 2nd

The final movie of Phase 3 before Avengers 3 could go in about 1,000 different directions. Giving the world a movie with a female lead like a Ms Marvel or Black Widow movie would be a great choice. Ms Marvel could connect with Thanos if they changed her back story just a bit, but I'm not sure if this is the direction they will ultimately go. Marvel seems to be heading into the direction of exploring just how vast the galaxy is and what better way to do that than introducing Nova. It could easily connect to Guardians of the Galaxy 2 and show Nova protecting the galaxy as Thanos' power grows.

May 3rd

This is the easiest movie to project. Just like its predecessors, the third Avengers movie will launch in early May. With a cast projected to be very large, Thanos is a worthy opponent. We should see the likes of Iron Man, Captain America, Thor, Hulk, Black Widow, Hawkeye, Iron Patriot, Quicksilver, Scarlet Witch, Vision, Falcon, the Guardians of the Galaxy, Doctor Strange, Ant-Man, and possibly a combination of the Inhumans, Black Panther, Nova, Ms Marvel, and more. Avengers 3  will be a movie like something we have never seen in terms of action sequences and fight scenes.

Share your thoughts on the new dates in the comments below!

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on Marvel's growing cinematic universe!