Earlier this year, Tim Blake Nelson reprised as role as Samuel Sterns for Captain America: Brave New World. Far from his first go in the superhero world, and now that he’s gotten a good amount of experience under his belt, he made a novel inspired by that tenure.
Simply titled Superhero, the book focuses on Peter Compton, a washed-up actor looking to make a career comeback by starring in the fictional cape movie “Major Machina.” Not long after he’s touched down in Atlanta to begin shooting, things have started to go bad thanks to “tension and egos,” along with Compton’s own on-set behavior making the rounds online. After that, it’s not just the movie that may fall apart, but also his relationship with his longtime producing partner and wife Marci Levy.
The parallels write themselves, which Nelson wasn’t at all shy about. He told the Hollywood Reporter that the book is fairly accurate “about the world I’ve experienced as an actor and filmmaker. […] Everything in this book I’ve either experienced or heard about from somebody who experienced it directly. So I don’t look at this as a wildly exaggerated world that I’m depicting.” He was already writing the book when he’d been approached about coming back for Captain America, and during production, talked with as many people on set as he could—from his fellow actors to Marvel producer Nate Moore and the DP—to “fortify the accuracy” of what he was putting on the page.
But if you’re thinking Superhero is frequently taking potshots at this part of the moviemaking industry a la The Studio, Nelson stressed that’s not the case. If anything, he thinks it’s more “a love letter to making movies” and “the microcosm of making a tentpole movie as a way of looking more broadly at our culture where it is right now.” In fact, he thinks the genre is still doing fairly well, even if it’s not the consistent money maker it used to be, and hopes readers understand he wrote this with real intent and not just to stroke his own ego.
“I don’t take writing novels lightly, which is why I waited until my 50s to write my first one,” he told THR. “The ambition here is to write a real novel.” Luckily, Superhero is in stores now, so you can find out for yourself how much of a “real novel” it is.
Marvel’s Ultimate Universe always has an Avengers, and the newly reborn one is no different. In a few months, the team is returning with The Ultimates, the first real team book of the new Ultimate line. Written by Deniz Camp and drawn by Juan Frigeri, the new book sees Tony Stark gathering superheroes—both those fully-formed and ones who haven’t become their heroic selves yet—to bolster his ranks alongside Doom, Sif, and Captain America.
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Talking to ComicBook, Camp explained how his series will build upon the Ultimates foundation previously set by Mark Millar and Bryan Hitch’s original version. Instead of fighting extraterrestrial threats and terrorists around the world, they’re fugitives framed for the murder of thousands back in Ultimate Universe and Ultimate Invasion. Likening them to the Partisans of WWII, Camp called them “a resistance network in occupied territory. Their status as outlaws/terrorists means they are under constant threat.”
Stark’s big plan to build a resistance network of superheroes means every issue will be one-and-dones that introduce the new Ultimate version of a Marvel hero. Beyond Ant-Man and the Wasp for the inaugural issue, Camp isn’t saying who else is part of the roster, but he did note the team’s got an 18-month timetable to build their ranks and save the world from whatever the Maker and his Council have got cooking up with their own personal City. Complicating matters further is Tony himself: as a younger, “more idealistic” version of his 616 self, he’ll find himself pulled in opposite ends by Doom and Captain America.
Team friction will be a big part of the book, especially as the ranks grow. “[They’re] people with very different backgrounds, beliefs, and reasons for fighting, united by [a] common enemy,” continued Camp. In the way OG Ultimates was focused on post-9/11 paranoia, his and Frigeri’s version will look at “that nagging sense that everything’s gone wrong somehow, that things were supposed to be better than this. In that way the two Ultimates will feel very different, but I think (hope) ours is true to the spirit and the ambition of the original.”
Growth and “changing the world” is the Ultimates gameplan, one Camp said will make it very differernt from the primary Marvel universe. Given free reign, he’s most excited to have the chance to make something of his own inside the Marvel sandbox different from his previous contract work. “This feels a lot more like writing a creator owned book,” he said, “albeit one that is directly working with classic Marvel iconography and archetypes. I consider it a real responsibility, and I’m doing my best to live up to it.”
The Ultimates kicks off its debut issue on June 5.
Since 2014’s Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Anthony Mackie has popped up as former pilot (and Steve’s ever reliable bestie) Sam Wilson. Last we saw Sam, he’d finally accepted his role as the new Captain America in TheFalcon & the Winter Soldier, which was all the way back in 2021.
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Next year, Sam will headline his first solo film in Captain America: Brave New World, which follows on from that miniseries. Talking to Radio Times, the actor acknowledged he was fond of working on that show, which paired him with Sebastian Stan’s ex-cyborg assassin Bucky Barnes. “I was actually excited to do a second season, just so me and Sebastian can get paid to hang out,” he stated. “Because it’s like me, him and Daniel Brühl [as Zemo]. It’s kind of like the perfect storm of happiness. […] Anything I can do to hang out with a dancing Daniel Brühl makes me very happy.”
Brave New World’s full cast hasn’t been officially revealed, but Mackie confirmed neither Bucky or Zemo will be popping up here. (Bucky will be featured in Thunderbolts while Zemo’s next appearance is a big question mark.) Since FalconSoldier is a fairly key part of Sam’s evolution, he’s admitted headlining a movie without those two doesn’t entirely feel the same. “When they decided to go back to the movies, it is what it is, but I don’t have my friends anymore. It kind of dampens it a little bit.”
Major supporting characters often pop in and out of the MCU a somewhat regular cadence—see Hawkeye and Jane Foster as two of many examples. There are some, though, who feel like they should be around more often than they are, and their absence often highlights how much a particular entry isn’t entirely working. There’ll be some familiar faces in Brave New World (like Danny Ramirez’s Joaquin Torres), but given how FalconSoldier ended with the promise of Sam and Bucky as a dynamic duo, it’s a bit of a shame we won’t get to see that play out on the big screen.
Captain America: Brave New World is expected to hit theaters on February 14, 2025.
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If you know someone who loves “The Avengers” as much as “Ms. Marvel” but aren’t quite sure about what kind of gift to get them for that special occasion — whether you’re looking for a unique birthday gift or are just getting a headstart on your holiday shopping — we know finding that perfect gift can be a struggle. The Marvel Cinematic Universe continues to expand each year, so it can be difficult to nail down that ideal product that’ll truly wow them, and it’s only going to get harder as Marvel’s wondrous, fictional world continues to expand.
There’s just so much merch available already, plus items like jewelry, comic books, action figures, and clothing. To help you on your hunt for the best gifts for Marvel fans, we’ve compiled the hottest Marvel-themed products on the market all in one place. Whether you’re looking for something for a Spider-Man, Moon Knight, or She-Hulk fan, you won’t have to worry because we’ve likely got some ideas for you right here. Best of all, they’re available to shop at a wide range of prices, too. So without further ado, here are all the best Marvel-themed gifts that are sure to make any die-hard fan giddy with excitement.
Allegedly Marvel Studios will delay Ryan Reynolds Deadpool 3 and replace the release date with Captain America 4.
Next year Marvel is set to ramp up their Cinematic timeline and build up the next installments of the Avengers franchise. Reportedly Ryan ReynoldsDeadpool 3 will be a major building block for the MCU and feature the return of Hugh Jackman. Jackman will once again dawn the Wolverine monicker alongside his real-life bestie. Fans have waited years for the film to release and it is set to arrive on May 3, 2024.
According to ScreenRant, the ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike may cause the movie to be delayed once again. However, the film has wrapped principal filming, and small reshoots are all that’s left. So it’s a small chance the delay could be avoided.
Furthermore, Insiders suggest we will see several of the former Fox Marvel characters in the film.
The film could be the cameo-heavy movie leakers claimed Dr. Strange would be. The film hasn’t officially been delayed but the rumors also suggest Marvel has a solution to keep the May 2024 release date. Anthony Mackie’s upcoming outing in his first solo Captain America film could replace Deadpool 3. Captain America: Brave New World starring Anthony Mackie and Harrison Ford is allegedly done filming and could be ready to go by May. From COVID-19 to actor strikes Marvel hasn’t caught a break in a very long time.
Additionally, If we see a few more delays we might not get the next Avengers movie until 2030.
Anthony Mackie said it was “intimidating” to have screen legend Harrison Ford join the cast of the upcoming film “Captain America: Brave New World.”
“I was so fucking nervous I couldn’t remember my lines. He’s Harrison fucking Ford,” Mackie, who plays the title role in the flick, told IndieWire.
But Ford’s wit put everyone at ease.
“There is this aura about him. But he dispels that really quickly because he’s such a cool guy,” Mackie said. “He’s everything a movie star should be. He would say, ‘Let’s shoot this piece of shit.’ And everybody was like, ‘Yeah, let’s shoot this shit.’”
“We spent a good bit of time together,” he told IndieWire. “Ross and Cap have always had that relationship, where they were friends and they respected each other, but they always bumped heads. That’s their relationship in the storyline.”
Ford will continue in the role within the MCU, as he’s also set to appear as Ross in “Thunderbolts.”
Ford, who turns 81 next week, is currently appearing on the big screen in “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny,” the fifth and final film in the franchise, and is likely to nab at least one and possibly two Emmy nominations later this month for his roles on “Shrinking” and “1923.”
“Captain America: Brave New World” is set for release next summer, while “Thunderbolts” will hit the big screen in December 2024.
Mackie recently sat down with Inverse to talk a little bit about why the title was changed. When asked exactly why it happened, he had the following to say:
I have no idea. They were like, ‘We’re changing the title.’ I was like, ‘All right, let’s do it.’ So that was it.
Fans assume the shift could have something to do with the negative associations the “new world order” has with various conspiracy theories that share that same name, but Marvel has made no public statements about the change — and clearly they didn’t give Mackie a reason either.
Whatever it is call, this will be the fourth Captain America movie, and the first to star Anthony Mackie since he assumed that superhero monicker during the Disney+ series The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. The film also stars Danny Ramirez, Carl Lumbly, and Harrison Ford, who will replace the late William Hurt as General “Thunderbolt” Ross — now President “Thunderbolt” Ross. The movie will also include several returning actors from The Incredible Hulk, who have not appeared in the MCU in well over a decade; Liv Tyler as Betty Ross, and Tim Blake Nelson as the Leader. Julius Onah, who previously directed The Cloverfield Paradox and Luce, is directing the film.
Captain America: Brave New World is scheduled to open in theaters on July 26, 2024.
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Chris Evans, the popular Hollywood actor is best known for his power-packed performances, especially his portrayal of the famous superhero Captain America in the Marvel films. When it comes to his personal life, the actor is in a steady relationship with actress Alba Baptista, whom he met in 2021. As per the reports, the couple took their relationship to the next level and got engaged a few months back. It was also reported that Evans and Baptista are now busy building a house together.
Chris Evans to marry Alba Baptista this summer?
According to the latest reports published by Radar Online, Chris Evans and Alba Baptista are keen to tie the knot soon, and the couple is eyeing a summer wedding. The reports suggest that Evans and Baptista have already started planning for a romantic wedding, which is expected to happen this summer. As per the updates, the couple might tie the knot in a ceremony that will be held in Chris Evans’ home state Massachusetts. For the unversed, the much-in-love couple have been living together in Massachusetts, since last year.
“Chris is very attached to the idea of getting married near where he grew up. They’re looking at venues in Concord, Martha’s Vineyard, and current frontrunner Cape Cod, where he spent childhood summers and loves the idea of a wedding on the sand,” a source close to the couple confirmed in an exclusive chat with Radar Online.
Chirs Evans wishes to have an intimate wedding
The sources have also confirmed that the Captain America star wants to have a low-key, intimate wedding with a limited number of guests, by the end of this summer. “It just got too overwhelming, so now it’s just family and closest friends. He can’t wait to make Alba his wife,” stated the sources.
“Chris has worked so hard at building a career, and now he wants to hear the pitter-patter of little feet in his home — ideally, two or three kids, Happily for him, Alba is on the same page,” added the actor’s friends, confirming that he is ready to settle down.
Being an actor in a Marvel movie seems like a pretty sweet gig. You get to bring an iconic comic book character to life for millions of fans. And while the costume may not always be comfy — in fact, quite a few actors openly hated their ensembles — you sometimes get to take home a cool souvenir. Yes, that’s right. Some Marvel actors have been lucky enough to walk away from set with a piece of movie magic, whether it’s a prop, a wardrobe piece, or even a part of the set.
In some cases, these tokens are given to the actors as presents to thank them for a job well done. But Marvel isn’t always so keen on handing props over to actors to keep for good. For example, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings star Simu Liu asked the producers if he could take home a pair of his character’s shoes, but his request was denied. That’s why some actors simply steal their desired prop and hope nobody notices. Many of them have even gotten away with it, too — until they confess to their stolen treasures in interviews. Of course, no Marvel actor has gotten in serious trouble from taking home a prop. After all, it’s quite hard to imagine an A-list actor such as Tom Holland or Ryan Reynolds getting in trouble for simply bringing home a bit of their character with them.
In the Hawkeye Disney+ series, Clint Barton and his family go to see a musical centered around the Avengers. Now tourists will get to experience what it’s like to see a weirdly uncomfortable Broadway show based on a Marvel concept when Rogers: The Musical is turned into a real stage show at Disneyland’s California Adventure Park later this year.
In Hawkeye, Rogers: The Musical is just a short gag so Barton can make fun of the inaccuracies, but the production basically mounted a lengthy excerpt from the show, with music by real Broadway composers, Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman. If you managed to stick around through the credits of the last episode of Hawkeye without hopping into your next binge, you’re treated to a full-length version of the track.
Shaiman talked about the possibilities you have in an Avengers musical back in 2021, explaining that there are plenty of avenues for the story to take.
There are a million things that you could create in a Marvel musical, especially with Steve Rogers. The fact that he exists in the ’40s as well would allow us to write a whole lot of different genres, so the whole Marvel story would take place over decades. It would be a thrill to get to do that.
The official Disney Parks Twitter page has released a short teaser, which implies that the musical will be “Coming Soon.” The musical will be hitting Disney California Adventure Park as a one-act play sometime this summer.
The fact that Peggy Carter is the one looking at the playbill for Rogers: The Musical seems to suggest that she will appear in the show as well. (The Hawkeye version was basically just the one sequence inspired by The Avengers, so they’re going to have to write a bunch more material, even for a one-act show.
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Marvel has added Xosha Roquemore to the ensemble cast of “Captain America: New World Order”.
The actress, who notably starred in “Space Jam: A New Legacy” alongside LeBron James, joins Anthony Mackie, Tim Blake Nelson, Harrison Ford, Danny Ramirez, Carl Lumbly and Shira Haas.
The highly-anticipated feature- set to release on May 3, 2024- will be directed by Julius Onah with “Falcon and the Winter Soldier” showrunner, Malcolm Spellman, penning the script with Dalan Musson.
Following the series of events that took place in the finale of “Falcon and the Winter Soldier”, the upcoming film will see Mackie return as Sam Wilson, however, instead of reprising his alter-ego Falcon, he’s been dubbed the new Captain America.
Further details about the project, including Roquemore’s new character, have been kept under wraps.
To date, Roquemore’s new role marks one of the biggest gigs in her career. The 38-year-old actress has starred in a number of films and TV shows including “The Mindy Project”, “10 Things I Hate About You”, “Atlanta” and “Sherman’s Showcase”.
Listen, I get that you’re new here. From what I understand, you transferred out of Anime High because you couldn’t sit with the most popular anime boys and girls of all time. But why did you think Superhero High would be any different? You’re NOT one of the popular superheroes. I don’t even think you’re super at all! HOW DID YOU EVEN GET IN HERE? DID YOU BREAK INTO SCHOOL GROUNDS? HOW DID NO ONE NOTICE?
Okay, maybe your superpower is that you’re so unpopular you’re basically invisible. Cool. Whatever. Why don’t you go and sit with the other invisible kids. They’re around here somewhere—I think? That could be them over there. Or maybe that table is just empty? Idk. Go sit down. If you sit in Captain Invisible’s, it’ll probably be the most action he’s had all year.
You’re still HERE? Okay, listen. If I introduce to the popular heroes you will you PROMISE to leave?
*sigh*
Okay fine. Let’s go.
10. Iron Man
(Marvel Entertainment)
Okay, see the guy whose lunch box is feeding him with mechanical arms? That’s Tony Stark, also known as Iron Man. He’s what we call “new popular”. He wasn’t really all that cool when he first hit the scene. I mean, don’t get me wrong. He was still pretty popular. There was like… a Black Sabbath song about him I think? Idk some Dad music. But he got SUPER popular when he was played by Robert Downey Jr. in 2008. And it’s all been uphill from there.
9. Thor
(Marvel Entertainment)
Thor is also what we call “new popular”. He wasn’t really all that back when his first comics started. Tbh I thought he looked like kind of a dork with the winged helmet. He debuted in Journey Into Mystery #83 all the way back in the 1960s. But it wasn’t till the Avengers movies took off that he saw his popularity soar. The first Thor movie was okay, but he didn’t hit home with fans. But then the people at Marvel had the bright idea to make him comic relief in movies like Thor: Ragnorok and the fans went wild. And who wouldn’t go wild over Chris Hemsworth, am I right?
8. The Incredible Hulk
(Marvel Entertainment)
Okay so the Incredible Hulk was always cool, but a lot of people didn’t give him the time of day because his mild-mannered Bruce Banner persona wasn’t as cool as, say Bruce Wayne. I mean Bruce Banner is kind of a nerd, and nerds weren’t really in for a while. Now nerds are so in; basically everyone on Earth is a nerd in some fandom right now. Just wasn’t the case back then. But what’s not to love about a guy who turns huge and green and smashes things when he gets mad? I wish I could do that.
7. Wolverine
(20th Century Fox)
Wolverine was also always cool, but again, he didn’t get MEGA cool until he a Hollywood makeover. The original Wolverine is kinda ugly. He’s short, stocky, hairy, and looks like he got punched in the face one too many times. He’s not exactly movie-star quality. Then some genius of a casting director decided that Hugh Jackman would be a perfect fit and the rest was history. Besides, he’s got KNIVES IN HIS HANDS. So cool. Yeah he’s cutting up his sandwich with them. Wouldn’t you?
5. Wonder Woman
(Warner Bros.)
You see that woman with the rippling biceps? That’s Wonder Woman. She’s in the big leagues. She’s been popular forever, and is arguably the most popular female superhero of all time. She’s got it all: brains, beauty, and a hero’s heart. Ugh. I just wanna be her. She grew up in a community of Amazonian warrior women, and is the strongest of them all. She was always a heavy hitter on the popularity front, but her popularity shot up even further now that she’s played by the incredible Gal Godot in the movies.
6. Captain America
(Marvel Entertainment)
To be honest, America is kind of a scary place to be right now, but Captain America makes it just a little bit brighter. He was a symbol of American strength and resilience since the 1940s. He has his roots in antifascism, and he was pictured punching Hitler in his debut comic in 1941. He represents all of the best parts of American ideals: courage, optimism, and tolerance of all cultures and beliefs (except for fascism). It also helps that he was played by that hottie Chris Evans and now second hottie Anthony Mackie. Definitely a popularity booster.
4. Black Panther
(Matt Kennedy / Marvel Studios)
WAKANADA FOREVER! Omg sorry I just get really excited whenever I talk about Black Panther. I’m a big fan. His popularity EXPLODED back in 2018 with the release of the first Black Panther film. It was the first Marvel film with a Black director and a predominately Black cast, and was also the first superhero film nominated for Best Picture. Needless to say, it’s a serious touchstone in pop culture. T’Challa was played by the late, great actor Chadwick Boseman. A modern cinema legend.
3. Superman
(Warner Bros.)
You see those three dudes in the middle of the table? Those are the Big Three. The most popular superheroes of all time. And you see that guy in the red cape who also looks suspiciously similar to a certain mild-mannered journalist at the Daily Planet? Yeah, that’s Superman. He was one of the first superheroes ever conceived. He also has antifascist roots. He was created by two Jewish illustrators named Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster in 1938 to beat the shit out of Nazis, and his name, Kal-El, is a Hebrew phrase meaning “God is in everything”. This guy didn’t need Hollywood to make him popular, he had been a legend for DECADES.
2. Batman
(Warner Bros)
See that guy in the dark cape next to Superman? He’s vengeance. He’s the night. He’s totally NOT a billionaire playboy named Bruce Wayne. What gave you that idea? Batman was created by Bob Kane in 1939, and since then he’s aged like the fine wine in Bruce Wayne’s mansion. But again, he’s totally not Bruce Wayne. Batman has it all. He’s got the dark past, the utility belt full of gizmos, and the mind of a master detective, and the body of a black-belt martial artist. He also didn’t need help from Hollywood, but one could argue that The Dark Knight is the greatest superhero movie of all time. Bruce Wayne is even in it! And yes, it is totally a coincidence that he and Batman are never in a scene together.
1. Spiderman
(Marvel Entertainment)
Okay, see the cute kid sitting in between Batman and Superman? The kid who caught that redhead and her lunch tray when she tripped earlier? That’s the most popular superhero of all time: Spiderman. There have been a few Spidermans (a whole Spiderverse of them, actually) but the first and most famous is Peter Parker. He was created by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko in 1962, and has gone on to sell BILLIONS of dollars worth of comics and movies. Peter Parker is unstoppable, probably because he’s so charming! What’s not to love about a loud-mouthed kid from Queens? I know I love him. I pass notes to him in class all the time. He stopped opening them, but I know if I keep trying he’ll dump that ginger and take me to prom.
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