By Kim Filchak, Lead Reporter
Sorry I have been negligent in my duties as web curator of truth, justice, rumors, and just plain crazy talk the past few weeks. Life got busy, as it so often does, and of the many balls I dropped the Rampant Speculation ball was the one that rolled away and then got stuck under the refrigerator. It was all very traumatic but I am back now and hopefully with my new schedule I will be able to keep on top of all of the shenanigans that pop up unexpectedly like a media based game of whack a mole. However as I have to now split my time between writing and saving the world from the dark conspiracy of lizard people bent on our annihilation, someone is actually paying me to do that now, I am dropping Rampant Speculation down to once a week. I will try to off set this by posting other, much shorter, articles about things and stuff as well as all of the other nonsense I find on the web. So without any further adieu, here is a Marvel and DC takeover version of Rampant Speculation.
Actually I lied, there is one more adieu. A week or so ago something extraordinary happened and I feel that I need to honor it. Drum roll please…. I got my first take down notice.
What this means is that someone, an actual human being and not just a Russian spambot (Whom I assume is the bulk of my readership, with the last 12% being made up of the people I know in real life whom I have emotionally blackmailing into at least pretending that they do) read Rampant Speculation. So to that lone FOX intern who somehow stumbled across my column while looking for actual content, I salute you! And also we took down the photo we assumed you were talking about but left up the much more damaging one of Mr. Fantastic making duck lips in a selfie. Seriously, that was a thing that happened.
Even better is the fact that according to Comic Book Resources the picture that is the one I assume caused said official legal action has just been released on twitter by the director, which means all of that drama was for naught. So yeah, sorry you had to read all of my nonsense for nothing nameless FOX intern. But know that I at least appreciate your efforts and you totally get a cookie. Now with that said and done, on to the spoilers! And the not spoilers, it’s actually kind of a mixed bag this week.
Note, This Rampant Speculation is going to be about the many, oh so very many, new things going on with the Marvel Cinematic Universe and The DC Movie Verse. The truth is if I added on all of the non DC/MARVEL related stuff to this thing it would have been longer than my final paper for Anthropology and that thing was a freaking novel. I will do a separate post on everything else some time this week.
MARVEL STUDIOS/ Warner Bros MARVEL STUDIOS, along with Warner Bros/DC, have planned out a seriously massive roll out of films for the next six years. Ten films are on the docket for Warner Bros/DC and eleven films for MARVEL STUDIOS, not counting their gap year of 2019 where they don’t have anything listed. Yet. Deadline has helpfully provided a terrifying graphic of just how many superhero films we can expect for the foreseeable future.
Graph of DOOM courtesy of Deadline.
In a world where studio executives are wellsprings of endless coke binge fueled optimism, the very fact that combined the two studios are planning on releasing a total of TWENTY ONE films based on their comic book properties is a little overwhelming. And this? Is not even counting any what Sony and FOX have up their sleeves or anything thing based on independent comics. I mean seriously dudes, this type of insane optimism takes hope by the hand and walks it right past all reasonable expectations all the way to psychotic delusion.
Ever since the first X-Men movie reawakened the slumbering superhero movie franchise titan from the prolonged coma it had succumbed to after the epic suck that was Batman & Robin throttled it into unconsciousness, the entertainment pundits and people who know stuff have been saying that this year was the year the public’s seemingly endless appetite for well-made super heroics would finally done. Wait no, not that year, this year. This is the year. Or maybe the next one? But sometime soon, really dudes, people will stop going to see superhero movies. I promise!
So far they have as yet to stop.
Up until now I have been pretty sure we could take it, three to five must see comic book films a year? I can handle that. But six to nine? Gah. I have joked in the past about super hero fatigue but seriously, I think by the time 2020 rolls around it will be a legitimate diagnosis in the “DSM-VIII” and someone on Law & Order: SVU will try to use to justify a triple homicide in another case ripped from the headlines.
With that grim fate in store for us let us take a look at the next few steps on our journey toward our eventual spandex clad psychosis that Pfizer will undoubtedly have a pill for.
Ant-Man- First off there are pictures! Everyone likes pictures, right? And these are “official”, so no threat of a take down notice for me this time. Here, officially (can’t state that enough), we finally have a look at what Paul Rudd’s (Anchorman, This is 40, Clueless) Scott Lang will look like in his civvies, sadly he is not shirtless.
Photo via Marvel Entertainment.
The second photo comes to us courtesy of Evangeline Lilly’s (Lost, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey) Instagram and reveals at least part of her look for Hope Van Dyne, a new character who is the daughter of Doctor Henry Pym and the Wasp.
Photo via Comic Book Resource.
In case you were wondering, there is a reason why that hair style looks so familiar….
It is beginning to make me wonder if the call back to the Wasp is a hint that Hope will be the one to take up the mantle of very tiny wings to fight evil? I don’t know how I feel about that.
Also in Ant-Man News- Director Peyton Reed (Bring It On) spoke to Screen Rant and in the process revealed a little bit more about the MARVEL STUDIOS film that is randomly skipping over the origins of founding members of the Avengers Ant-Man and Wasp, jumping past all those pesky spousal abuse plot points, and landing right in the middle of passing the torch to next generation to take up the spandex and over-sized metal ant head.
“The thematic arc really is a sort of passing-of-the-torch movie,” explained Reed. He added, “Paul Rudd’s character is an ex-con, a thief. It’s also got the structure of a heist movie. And there’s also a real personal dynamic to the movie, too. In the comics, Scott Lang has a daughter, and that’s part of the movie, too.”
That daughter is Cassandra Lang, aka Cassie, who is best known for assuming the heroic identity of Stature when she hit those awkward teen years and joined the Young Avengers to battle evil while all of the adults in her life looked on with extreme disapproval. Captain America in particular has a very effective “I am so disappointed in you for making this poor life choice” face, the only one who is even partially resistant is Tony Stark and this is because very little gets past the wall of narcissism.
In the comics the whole reason Scott Lang steals the Ant-Man tech/suit from Hank Pym is that Cassie becomes ill and he needs the size alteration powers of the Ant-Man suit to save her by stealing stuff, or something (I will admit, I am hazy on the details). Once he goes legit Scott becomes a valued and heroic member of the Avengers and Cassie practically grows up at the Avengers mansion in New York before it all ends horrible because this is MARVEL and no one who gets a happy ending gets to keep it for every long. Actually, this seems like a pretty plausible way for them to go with the movie, but so far it is still just guessing on my part (Hey, at least I admit it.).
Also in Ant-Man News- The Latino Review has been the first to report that there are going to be a few unexpected cameos Ant-Man.
In earlier drafts of the script, Hank Pym in the first act prologue has a meeting at S.H.I.E.L.D and meets up with Howard Stark, Peggy Carter, Arnim Zola, and here is a cool one…
…a young Alexander Pierce.
The list of cameos provided actually makes a lot of sense, as they tie the film even more firmly into the existing framework of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, so I am going change my threat level in regards to Ant-Man to cautiously optimistic. Interestingly, in a water cooler gossip sort of way, The Latino Review also speculated that the inclusion of these characters might have been the bone of contention that drove Edgar Wright (Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz) to quit the project. Which again makes sense, I can see where that would be an issue for an independent, idiosyncratic director who saw his film as sort of its own thing and something totally separate from what the rest of what the MCU was getting up to (I’m assuming sleepovers at Avengers Tower, shawarma parties, and the infiltration of world governments by former branches of the Third Reich that have evolved into Social Darwinism fueled quasi techno political cults, you know, the usual…).
Actually the more I think about it the more I like the idea of having scenes set at old school S.H.I.E.L.D. before it became the monolithic organization that got taken down to the studs in Captain America: The Winter Solider. The Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division has always been a mystery, wrapped in an enigma, wrapped in a leather trench coat and sporting an eye patch. With the series Agent Carter coming out this fall on ABC it looks like we will be getting a closer look at its origins and knowing MARVEL STUDIOS, as we all do at this point, I can’t help but think that there will be a connection between that and Ant-Man.
Aquaman- At this point it is being seen as a given that Jason Momoa (Stargate: Atlantis, Game of Thrones) will be playing the King of Atlantis who once dumped a whale at Namor (Someone who is also a Sovereign of the aforementioned underwater kingdom and a universally acknowledged dick, so he totally deserved it) in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, though the IMDB for the film still only lists him as being rumored to be in it.
Now on top of that potential appearance in Batman v Superman and a follow-up one in The Justice League: Is There Any Point in a Subtitle? Variety is reporting that there are two other proto scripts vying for the chance to showcase that snazzy green and orange number he wears under the sea while he dreams of being part of our world and plays with his dinglehooper.
“Warner Bros and DC are starting to rev up their solo DC properties with the studio tapping “300: Rise of an Empire” scribe Kurt Johnstad to write one script and “Gangster Squad” writer Will Beall to pen another script to their “Aquaman” pic.
An insider close to the project explained that the two wouldn’t be co-writing the project, but that they would be writing separate scripts with the studio hoping for the best version to come out of this strategy.”
It seems all of our time spent obsessing on Momoa playing the part have had at least one tangible byproduct, the studio seems to think we want an Aquaman movie. Now while 1990s me would have had to have been hospitalized because of the asthma attack I gave myself laughing over the idea of anyone, ever, in any universe out there, wanting an Aquaman movie enough to merit a writers Thunder Dome showdown over a script, times have changed and perhaps the mermaid staved public is hungry for ocean based royalty and the confused heroic seagulls they hang around with. Stranger things have happened.
Avengers: Age of Ultron- Le Sigh… Number three on my list of all time non historical girl-crushes, Katie Sackhoff (Battlestar Galactica, Longmire, Riddick) has broken the internet’s heart by revealing that she is not going to be appearing as Carol Danvers, aka Captain (and formerly Ms) Marvel, aka number four on my list of all time fictional girl crushes, in Avengers: Age of Ultron even though we collectively cast her in the part, like, four years ago. Which is weird. It is almost as if when fans decide who should play a role in any given film, it does not actually hold any power over who actually gets cast in said role, but that can’t possibly be right. [EDITOR’S NOTE: It worked with casting Patrick Stewart as Professor X! Why would it not keep working?]
Starbuck broke the news to us all via the third-party Vulture when they spoke to her at the Kiehl’s Liferide 5th Anniversary Festival.
“As of this moment, I have not sat down with anybody from Marvel for any role specifically,” said Sackhoff. “But that doesn’t necessarily mean that something with Marvel is completely off the table for the future.”
Which I guess translates as she wants to see other people/franchises but is down with making it official if MARVEL STUDIOS decides to man up and actually take her prom?
Picture via We Got This Covered.
This mystery resolved, there is still the ongoing enigma of what she has been twiteasing about of late, and while it is not Carol Danvers (WHY NOT GOD? WHY NOT??) she did drop a few more enigmatic clues.
She teased to Vulture, and the rest of us by proxy, that the gig is “not necessarily a movie and not necessarily a superhero that you would think of,”.
Katie, I love you more than words can say, but gotta be honest here. There are no less than 10 new non movie superhero projects coming out this year alone that I can think of off of the top of my head, and I am sure there are a few I missed, not to mention the bazillion other things due in the next few years. It’s my own fault for not getting it, I know, but it’s late and I am not really what you would call awake or even functional, so your clue did not help me narrow it down in the slightest. Can you just say if it’s DC, Marvel or and Independent? We, and I speak here collectively of your adoring obsessive internet based fandom, could take it from there.
Also in Avengers: Age of Ultron News (To make up for that bit of heartbreak)- Wonderful news everyone! For those of us who can’t get enough of dotty scientists with an aversion to wearing pants Stellan Skarsgard (Thor, Mama Mia) has confirmed to Total Film, via Metro, that Dr. Erik Selvig will be making an appearance in Avengers: Age of Ultron.
‘I’m going to be in Avengers: Age of Ultron, a small appearance’ he told Total Film.
‘It’s something really nice. Even if it’s owned by Disney now, it’s really run by four or five people, and they know exactly what they’re doing.
‘I like working with them because if I have a problem with the scene, I have Kevin Feige’s number. I can call the head of the studio. You can’t do that when you work on a normal Disney film or with Warner Bros or Paramount.’
When asked about Joss Whedon’s superhero sequel, he gave very little away.
‘I don’t know what I’m allowed to say. But usually they call me in if they need something explained’ he said.
‘There’s a lot of explanations to do when it comes to that universe.’
In even more pressing news he also spoke of the status of his pants in the up coming film, namely if he will be wearing them.
“Yeah, I was naked again,” he said. “They called my agent and said, ‘Do you think Stellan will mind being naked?’ My agent laughed his head off. Yeah, I almost insist! Sometimes with a contract you get a nudity clause, which is fantastic. It’s supposed to protect me from having my genitals exploited, which I doubt anybody would make a dime on.” Skarsgård was then asked if he could reveal anything about Age of Ultron. “First of all, I don’t know what I’m allowed to say,” he started. “But usually they call me in if they need something explained. There’s a lot of explanations to do when it comes to that universe.”
Total Film Magazine, via Comic Book Resource.
Additionally In Avengers: Age of Ultron News (The Spoilers Editions)- While Avengers: Age of Ultron does not come out until May 1st 2015 that has not stopped a prescient few from doing some prognostication via crystal balls and haruspicina (Google it you lazy bums) which has revealed what they say is the end credits stinger for the next film in MARVEL STUDIOS ongoing campaign of total world domination. According to International Business Daily, Screen Crush had at one time posted a description of said stinger, through the article in which they claim that description was made in has since vanished into the ether. With such dubious provenance and a disappearing source link the entire thing seems very “Janie said Christie told Lisa that Tommy likes you but don’t tell Tommy because he will just deny it”, so ALL of the salt will be needed to take this bit of speculation down but if you are interested in what someone at least thinks the stinger will be the description is below.
The end credits scene reportedly points to a Loki scene hinting for a Thor 3 movie and the mid and post credit scene hinted at a possibility of Loki leading a war between Asgard and Midgard.
According to ScreenCrush.com, the post credits of the upcoming Avengers 2 movie “will lead directly into the events of Thor 3, teasing a Loki-led war between Midgard and Asgard, and the beginning of Ragnarok.”
That is not all on the offer from the International Business Times, the site has compiled the rumored spoilers from IBTimes, Radio Times and IGN along with some details based on Kevin Feige’s London Q&A for Guardians of the Galaxy where he played a 2 minute clip of Avengers: Age of Ultron. This is all speculation of the most rampant kind and so should be viewed as such, but still the standard warnings for SPOILERS still apply.
Opening scene in “Avengers: Age of Ultron” takes off after the end-credits of “Captain America: Winter Soldier.” Fans got a glimpse of the twins Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver who were locked up in a cell in Von Strucker’s Hydra outpost. The first 20 minutes of the movie will allegedly show the Avengers fighting Strucker and the twins. Scarlet Witch was reported to have cast a spell on the dead Leviathan (which Strucker had) to trick Hulk to thinking that it’s still alive. The Avengers eventually won. They captured the twins and celebrated in Stark’s Tower.
S.H.I.E.L.D. is no longer the Earth’s defense in “Avengers: Age of Ultron.” It was disbanded at the end of the “Winter Soldier.” Thus, Stark’s Tower now becomes the Avengers’ new headquarters, called the new Avengers Tower. It has been rebuilt since it was badly damaged in the last movie when Hulk fought Loki and the Chituari.
Kevin Feige said the tower was designed by Tony Stark himself with multiple spacious living rooms for parties and social gatherings. According to Radio Times, the tower also features floor-to-ceiling windows and twin laboratories for Stark and Bruce Banner (Hulk). A new hangar for an improved Quinjet is also built.
XXI still want to know where Tony stashed the hotub and grotto.XX“As mentioned above, previous rumors has it that the first scenes in “Avengers: Age of Ultron” will show Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver fighting against the Avengers. However, based on the 2-minute clip, Scarlet Witch became an ally. She is seen fighting alongside Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner) on a ruined street in Italy. This scene somehow relates to the leaked video footage below, previously reported by IBTimes to have also been filmed in Italy.
Here be the footage of which they speak. Enjoy your views of the Renner arms, they are quite lovely.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZiWDMdRjTko]
The article continued with some final thoughts on the M word.
“Meanwhile, due to the conflict between the two Quicksilver characters in “Avengers: Age of Ultron” and in “X-Men: Days of Future Past,” filmmakers have decided to make Avengers’ Quicksilver different. Aaron Taylor-Johnson will not be a mutant this time. Although both have white hair and the capability to move in lighting speed.”
Point of note, Aaron Taylor-Johnson’s (Kick Ass) Pietro Maximoff (aka the speedster Quicksilver) was never going to be a mutant in the Marvel Cinematic Universe because MARVEL STUDIOS does not actually have the right to use the word “mutant”. The ownership of that particular noun resides in the hands of FOX studios and their band of merry mutants the X-MEN. Neither Quicksilver nor his sister Wanda (The Scarlet Witch, who is also considered a mutant in the 616 comic’s continuity as well as a magic user) will be called that M word within the context of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
At this point in time we don’t know what they are going to be called besides Barron Stucker’s oddly reverent for a Nazi term “Miracles”. Right now the smart money is on them being Inhumans, which would tie in somewhat with the plot line in the comics where the terrigen mists, source of the Inhuman’s powers, were released on earth and triggered a bunch of people who were descendants of Inhuman’s to develop super powers. Oh dear god, I just became that fan. The pedantic lecture ends now.
Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice Interesting photos have just surfaced from the set which show Scoot McNairy (Halt and Catch Fire) in the green socks of CGI, which has sparked an intense round of internet speculation on just what effects those enticing green knee highs are going to facilitate.
According to the dudes at BadAss Digest one possibility could be that the effect will be one of super speed because Scoot will be moving fast as the Flash.
When Scoot McNairy was hired for Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice*his role was kept secret. But have recent set pics given up the jig? Shots of McNairy wearing weird green socks have surfaced from the set; those socks are there for the VFX guys to replace his legs with… something. What is that something?
Batman News speculates that this is because McNairy is playing The Flash, and that his legs will be turned into super-speedster legs in post.
I don’t know – that seems like a weird reason to have CGI socks. But I can say that my sources have told me The Flash shows up in this film, and that by the end of the movie we have a Justice League assembled that includes
Superman
Batman
Wonder Woman
Aquaman
Cyborg
The FlashHow accurate are my sources? I don’t know! I trust them enough to run this information, so I’m hoping they’re right. And everything that’s been coming out of the production has been pointing at them being at least on the right track.
Does that mean McNairy is the Flash? Not necessarily, but there’s a lot of evidence in this theory’s favor.
I don’t know if I necessarily buy the Flash theory, but if I am honest I think that is because having a guy named Scoot playing the Flash seems a little on the nose if you know what I mean? We will see what else comes to light as the production continues.
Also in B v S (What? It’s late & I am tired of typing.)- More pictures! This time of Henry Cavil (Man of Steel) in his super suit, which is admittedly a good look on the man, so enjoy.
Picture via the Daily Mail.
Ditto Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice News- It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a Super Hero is only as good as the villainous plot he is foiling. Superman Returns taught us that not even Kevin Spacey (The Usual Suspects, House of Cards) hamming it up as Lex “How evil am I? Let me show you!” Luthor could save a film when the gist of all of his evil scheming was that he basically squatting, admittedly on an island kingdom he had just created with alien technology that would slowly expand until it consumed the entire planet, but still he was pulling that same scam as those guys who moved in to and totally refused to leave the airbnb place they’d rented. Not a very compelling evil plan and his reasons for doing all of that overly complicated real estate fraud never became more clearly articulated than “I wanna own an island where Superman can’t show up and buzzkill my wicked bliss”, and dude there’s a website for that. No need to destroy the world.
Seems like this time around Lex has other things on his mind besides a land grab, and according to Geek Tyrant it is way more grim.
“According to the extra, the ending of the film has already been filmed. One of the scenes shot featured Batman breaking into Lexcorp to steal kryptonite, and apparently Lexcorp had somehow gotten ahold of General Zod’s body.”
This claim was backed up by BadAss Digest, who say they heard the same.
“I can confirm this. Lex has been gathering pieces and debris from the World Engine and he has used them to synthesize Kryptonite. Meanwhile he has also gotten ahold of Zod’s corpse, and it is the key to his master plan to defeat Superman. He uses that tissue to… well, that would be spoiling. But Superman hasn’t been defeated many times in the past. You can probably connect the dots from here.”
Daredevil: Soon… very soon, we will finally get the first of the MARVEL Netfix series Daredevil and everything that has been revealed about it thus far has made me a very happy girl in regards to the direction they are taking the MARVEL “Street Level” Heroes. I mean, the casting alone has been freaking awesome and totally epic, speaking of which, Vincent D’Onofrio (Law and Order: Criminal Intent, The Cell, Adventures in Baby Sitting) who is playing Wilson Fisk, aka the Kingpin, aka the man so evil he put out a hit on freaking Aunt May (Seriously, that is so beyond the evil event horizon they have to invent a whole new form of mathematics just to calculate it!) spoke to Screen Crush about being a happy part of the Marvel family.
Now you’re branching off into two major franchises, one of them – we talked about it a little bit – is ‘Daredevil.’ How has this transition for you been, especially with ‘Daredevil,’ which has such a diehard fanbase, and sometimes even fundamentally so?
Yeah, it’s huge. It’s huge. I mean the whole Marvel world is so huge. But I gotta tell you, I couldn’t be working for nicer people. I really am. I’m just having a great time. The whole — the way that we’re shooting it, our Daredevil, everybody that’s in the show, is just going so well. Tonight we have a big fight scene that’s happening. It’s the first time you see my character do something physical.
Everybody I talk to who has been involved in a Marvel project describes [the experience] almost as their childhood fantasy come to life.
Yeah. I mean, it’s kinda cool. The thing about Marvel is that they’re not – they’re into real acting. They’re looking for artists that are willing to take chances and are willing to create characters, even if that character has been around for years and years in comic books, they still are depending on us to create something and take it somewhere else.
He also talked specifically about his take on The Kingpin, or at least let it be understood that both he and the writers have one.
With such an iconic villain, though, as the Kingpin, there are a lot of fans out there with their ideas of what this man is. For you, what is that character and what do you want to bring, or what are you most excited to bring out in this character?
[Brief silence] I’m not gonna tell you.
I think – it’s not just me, by the way, it’s the writer. It’s Steven DeKnight, it’s Jeph Loeb at Marvel, it’s the scripts, and it’s me. I think it’s gonna be the … I hope — I should say – I hope it’s gonna be the new way to look at Wilson Fisk. I think that there will be no other Wilson Fisk but this one after we’re all done with it. That’s what we’re hoping for.
I don’t know how into detail you’re allowed to get, so definitely stop me if I’m going too far, but all these Marvel worlds, especially ‘Daredevil,’ have a wealth of characters and villains and all these crazy people who can cross-pollinate…
Yeah, The Defenders.
Obviously the Kingpin is going to be a main focal point from the villainy side of things. Are there any other characters you can tease or point out from the comics?
No, not specifically. I can’t talk about anything. I can just say that they’re gonna go all the way. They’re gonna go super cool — like, super, super cool.
You can read more of the interview over at Screen Crush, where they talk of many things which may or may not include cabbages, kings and Robert Downy Jr (Iron-Man, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, Tropic Thunder).
Gotham- DC’s highly anticipated show is so close to its premiere date I can taste it, but just in case anyone out there has forgotten about the next TV show that will eat their life FOX has released a preview called A Legend is Born, which I present here to you in all of its four-part glory via io9.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xjn_n4ixpMo]
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8oI_P4xGURY]
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xFfPxYEhKic]
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cDDVY9aqh34]
Marvels Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.- After a rough start to their first season that was hobbled by the necessity of waiting on Captain America: The Winter Soldier’s time-table Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. seriously brought it in their back half last season. Season 2 should start off stronger now that they no longer have to hide all of H.Y.D.R.A. behind the curtain.
Things are looking pretty good so far. MARVEL STUDIOS has whetted the fan appetite by announcing several new characters being played by a variety of awesome people. Among them so far are Lucy Lawless (Xena, Battlestar Galactica, Parks and Rec) as Agent Isabelle Hartley, Adrianne Palicki (Supernatural, Friday Night Lights, G.I. Joe 3 ) who was just announced this past week as playing Mockingbird (aka Bobbi, Clint’s ex-wife), Reed Diamond (Dollhouse, The Mentalist ) as Daniel Whitehall, and Kyle MacLachlan (Twin Peaks, Sex in the City, Portlandia) who will be playing Skye’s father, though who he may be other than the paterfamilias of S.H.I.E.L.D.’s resident manic pixie smartass remains gooey blood soaked mystery.
There is now a new name to add to that list, Marvel Entertainment has just announced that Brian Patrick Wade (Generation Kill, Teen Wolf) will be playing Carl “Crusher” Creel, better known as The Absorbing Man.
I approve of this choice in villain. So far the only big bad with any real menace Team S.H.I.E.L.D. has gone up against has been H.Y.D.R.A. and the d bag sleeper agents working for them. The Absorbing Man is a formidable foe and with his ability to mimic the properties of anything he touches he should put up good fight. I hope he sticks around as more than a one and done villain to be shipped off to whatever they are using as the Fridge at this point. Huh, that is a thought… Where are they going to keep the superpower bad guys they keep collection like Pokémon cards now that S.H.I.E.L.D. is no longer a functioning organization? Coulson’s mom and pop espionage start-up really does not have the resources and man power to build and run a super villain super max. I mean, I guess Tony Stark is bankrolling the Avengers at this point, so maybe he could take them off their hands and store them at his lake house in Tahoe?
Shazam- Finally! After months, if not years, of hints. vague promises, and twi-teases Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson (Fast & Furious 6, Hercules) has taken pity on his emotionally exhausted fan base and confirmed that he will indeed be playing a starring role in Warner Bros/DC’s upcoming film Shazam.
The question now remains what role will the actor and caretaker of The People’s Immaculately Groomed Eyebrow be playing? You would assume right off of the bat that Johnson would be the heroic lead, I mean what other role could he play? But, as we all know, in comic’s things are never that easy. First of all if he were to be playing the title role of Shazam, he would only be playing the part half of the time because the hook of the character is that his secret identity is that of Billy Batson, an awkward teenage boy who becomes Shazam when he says the magic word (no, not that one) and while he is capable of many amazing things? I do not think the Rock can convincingly play a 15 year old boy. Unless they are doing away with Shazam’s origin story completely? If he is playing him he will only be on-screen when Billy is being a super heroic badass.
Ah! But there is another option. Many moons ago I put forth my opinion that Johnson could possibly end up playing Black Adam, the descendant of pharaohs past and the person who held Billy’s new job before becoming all darkly pragmatic and face planting into utterly evil, after which crawling his way back up to anti-hero. Now, before you scoff at my crazy delusions of reasonable expectations given what is known about the project, I am not alone in this opinion. No less than The Associated Press sort of backs me up on this one.
“Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson says he will play a role in an upcoming DC Comics movie adaptation but has yet to decide between superhero Shazam and his arch-nemesis Black Adam.
He may not have a hard time making a decision. He told The Associated Press on Monday that he has always been a fan of anti-heroes and said one of his favorite DC Comics characters is Black Adam.
“I am putting my heart and soul and my bones into this role,” he said.”
Right now we will just have to wait and see which way he decides to go. Will he choose his soul mate Ben or best friend Noel? Or will he just cut off all of his long curly hair sophomore year and in doing so tank the ratings? Or am I confusing this with something else?
Thor 3- Everyone loves Asgardians, EVERYONE. They are so good-natured and awesome it is well-nigh impossible to resist their affable charm, it’s like what would happen if Australians had superpowers.
With all of that fan love in the equation it comes as no surprise that many are feeling a tad impatient with the wait they are being forced to endure between getting their Norse god fix. Sadly the news is not good on that front, Asgardain Prime Chris Hemsworth (Thor, Snow White and the Huntsman, Rush) spoke about the next installment in the Thor Saga at San Diego Comic Con in July and according to Collider the picture he painted was quite disheartening.
“Yeah I got a lot of time. I don’t think it’s just yet, Thor 3. I think it’s a ways away.”
A ways away? That’s all you have to say for yourself?? This is terrible! That’s like an eternity in fan years, which at this point run on a nano seconds thanks to the internet.
And with that it is time to wrap this thing up and for me to face plant on my couch and pray for mercy from a cold and indifferent universe. Looking back on the road so far I can’t help but think that we have had so many false positives this summer by way of movie rumors that I don’t even know what to believe anymore. Not that I really believed anything to begin with, but even my doubting soul has been taken for a bit of a ride thus far. From now on I am just going to roll with it and start a betting pool on which ones are going to end up being actuate.
Actually, now that I think of it? I like that idea. So to the poor FOX intern reading this for copyright violations, my loyal Russian spam bots and to the six actual living people who read this thing I have a proposition for you! If you can pass the Turing Test and if you are interested in playing a game, just leave your picks for the unconfirmed rumors you think are most likely to be true in the comments section and if you win I will do something appropriate to honor you, possibly even involving a prize of some sort.
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