The Marvel Cinematic Universe
The future looks like this
MARVEL STUDIOS DIDN’T bring the entire cast of Avengers: Infinity War to ComicCon. Probably because the convention centre isn't big enough. But Marvel chief Kevin Feige
did bring footage from the next few MCU films, and dropped a few info-bombs into the bargain…
THE ORIGINAL WASP
At the end of Ant-man, we see a picture of Janet van Dyne, the original Wasp and wife of Michael Douglas’ Hank Pym, long thought lost to the mysterious Quantum Realm. Well, almost — her face was obscured, so Marvel could cast the role down the line. Which they have in style, with Michelle Pfeiffer joining the cast of the currently filming Ant-man And The Wasp. “We used to say, ‘It would be great if they go to rescue someone like Michelle Pfeiffer,’” Feige tells Empire. “Very recently she said yes.” Feige also confirmed the film will feature “heist elements”, as Paul Rudd’s Scott Lang, Pym and Evangeline Lilly’s Hope van Dyne head into the Quantum Realm in search of Janet.
nineties MARVEL
With filming set to start soon on Captain Marvel, which will star Brie Larson as the studio’s newest superhero (and first solo female lead), Feige teased a few key details. The film will be set in the early 1990s, almost two decades before Tony Stark became Iron Man. “We thought it would be fun to make a film set in that period, and for very specific reasons,” says Feige. It’s reasonable to assume that Danvers’ absence from the MCU to date will be addressed.
YOUNG FURY and the skrulls
Two more big revelations about Captain Marvel, which will be directed by Ryan Fleck and Anna Boden. The bad guys will be alien shapeshifting menaces the Skrulls, which could set the stage for a major retcon of the MCU post-avengers 4. With their ability to look like anybody, there’s a fair chance that it may be revealed one or more Avengers have not been who they seem this whole time. Will that apply to Nick Fury? That remains to be seen, but after missing the last few Marvel movies, Samuel L. Jackson will return to the role, with one key difference: this younger Fury won't yet have experienced the incident that leads to him wearing his iconic eyepatch.
BLACK PANTHER leaps into action
Ryan Coogler and most of his Black Panther cast showed up, along with about five minutes of stylish footage. Highlights included a tense, James Bondian casino fight sequence which showcases Black Panther's incredible leaping prowess; the revelation that bad guy Erik Killmonger (Michael B. Jordan) has a vibranium suit similar to T’challa’s (Chadwick Boseman); and the debut of Ulysses Klaw’s (Andy Serkis) new sonic disruptor arm. It was the first time any of the cast had seen the footage. “This is the film of my dreams,” said Daniel Kaluuya, who plays W’kabi. “It’s amazing to see an African story being told in a universe like this.”
AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR looks epic
Feige — with help from Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo, Boseman, Tom Hiddleston and co-director Joe Russo — brought a brief look at Avengers: Infinity War that hinted at the enormous scale of the ultimate superhero team-up movie. Starting with a scene in which a wounded Thor meets the Guardians Of The
Galaxy, it went on to feature almost every single Avenger, including Chris Evans’ Captain America with a beard. It also included shots of a bloodied Spider-man (Tom Holland) and a screaming Thor having his head clamped by Thanos (Josh Brolin). “It’s an intense film,” confirms Russo. “There’s certainly a lot of humour as well. That’s probably the hardest job we have on this movie, balancing the tone.”
THANOS means business
“Frankly, Avengers 3 is Thanos’ movie,” says Russo of the purple prick who’s targeting Earth’s mightiest heroes in Infinity War. The footage ended with Thanos turning a nearby moon into a fireball of comets, all the better to chuck them at the Avengers. “That’s one of many things Thanos does in this film,” laughs Russo. “He’s an incredible threat. We’re hoping to make a Darth Vader for a new generation.”