Marvel Studios is introducing a fresh face to the MCU with Ironheart, a new miniseries centered on Riri Williams—a teen tech prodigy who builds her own suit of armor inspired by Iron Man. Played by Dominique Thorne, Riri first appeared in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever and now leads her own story. Although often called the Ironheart movie, it’s actually a six-episode series packed with action, tech, and heart. The Ironheart MCU series explores legacy and innovation in a post-Tony Stark world.

• Starring: Dominique Thorne, Anthony Ramos, Alden Ehrenreich
• Created by: Chinaka Hodge
• Production Company: Marvel Studios
• Filming Locations: Chicago, IL & Atlanta, GA

1. Venom: The Last Dance

Fans eagerly awaited Venom: The Last Dance, the third installment in the beloved series. Tom Hardy returned as Eddie Brock, hosting the alien symbiote for another action-packed adventure. Released on October 25, 2024, the film teased a darker tone and high-stakes battle, with Eddie facing his toughest challenge yet.

The cast includes exciting new additions like Juno Temple from Ted Lasso and The Dark Knight Rises, Alanna Ubach, and Chiwetel Ejiofor. Tom Hardy’s gritty performance as Venom ensures it is a superhero movie not to miss!

GET YOUR TICKETS TO VENOM: THE LAST DANCE NOW!

2. Joker: Folie à Deux

After the massive success of Joker, Joaquin Phoenix returns to reprise his Oscar-winning role as Arthur Fleck. Released on October 4, 2024, Joker: Folie à Deux incorporates musical elements, with Lady Gaga joining the cast as Harley Quinn. The trailer offers a haunting glimpse into their twisted relationship, diving into psychological chaos.

The cast also includes Zazie Beetz and Brendan Gleeson, adding to the anticipation for this unconventional sequel. This film explores deeper layers of Arthur Fleck’s descent into madness, coupled with its bold choice to include musical numbers, ensuring it dominated conversations throughout the month.

GET YOUR TICKETS TO JOKER: FOILE A DEUX NOW!

3. Smile 2

Horror fans were treated to Smile 2, the sequel to 2022’s surprise hit. Directed by Parker Finn, this psychological horror continues the eerie tale of an evil force manifested through unsettling smiles. Released on October 18, 2024, the film brought back Kyle Gallner and Naomi Scott, joined by Ray Nicholson and Rosemarie DeWitt, adding new dimensions to the terrifying storyline.

Smile 2 combines psychological horror with supernatural elements, delivering some of the best scares of the year. It’s a must-watch for horror fans and those seeking a new Halloween fright.

GET YOUR TICKETS TO SMILE 2 NOW!

4. Saturday Night

Comedy fans enjoyed Saturday Night, a hilarious and heartwarming film inspired by Saturday Night Live. Directed by Jason Reitman, it offers a behind-the-scenes look at live television, blending humor and drama. Released on October 11, 2024, the film features a stellar cast, including Dylan O’Brien, Ella Hunt, Rachel Sennott, Matt Wood, and Emily Fairn.

The film explores the intense pressure and camaraderie backstage at a live comedy show. Fans of Saturday Night Live appreciated the chaotic fun of television production that this movie brought to the big screen.

GET YOUR TICKETS TO SATURDAY NIGHT NOW!

5. White Bird: A Wonder Story

White Bird: A Wonder Story provides a powerful and emotional journey. Directed by Marc Forster and released on October 4, 2024, this drama follows a young Jewish girl hiding from the Nazis during World War II. The film stars Gillian Anderson, Helen Mirren, and Bryce Gheisar, delivering performances that tug at the heartstrings.

The film continues the themes explored in Wonder, focusing on a story set against the backdrop of war. Fans of heart-wrenching dramas and historical adventures appreciated the emotional depth and message of hope in White Bird.

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Final Thoughts: What We Watched This October

October was packed with exciting new releases for every moviegoer! Whether you looked forward to the superhero spectacle of Venom: The Last Dance, the musical madness of Joker: Folie à Deux, the creepy thrills of Smile 2, the comedy behind-the-scenes look in Saturday Night, or the emotional depth of White Bird: A Wonder Story, there was a movie for everyone this month.

If you haven’t seen these incredible films yet, what are you waiting for? Grab your tickets and dive into a cinematic experience like no other!

More Like This:

• Venom: The Last Dance – Everything You Need to Know
• Smile 2 Movie Review: Unveiling the Sequel’s Endearing Story
• Everything You Need to Know About the New SNL-Inspired Film Saturday Night and Its Star-Studded Cast

Get tickets to Joker: Folie à Deux Now!

5. Jared Leto

Jared Leto’s portrayal of the Joker in Suicide Squad (2016) received mixed reactions from fans and critics alike. Known for his intense method of acting, Leto’s Joker had a modern, gangster-inspired look, complete with tattoos, flashy suits, and a gold grill. While his portrayal was undeniably different from previous Jokers, it lacked the depth and nuance that made others iconic!

However, Leto’s commitment to the role was evident, as he reportedly stayed in character even off-set. His version of the Joker was more erratic and unpredictable, which, while entertaining, didn’t resonate as strongly as hoped. Leto, best known for films like Dallas Buyers Club and his work with the band 30 Seconds to Mars, still gave a memorable performance, but it pales compared to other portrayals.

4. Cesar Romero

For many, Cesar Romero’s portrayal in the 1960s Batman TV series was their introduction to the Joker. Romero’s version was campy, fun, and true to the tone of the show. He brought a playful energy to the character, often engaging in lighthearted schemes rather than the dark chaos that would come later. Famously, Romero refused to shave his mustache for the role, leaving it visibly painted over with white makeup.

While Romero’s Joker might not be the scariest or most psychologically complex, his performance remains a classic and laid the foundation for future portrayals of the character. Romero’s depiction is still fondly remembered as a fun and entertaining version of the Joker.

3. Joaquin Phoenix

Joaquin Phoenix’s portrayal of the Joker in the 2019 film Joker was a game-changer. Phoenix took a different approach, focusing on the origin story of Arthur Fleck, a failed comedian who descends into madness. His performance was raw, emotional, and haunting, earning him an Academy Award for Best Actor. Phoenix’s Joker is deeply human, highlighting mental illness, societal neglect, and the chaos that arises when a broken system fails its people.

Phoenix’s version of the Joker resonated with audiences for its emotional depth and terrifying realism. His performance made the character more relatable, yet no less frightening. Fans eagerly await Joker: Folie à Deux, where Phoenix will return alongside Lady Gaga as Harley Quinn. With the release set for October 4, 2024, expectations are high for this follow-up film!

Get tickets to Joker: Folie à Deux Now!

2. Jack Nicholson

Jack Nicholson’s portrayal of the Joker in Tim Burton’s Batman (1989) is nothing short of iconic! Nicholson brought a perfect blend of dark humor and menace to the role, balancing the character’s comedic and dangerous sides. His Joker was a psychopathic mobster with a flair for the dramatic, creating a version that was larger-than-life.

Nicholson’s portrayal remains one of the most memorable in cinematic history, and his performance set the bar for future portrayals. Nicholson’s grin, eerie laugh, and vibrant energy made the character equally terrifying and entertaining. Nicholson, known for films like The Shining and One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, was the perfect choice for Burton’s darker, gothic take on Batman.

1. Heath Ledger

Topping the list is Heath Ledger, whose portrayal of the Joker in The Dark Knight (2008) redefined the character. Ledger’s Joker was a complete departure from previous versions, focusing on the character’s anarchistic and nihilistic nature. His chilling performance earned him a posthumous Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor.

Ledger’s representation was terrifying, unpredictable, and captivating, delivering some of the most iconic lines in film history! He embodied chaos, playing the character with a twisted sense of humor that made him both frightening and magnetic. Ledger, known for films like Brokeback Mountain and 10 Things I Hate About You, immersed himself in the role, resulting in what many consider the best Joker portrayal of all time.

The Future of the Joker with Joker: Folie à Deux

Reflecting on these iconic portrayals of the Joker, the future looks thrilling. Fans are buzzing with excitement with Joker: Folie à Deux on the horizon. Joaquin Phoenix’s return promises more depth and intensity. Lady Gaga’s debut as Harley Quinn adds a fresh twist. The trailer hints at a musical element, promising a unique take on their chaotic relationship. Each actor has brought something special to the role, but Heath Ledger’s performance remains unmatched. Whether it’s Nicholson’s dark humor, Phoenix’s raw emotion, or Ledger’s chaotic brilliance, the Joker continues to captivate and terrify. The Clown Prince of Crime is here to stay, evolving with each new portrayal!

Get tickets to Joker: Folie à Deux Now!

More Like This:

• Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga’s Dynamic Collaboration in Joker: Folie à Deux
• Super/Man: Honoring Christopher Reeve’s Iconic Legacy
• A Decade of Reimagined Movie Classics: From The Crow to Dune

It’s been 27 years since X-Men: The Animated Series bowed out, and while some worried a modern revival would be little more than a nostalgic cash grab, we die-hards always knew it would be a hit. Still, few expected X-Men ’97 to be a near-perfect return that put the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s recent output to shame. After all these years, it seems our brightly colored spandex still fits. As the dust settles on X-Men ’97 and we look ahead to the confirmed season 2, there are already talks of season 3 and an even wider Marvel Animated Universe.

Mary Jane Where Are You?

For those who grew up with the vibrant colors of Marvel cartoons in the ‘90s, it’s likely a close call on whether X-Men: The Animated Series or Spider-Man: The Animated Series was your favorite. For those disappointed Spidey hasn’t had the X-Men ‘97 treatment, Disney could be weaving one into its grand plans for the MAU. 

Running from 1994 to 1998, Spider-Man: The Animated Series fell just short of X-Men: The Animated Series’ 76 episodes but long outlived the likes of the Iron Man, Fantastic Four, and Silver Surfer standalones. Back then, showrunner John Semper confirmed there were plans for more, but with Fox refusing to stump up the money and production company New World Entertainment going bump, this is where the story ended.

Whereas X-Men: The Animated Series went out on its own terms and delivered the epic “Graduation Day”, Spider-Man was left on a cliffhanger for the ages. After polishing off its epic “Secret Wars” arc, 1998’s “Chapter II: Farewell, Spider-Man” ended with Madame Web promising she’d help Peter Parker find Mary Jane Watson, who had been shoved through a portal by the Green Goblin in the season 3 finale. This sounds primed for exploration in a potential Spider-Man ‘98 series.

What a wicked web we weave

Far from being a fannish pipe dream, X-Men ‘97 sowed the seeds of a potential Spider-Man ’98. A surprise cameo from Spider-Man in episode 8 confirmed we’re still one big happy family. Doubling down on the hype for a Spider-Man revival, the finale features a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it cameo from Peter Parker and MJ. X-Men ‘97 showrunner Beau DeMayo already confirmed this is the same Spidey played by Christopher Daniel Barnes in the ‘90s and has now stirred the pot by confirming, “Yes, Peter Parker found MJ.”

pidey has always rivaled Batman as having one of the best rogues galleries out there, and Spider-Man: TAS’s enemies outshined most live-action portrayals. Alongside the all-star roster of the Insidious Six, there were brilliant portrayals of Hobgoblin, Alistair Smythe and Black Cat, as well as everyone from Blade to Doctor Doom. As the X-Men ‘97 finale featured a smorgasbord of cameos winking to a wider world, a Spider-Man revival can do the same.

Mysterio, Dormammu and … Jack the Ripper?

In terms of where we go next, there were whole plans for an unprotected sixth season that seem too good to pass up on. Aside from the obvious trip across the Multiverse with Madame Web, Peter was going to team up with Ghost Rider to take on Mysterio and Dormammu. Richard Fisk was going to become a new villain called the Rose, Hulk was tipped to appear, and there were plans for a more serious take on 1981’s Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends cartoon.

Season 6 was pitched as a race across the Multiverse to find MJ, with a possible clash in the past with Jack the Ripper. Semper claimed he once wanted a much bigger Secret Wars crossover that could’ve seen the entire roster of X-Men and Spider-Man clash. Even a handful of these ideas would be more than enough to stock a Spider-Man ‘98 series to fill in the gaps between the events of “Chapter II: Farewell, Spider-Man” and a proposed revival. 

Beyond the Spider-Verse 

More than just the bones being laid some 26 years ago and fans asking for a mythical Spider-Man ‘98, Semper has discussed the idea with ComicBookMovie.com. Admitting there are a couple of hurdles, Semper cheered, “If someone wants to call me and say, ‘Hey, we’re gonna do more episodes and we’re going to leave you alone,’ I’d be there in a heartbeat.”

Similarly, Barnes seems more than ready to swing from the rooftops, thanking fans on X (formerly Twitter) for the support surrounding Spider-Man ‘98. Despite teases from DeMayo and Semper, Barnes confirmed what we all suspected and says that he hasn’t been contacted about a revival series. Then again, he would, wouldn’t he? But that’s just the problem: it’s not as easy as dusting off these characters and plonking them back into their own series.

As Semper noted, the rights for Spider-Man are currently split between Disney and Sony, which led to the infamous 2019 fallout where it looked like Tom Holland’s hero would be annexed from the MCU. If that wasn’t enough, there’s already a Spider-Man cartoon in the works in the form of Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man (previously known as Spider-Man: Freshman Year).

Peter Parker Pop-Ups?

We don’t see two cartoons running in tandem, but that doesn’t mean Spider-Man ‘98 won’t eventually suit up for action. One possible wrench in the works is that DeMayo is no longer attached to X-Men ‘97. Details surrounding his departure remain sketchy. But just because he envisions Web-Head’s further adventures to explain how he rescued MJ across the Multiverse, it doesn’t mean other writers do. 

While we’re not too hopeful for a full-blown series just yet, Barnes seems primed to appear in Beyond the Spider-Verse (TAS Spider-Man was MIA in the last movie). If not, there’s an even bigger chance that Peter, MJ, and some of those rotten rogues will pop up again in X-Men ‘97 season 2.

Whether Spider-Man ‘98 can rise from the ashes like a Phoenix Force remains to be seen. But either way, we’re crawling the wall with excitement that the Marvel Animated Universe could be at the start of its very own Phase 1. 

Author Bio:

Based in Manchester, UK, Tom Chapman has over seven years’ experience covering everything from dragons to Demogorgons. Starting out with a stint at Movie Pilot in Berlin, Tom has since branched out to indulge his love of all things Star Wars and the MCU at Digital Spy, Den of Geek, IGN, Yahoo! and more. These days, you’ll find Tom channelling his inner Gale Weathers and ranting about how HBO did us dirty with Game of Thrones Season Eight.

Long before the Marvel Cinematic Universe assembled the Avengers, the Marvel Animated Universe united the Fantastic Four, Spider-Man, and the X-Men. The latter’s success undoubtedly led to 2000’s live-action X-Men, which in turn kickstarted our ongoing obsession with comic book movies. 

All these years later, as the once-unflappable MCU struggles with juggling the box office alongside a slate of Disney+ shows multiplying faster than Multiple Man, X-Men ‘97 is giving us more than just the sweet scent of nostalgia. In fact, this trip down memory lane is better than anything the MCU has produced in recent memory. 

An animated Infinity War

Despite only being set a year after the events of The Animated Series‘ “Graduation Day” finale, X-Men ‘97 feels like a much more mature affair. Jubilation “Jubilee” Lee (now voiced by Holly Chou) feels like she’s grown. No longer the newcomer, Jubilee has taken Sunspot under her wing — possibly teasing a New Mutants spin-off to make up for the flaws of Josh Boone’s live-action attempt. 

Nods to other teams like Xavier’s original X-Men and the X-Force are mixed with cameos from a certain wall-crawling hero and patriotic Avenger to set the stage for a much wider world of animated mutant adventures. This seems increasingly likely, considering producer Brad Winderbaum told ComicBook.com that X-Men ’97 Season 3 has already been given the green light. What’s most amazing is that X-Men ‘97 has a scope that’s on par with even the biggest Avengers movies. 

We’ll remember “Remember It”

While it’s hard to pick a ‘best’ MCU movie, you’d be hard-pushed to find one much better than 2018’s Avengers: Infinity War. The third Avengers movie is immortalized by Thanos’ snap, which turned the competition to dust and is remembered as one of the most iconic movie moments of all time. For those who’ve been sleeping on X-Men ‘97, season 1 has already reached similar highs. 

X-Men ‘97’s “Remember It” serves as the revival’s own Infinity War. As well as cueing Charles Xavier’s return after his cliffhanger ending in The Animated Series, we waved goodbye to series staples including Gambit. More than delivering a gut-punch twist no one saw coming, Episode 5’s animation style put the MCU’s recent over-reliance on CGI to shame. Up there with The Simpsons’ “Who Shot Mr. Burns? Part One” and BoJack Horseman’s “The View from Halfway Down”, there’s something wrong if history doesn’t look back on “Remember It” as one of the greatest cartoon episodes of all time. 

X marks the spot

It’s fair to say Phase 5 of the MCU (dubbed Phase Zero as something of a reset) has had a lukewarm reception. Aside from Loki season 2 as an outlier, the likes of Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania and Secret Invasion have been struck by some of the franchise’s worst reviews. Added to this, there’s been an increase in complaints about the MCU going “woke,” with The Marvels and Echo largely being (unfairly) panned for their female-first stories. 

X-Men ‘97 has kept The Animated Series‘ strong ensemble of male and female characters, but apart from the odd grumble about Morph being non-binary, the discourse has largely been confined to a few angry YouTube videos. The X-Men have always represented diversity, and unlike Eternals awkwardly shoehorning in Phastos (Brian Tyree Henry) as the MCU’s first openly gay hero, Morph has easily fit into the group. 

X-women

There are all the usual powerhouse performances from Storm, Jean, and the rest of the women, however, it’s been a particularly strong season for Lenore Zann’s fan-favorite Rogue. Given Rogue’s legacy from The Animated Series and how Fox did Anna Paquin’s live-action version dirty, it’s refreshing that X-Men ’97 isn’t taking the easy route by putting emphasis on the overly manly Wolverine to hyping Hugh Jackman’s imminent MCU debut.

Boasting largely the same cast as X-Men: The Animated Series, X-Men ‘97 feels familiar yet fresh. It’s this nostalgia that Deadpool & Wolverine is seemingly relying on, bracing us for a who’s who of famous faces from the past of the MCU and beyond — yes, Jennifer Garner is back as Elektra. It’s similar to how What…If? has earned rave reviews for bringing back characters we’ve learned to love since the MCU’s inception. 

Comic book stories like Storm losing her powers and the controversial introduction of Madelyne Pryor slot in beside massive arcs like Grant Morrison’s cataclysmic “E is for Extinction” or Fabian Nicieza and Scott Lobdell’s “Fatal Attractions.”  All have been squeezed down to 30-minute episodes instead of being bloated MCU movies, done without feeling like X-Men ‘97 is overstuffed. There’s a reason that we’ve had two failed live-action adaptations of “The Dark Phoenix Saga” while X-Men: The Animated Series soared with its own take in 1994. 

The New Mutants 

After the fumbles of Dark Phoenix brought Fox’s stewardship of the X-Men to a close in underwhelming style, spirits are raised that Disney knows what it’s doing with its mutants.  MCU overlord Kevin Feige has been teasing the X-Men since Disney acquired Fox in 2019, and with no official news on when they’ll make their debut, X-Men ‘97 can carry the torch.

If the series can keep season 1’s quality, hype for the X-Men could be at an all-time high. That’s before we get to casting their live-action counterparts, with everyone from Henry Cavill to Halle Berry, Taylor Swift to Giancarlo Esposito causing a stir. 

Importantly, X-Men ‘97 is a fun watch that could have some actual ramifications for the mainline MCU. After Feige told Entertainment Weekly we’d be seeing the X-Men “perhaps soon” in live-action, X-Men ’97 now sits in the “Multiverse Saga” section of Disney+’s Marvel projects, and the X-Men Instagram has been officially renamed “Xmenofficial.”

Speaking of the eventual live-action return of the X-Men, X-Men ’97 directors Chase Conley and Emi Yonemura told Screen Rant they’d be interested in helming the expected standalone movie. We’re not the ones writing the checks, but like the brilliant brainwave that Sam Raimi could return to direct the next Spider-Man movie, we say sign them up. 

Whether X-Men ‘97 will be folded into all of this remains to be seen, but after Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness featured Patrick Stewart in Xavier’s yellow hoverchair, we’d be disappointed if the acclaimed animation wasn’t at least given the nod. In the meantime, the final episode of X-Men ‘97 looks like it’s heading toward an MCU-worthy finale that’ll put the franchise’s recent output to shame. As we cue that iconic theme tune,  seems our animated X-Men  finally might be getting the credit they deserve. 

Author’s Bio:

Based in Manchester, UK, Tom Chapman has over seven years’ experience covering everything from dragons to Demogorgons. Starting out with a stint at Movie Pilot in Berlin, Tom has since branched out to indulge his love of all things Star Wars and the MCU at Digital Spy, Den of Geek, IGN, Yahoo! and more. These days, you’ll find Tom channelling his inner Gale Weathers and ranting about how HBO did us dirty with Game of Thrones Season Eight.

Things are looking brighter for the House of Mouse in 2024, as two more long-standing IPs are making their return in the form of Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes and Deadpool & Wolverine. New directors are taking the reins of these goliaths for the first time since 2017 and 2018, and while one has a few decades on the other in terms of cinematic outings, both are poised to put butts on folding seats. 

The ‘Ape’ Escape

Based on Pierre Boulle’s 1963 novel La Planète des singes, The Planet of the Apes first hit our screen in 1968. The original starred Charlton Heston, some dodgy hairdos on the titular apes, and one of the most famous movie endings of all time. Long before the Marvel Cinematic Universe was gripped by franchise fatigue, The Planet of the Apes was churning out movies like nobody’s business.

Although Heston was reluctant to return, he came back as George Taylor for 1970’s Beneath the Planet of the Apes under the proviso his character would be killed off and his fee could be donated to charity. Heston was more than happy to step aside to let Dr. Cornelius (Roddy McDowall/David Watson) become the franchise’s MVP. 2011’s Rise of the Planet of the Apes and the other two sequels in 20th Century Fox’s reboot era similarly focused on an ape protagonist, with Andy Serkis’ Caesar being synonymous with the series. 

Following Caesar’s death in War for the Planet of the Apes and a time jump of 300 years, Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes is another fresh take that can still ride on the successes of what came before. Merging the old and the new, The Maze Runner’s Wes Ball is taking his cues from 56 years of Apes movies and is planning a new trilogy of Ape movies.

We’re still a way off from the ludicrous prosthetics and fully evolved apes of Tim Burton’s 2001 disaster, although Kingdom is a new Apes movie that very much feels like it’s cut from the same cloth of Rupert Wyatt and Matt Reeves’ reboot days. It’s been seven years since the credits rolled on War for the Planet of the Apes, and even though Disney teased a franchise future after it purchased Fox in 2019, we didn’t know what form it would take. Importantly, Kingdom is in a similarly lucrative place as Deadpool & Wolverine where fans are likely to tune in to see what’s changed. 

February 2024’s Super Bowl trailer gave us a better look at how apes have evolved in this time, with some neat throwbacks to Franklin J. Schaffner’s 1968 classic of apes hunting humans on horseback. Still, our first looks at the movie have left plenty of intrigue, showcasing apes finding their place in the ashes of the human world. Lead actor Owen Teague tells Entertainment Weekly how Kevin Durand’s Proximus Caesar is like a hairy Thomas Edison, learning about technology. This makes the line “Apes will learn, I will learn, and I will conquer” all the more poignant.

Just as the revival series had the A-list pulling power of Gary Oldman and Woody Harrelson, Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes has nabbed William H. Macy and The Witcher’s Freya Allan. Whereas the revival series focused on Serkis’ Caesar, we have the feeling that Ball is flipping this on its head to make Allan’s Nova (a feral human girl) its focal point. As for the idea that the two sagas will be linked by Teague’s Noa being the descendant of Caesar, he categorically told EW this isn’t the case. Instead, Proximus Caesar has taken the name as a nod to Caesar as a “father figure” of the apes.

Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes has the numbers to back up its potential success, and even though War was criticised as a dark way to round out the first trilogy, it made an impressive $490 million during a summer that Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales, Transformers: The Last Knight, and The Mummy all tanked. We’re finally leaping into the era of hyper-intelligent apes we’ve been hoping for since Burton botched the nineties revival.

Still, we’re not quite sure we’re ready for 2001’s Planet of the Apex actor Paul Giamatti telling IGN, “I think it’d be great to have apes driving cars, smoking cigars.”

The claws are out in Deadpool & Wolverine

Speaking of cigars, a certain cigar-chomping mutant is back in action. While the Deadpool movies don’t have the same long-running nostalgia as Planet of the Apes, thE upcoming threequel is also looking to the past before heading forward. Notably, there’s the much-hyped return of Hugh Jackman as Wolverine. Although the Super Bowl trailer stopped short of revealing which era of the clawed Canadian will be facing off against the Merc with a Mouth, Jackman promised SiriusXM it won’t mess with the poignant end of James Mangold’s Logan.

The X-Men movies are known for screwing with timelines (thanks Days of Future Past), and while it’s arguably benefitted the series, it’s even more confusing than the standard MCU continuity. We know there are some pretty big cameos on the way, with the trailer confirming the surprise inclusion of X2’s Aaron Stanford, aka Pyro. Set photos have also teased the return of original trilogy characters including Toad and Sabretooth, and let’s not forget that Daredevil’s Jennifer Garner is confirmed to reprise her role as Elektra Natchios …for some reason. 

Closer to home, Deadpool 3 is a who’s who of returning faces from its own history, although we’re more than a little disappointed that Deadpool 2’s Zazie Beetz isn’t back as Domino. Series staples like Morena Baccarin’s Vanessa, Leslie Uggams’ Blind Al, and Rob Delaney’s fan-favorite Peter are all on the roster. There are ties to the wider MCU thanks to the return of Loki’s TVA, while Succession’s Matthew Macfadyen seems to be filling in for Owen Wilson’s Mobius as some TVA bigwig. Of course, everyone is expecting the standard Patrick Stewart cameo as Professor Charles Xavier. 

There are the odd worries that Deadpool & Wolverine will be a character-stuffed outing that panders to fan service instead of actual storytelling, but with this finally looking like the movie to integrate the X-Men into the MCU, we’ve got high hopes. Also, let’s not forget the trailer’s blink-and-you’ll-miss-it inclusion of what looks like Emma Corrin’s head, backing up rumors that The Crown alumni will be playing Cassandra Nova — the villainous twin sister of Professor X from the future.

In particular, Deadpool & Wolverine is off to a flying start and became the most-viewed trailer of all time by racking up 365 million views in just 24 hours. With the MCU being the way it is right now, many laughed off X-Men: First Class’ Matthew Vaughn, telling BroBible it will be a “jolt” that could ‘save’ the franchise. With Deadpool 2 and 2016’s Deadpool being the third and fourth highest-grossing R-rated movies of all time, the fact the next chapter is part of the MCU can only be good news for Disney’s bottom line. And is that Doctor Doom we see standing atop a gigantic Jack Kirby-esque mechanical thingamabob?

The future of the franchise 

There’s no problem with admitting defeat, and as franchises like James Bond and Pirates of the Caribbean plan their returns, we’re bemoaning the idea that we’ll be watching Avatar movies until at least 2031. Warner Bros.’ DCU has recruited Guardians of the Galaxy legend James Gunn to oversee its own hopeful return to form, but already, a stacked Chapter One slate suggests we’ll be running before we can walk. If anything, Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes could fall victim to this — pinning its hopes on a ‘new’ franchise before the first movie has even released. 

At a time when Scream VII looks like it’s dead in the water, The Fast and the Furious does a U-turn on promises it would end after 10 movies, Sony continues to flog its Spider-Man-lite Venom-Verse, and we question who on Earth greenlit a Jurassic World: Dominion sequel, Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes and Deadpool & Wolverine are here to prove that the reign of the summer franchise blockbuster is anything but over. 

Based in Manchester, UK, Tom Chapman has over seven years’ experience covering everything from dragons to Demogorgons. Starting out with a stint at Movie Pilot in Berlin, Tom has since branched out to indulge his love of all things Star Wars and the MCU at Digital Spy, Den of Geek, IGN, Yahoo! and more. These days, you’ll find Tom channelling his inner Gale Weathers and ranting about how HBO did us dirty with Game of Thrones Season Eight.

It wasn’t long ago that Marvel and Sony drew their battle lines over the rights to Spider-Man, leading to grand plans for the SSU – Sony’s Spider-Man Universe. With Venom and Morbius (somewhat unsuccessfully) proving you don’t need Spider-Man to make a Spider-Man movie, Sony is flicking through the pages of Marvel Comics and hoping to showcase a who’s who of antiheroes and villains.

While it’s only a matter of time until the animated Spider-Verse movies collide with the MCU, the Venom-Verse, and beyond, fans are also waiting for the inevitable Sinister Six movie. The Venom-Verse has planted the seeds with Tom Hardy’s sinister symbiote and Jared Leto’s living vampire, but if we want to expand the ranks to the Sinister 12 (yes, they exist in the comics), here are 12 Spider-Man villains who need their own live-action outing. 

Black Cat

One movie that continues to give us ‘claws’ for thought is the idea of a Black Cat standalone. It’s a crying shame that Felicity Jones never got to slip into spandex after she briefly played Felicia Hardy in The Amazing Spider-Man 2, while there were once reports that Anne Hathaway was going to play her in Sam Raimi’s canned Spider-Man 4. 

First appearing in 1979’s The Amazing Spider-Man #194, Hardy’s backstory is as the daughter of a renowned cat burglar who becomes a fearsome fighter after being assaulted by an ex-boyfriend. As one of Spider-Man’s most iconic adversaries (and occasional lover), it would be amiss if a Sinister Six lineup didn’t have this feminine feline. It’s even more unfortunate that we were supposed to have a Black Cat movie in the form of Gina Prince-Bythewood’s axed Silver & Black. 

Chameleon

Having the honor of being the first villain Spider-Man faced must count for something, and some 61 years after Dmitri Smerdyakov was introduced, he’s long overdue his shot at the top. Largely overshadowed by the fact he’s Kraven the Hunter’s half-brother, fans often forget that Chameleon is a lethal enemy who can disguise himself as anyone. We imagine an espionage thriller where some shady cabal is trying to catch up to Chameleon. 

Numan Acar is seemingly playing Dmitri in Kraven the Hunter, but with it likely being a small part so as not to steal the limelight from Aaron Taylor-Johnson’s titular hunter, the setup for a Chameleon movie is already there. If not, his reputation as a master of disguise means anyone could play him. 

Tombstone

For those who’ve watched Spider-Man: The Animated Series, few stuck fear into our hearts on a Saturday morning quite like Lonnie Lincoln, aka Tombstone. Spider-Man himself describes Tombstone as “Cold as ice, hard as marble,” giving the kind of brute force Vincent D’Onofrio’s Kingpin provides the MCU. Still, it’s his terrifying appearance of pale skin and filed teeth that most remember. 

Spider-Man movies have typically focused on a roster of big names like Doc Ock and Green Goblin, whereas Tombstone is a horrifying street-level menace. Having gone up against everyone from Captain America to Deadpool, a Tombstone movie doesn’t need to worry about bringing over Tom Holland’s Spider-Man. There’s also a plausible foe for Tombstone to go against in the form of the equally underrated Hammerhead. 

Morlun

Often dubbed Spider-Man’s deadliest foe, Morlun feels like an endgame character for some eventual Spidey showdown. As a threat to the entire Multiverse, Morlun would be the perfect addition to bring the various strands of the Spider-Verse together. We know Keanu Reeves is interested in a Marvel movie, with some pitching him as the ideal Morlun. 

First appearing in 2001’s The Amazing Spider-Man (Vol. 2) #30, Morlun is a Multiverse-touring monster from Earth-001. Known for feasting on our eight-legged heroes, Morlun has a single purpose of wiping all Spider-Totems from existence, is a real threat to the Multiverse, and even briefly killed Peter Parker. Having Morlun lead a movie as an outcast of the Inheritors would be true gothic horror to show the darker side of the Spider-Verse. 

Hobgoblin

Yes, we’re all dying to see who plays Norman Osborn and presumably take on the mantle of the Green Goblin in the MCU (we’re looking at you, Bryan Cranston), but there’s another Goblin who deserves his chance to fly high. Much more than a Green Goblin rip-off, the various Hobgoblins have been hitting us with pumpkin bombs since 1983.

As the thinking man’s Green Goblin, Roderick Kingsley is the former boss of Mary Jane Watson and a criminal mastermind who lets the others take the fall after framing them as the Hobgoblin. There have been plenty of theories about whether Jacob Batalon’s Ned Leeds will break bad and play Hobgoblin in Spider-Man 4, but in terms of a standalone, Kingsley can fly high as an eccentric fashion designer who turned to a life of crime. 

Mister Negative

The success of Insomniac Games’ Marvel’s Spider-Man has undoubtedly helped raise Mister Negative’s street cred, so why not convert that into box office numbers? Giving us a real Jekyll and Hyde, Martin Li is split between his kind-hearted nature as the overseer of F.E.A.S.T. (Mister Positive) and his darker side – looking like a photographic negative.

Li was originally thought to be suffering from Disassociative Identity Disorder, and although this was phased out, it could be brought back in for Sony’s own version of Moon Knight. More than just giving us ties to Spider-Man, Mister Negative has butted heads with the likes of Punisher and Shang-Chi. Sony could try to replicate the successes of Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, giving us a martial arts movie with a complicated antihero as its lead.

Beetle

Beetle is another Spidey villain who’s seen a surprising number of characters take the mantle. A live-action Beetle movie could pick from any iterations, but would likely focus on Abner Jenkins as the most famous to dress in the Iron Man-esque suit. If you want to take the female-first route, follow later Beetles like Leila Davis as the widow of Ringer or Janice Lincoln as Tombstone’s daughter. 

Jenkins’ Beetle went on to form the Sinister Syndicate, joined the Thunderbolts under the new alias of MACH-1, and even exists in the MCU thanks to the Spider-Man Homecoming Fight or Flight comic. Beetle might be a low-level villain, but you could introduce them in a similar way to Paul Giamatti’s Rhino in The Amazing Spider-Man 2, then allow Beetle to spread their wings in a standalone. Then again, with DC’s Blue Beetle movie recently bombing, we’re not sure Sony would want to tackle this one. 

Black Tarantula

Like Black Cat to Catwoman, Black Tarantula is effectively Marvel’s answer to Bane. Venom occupies a similar role as the anti-Spider-Man, although the live-action version lacks the grunt that Black Tarantula would arguably bring. In a sentence we never thought we’d write, Carlos LaMuerta’s Black Tarantula is basically Spider-Man meets Wolverine…but with laser eyes.

Originating as a cartel leader, Black Tarantula was trained by the Hand and teamed up with other criminal enterprises for his own gains. A Black Tarantula movie is an easy place to cue other villains or have cameos from the likes of Kingpin and Tombstone. With the Black Tarantula moniker being passed down from father to son, the perfect setup is there of Spider-Man killing Carlos early on, only for his son to head out on a gruesome saga of revenge. 

Silver Sable

Another female powerhouse waiting in the wings is Silvija Sablinova, better known as Silver Sable and coming from the fictional state of Symkaria. This merc for hire has been dispatched as both an enemy or ally to Spider-Man since her debut in 1985’s The Amazing Spider-Man #265, and if she appears in live-action, we imagine a grittier and R-rated version of the MCU’s middling Black Widow movie.

There was talk about the ill-fated Silver & Black being reworked as a TV series, but as both Silver Sable and Black Cat have enough of a legacy to hold up a movie of their own, we say give it to them. More than this, her connections to Doctor Doom and place as the leader of the villainous Wild Pack means it’s likely a case of when (not if) Silver Sable makes the leap to live-action.

Jackal

Give Jackal a break because, let’s be honest, he’s more than deserving of his own movie. Professor Miles Warren was introduced back in 1965’s The Amazing Spider-Man #31, but when the Jackal arrived in 1974, Warren was revealed as a Gwen Stacy-obsessed villain who’d cracked cloning. This makes Jackal an MVP of Marvel Comics, having created some of the most important Spider-Man characters. 

Even though we’re not going to deny that the Clone Saga goes down in history as one of Marvel’s most divisive arcs – reportedly being linked to its filing for bankruptcy in the ‘90s – it could also be a franchise-shattering crossover if done properly. A Jackal movie can also give us Kaine Parker and Ben Reilly, setting up future movies like a Scarlet Spider spin-off.

Man-Wolf

While the idea of a space werewolf might sound like a faux Robert Rodriguez trailer playing before a Machete movie, Man-Wolf is a Marvel character that lends itself neatly to a movie without Spider-Man. As the son of J. Jonah Jameson, John Jonah Jameson III is a friend of Peter Parker, beloved astronaut, and has even been the husband of Jennifer Walters, aka She-Hulk.

After being infected with space spores that gave him super strength and going by the name of Captain Jupiter, Jameson again returned to the stars and was afflicted by dimensional ruby that reacted with moonlight and turned him into a lycanthropic villain. Man-Wolf would be a popular solo movie choice because he’s not a household Spidey character, his backstory has been tied to Morbius, and at the end of the day, who doesn’t love a good werewolf story? 

Agent Venom 

Flash Thomson is a Spider-Man side character who is long overdue for his own outing. Tony Revolori plays Flash in the MCU, but it’s a far cry from Joe Manganiello’s formidable bully of the Tobey Maguire days. Even though Revolori told Inverse he’d love to star in an Agent Venom movie, we could see a more traditional take on a PTSD-riddled Flash suiting up as part of the Hardy-led Venom-Verse. 

Flash’s bullying nature has a dark undercurrent of physical abuse at the hands of his alcoholic father, and after he loses both his legs in the Iraq War, he’s re-recruited by the military. You don’t even need to find someone new, as Manganiello is the perfect age to lead an Agent Venom movie. Picture the scene of a Saving Private Ryan war epic with symbiotes at its core.  

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Based in Manchester, UK, Tom Chapman has over seven years’ experience covering everything from dragons to Demogorgons. Starting out with a stint at Movie Pilot in Berlin, Tom has since branched out to indulge his love of all things Star Wars and the MCU at Digital Spy, Den of Geek, IGN, Yahoo! and more. These days, you’ll find Tom channelling his inner Gale Weathers and ranting about how HBO did us dirty with Game of Thrones Season Eight.

Instead of just focusing on tried-and-tested heroes and villains, Gunn has an all-new team waiting in the wings. Bringing WildStorm’s The Authority comic into live-action, he is wasting no time building out. Set to be the second installment in the DCU’s Chapter One: God and Monsters, here’s hoping The Authority will be a brutal brawler akin to The Boys and not another ensemble dud like Eternals.

Here’s your 101 on all things The Authority.

A WildStorm in a teacup 

As we approached the end of the 20th Century,  WildStorm Productions tried to revamp its ailing Stormwatch comic line but wanted to keep the fan-favorite Jenny Sparks and other standout characters. Writer Warren Ellis said Stormwatch had been kept alive because the WildStorm team liked to read the comics and wanted to hang onto their jobs. The Stormwatch team was a ragtag group funded by the United Nations, but seeing the potential of this anti-Justice League, Ellis overhauled the idea and had Sparks lead a new black-ops team that didn’t answer to the government. 

DC and Marvel aren’t strangers to homaging each other’s characters, and The Authority was no different. Main players like Apollo and the Midnighter are bio-engineered pastiches of Superman and Batman, while other mainstays of the first lineup include former Stormwatch members Sparks, Jack Hawksmoor, and Swift. Rounding off the pack was Angela “Angie” Spica as the second Engineer, and the Doctor — a recovering drug-addled shaman with the power to rewrite reality. 

Published in 1999, Ellis and Bryan Hitch’s The Authority introduced us to this no-nonsense team that gets the job done by any means necessary. Although they fight for the side of good, it often comes at the cost of civilian life, meaning there was plenty of red ink used in Hitch’s artwork. The original run lasted just 12 issues but was split into four distinct story arcs. If that doesn’t scream a four-part movie saga, we don’t know what does. 

Beyond the Ellis/Hitch run, DC legends, including Grant Morrison and The Boys’ Darick Robertson, have put pen to paper. As for Hitch, he later went on to ink the Ultimates comic as a revamp of The Avengers. This is regarded as a major influence for the MCU’s live-action take on Earth’s Mightiest Heroes, so you could argue that without Ultimates, we wouldn’t have the MCU we have today. Coming full circle, it’s apt that Gunn is now spearheading the DCU. 

The Authority doesn’t pull any punches

If you’re questioning what sets the Authority apart from any other anti-hero team, check out 2005’s Captain Atom: Armageddon. Here, the titular Captain Atom found himself marooned in the WildStorm universe, horrified by how violent the Authority were. The team has sincembecome known for its brutal measures across its various runs, most famously when Midnighter sodomized a rapist known as the Commander with a jackhammer. This is more complex than you’d think, with Midnighter’s actions being revenge for what the Commander did to Apollo.

2008’s DC/Wildstorm: DreamWar settled the debate of whether the Authority or the Justice League are more violent, with Green Arrow having his neck snapped by a kick from Midnighter and Batman being pummeled by WildC.A.T.s’ Zealot. 

Much like we’re holding out hope for an eventual Avengers vs. X-Men movie to break the MCU’s box office records, seeing the Authority duke it out with the Justice League has the potential to smash predictions … if built correctly. It’s no secret that the DCEU’s Justice League failed to “Unite the Seven”, so letting the team rest and trying something different with The Authority could be just what the Doctor Fate ordered. 

As The Boys has captured the modern zeitgeist with its commentary on the Black Lives Matter and #MeToo movements, The Authority too has always had something to say. The original run ended with Sparks dying, and considering she was known as “the Spirit of the 20th Century,” it was a clever way to usher in the millennium. An impressive rogue’s gallery includes later recruits like Deathblow and Stormwatch alumni Flint, while DC mainstays like Enchantress have even suited up. Given the current slate of more diverse superhero outings, here’s hoping The Authority film stays faithful to the source material but mixes up their comic book backstories akin to Hooded Justice or Yahya Abdul-Mateen II playing Doctor Manhattan in HBO’s Watchmen. 

The Authority is already an important step for diversity – with both Apollo and Midnighter being openly gay and actually married to each other. Just imagine if DC had Superman and Batman locking lips. At a time when the MCU is still slow on the uptake in terms of LGTBTQ+ heroes (look at that throwaway kiss in Eternals), The Authority movie can make a giant leap. There’s also the whole Sliding Albion arc, and while we doubt a first outing for the Authority would see them tackling colonialism of an alternate British Empire, it’s one to bear in mind for future adventures. 

Not our first rodeo

The DCU’s version of The Authority is the first time we’ll see them on the silver screen, but many forget 2012’s animated Superman vs. The Elite was something of an Authority-lite outing that adapted 2001’s Action Comics #775 where the Man of Steel took on a team very reminiscent of the Authority. As The Authority (comic line) was absorbed into the mainline DC print via 2011’s Flashpoint, there’s already some connective tissue here for the DCU. It’s unclear where Gunn is taking characters like Jason Momoa’s Aquaman and Margot Robbie’s Harley Quinn, but with 2022’s The Flash loosely adapting Flashpoint and giving us a glimpse into this live-action Multiverse, the Authority could be out there somewhere. 

We already know Venezuelan actor María Gabriela de Faría has been cast as an antagonistic Angie Spica for Gunn’s Superman: Legacy. Unlike the dark and brooding tone of the Snyderverse, Gunn’s The Suicide Squad balanced comedy and bloodshed. There are more hints of what’s to come thanks to Gunn sharing a cryptic tweet claiming The Authority Omnibus from 2019 would be a major influence. This suggests we’ll hone in on the OG team because it collects the first 29 issues (and others), but more than this, the fact the omnibus sold out following Gunn’s tweet shows how hyped fans are for the movie. 

If not, we could look to Morrison’s four-issue Superman and the Authority from 2021. This features the Metropolis Marvel losing his powers and turning to a reluctant Authority (including former foe Manchester Black) to help him and operate out of the Fortress of Solitude. Picture the scene where David Coronswet’s junior Man of Steel gets depowered at the end of Superman: Legacy, turning to the Authority to protect Earth from its next big threat. For those who still aren’t convinced the Authority is right for the DCU, Gunn himself has referred to it as a “passion project.” 

Based on the source material and the fact at least one character will make their debut in Superman: Legacy, we expect The Authority to be a more serious affair. Then again, Gunn’s involvement suggests a few laughs will still be found. With the comic book movie mogul writing and directing Superman: Legacy, he’ll at least oversee the Authority’s inception in the DCU, although he’s said a currently unnamed writer has been hired for a long time. Could those rumors of Daredevil’s Drew Goddard penning The Authority be true? We know he loves an ensemble, and it would make up for his Sinister Six and X-Force movies that never were. 

While we’ve pitched our own fanciful ideas for The Boys and Invincible to cross paths (with the latter supposedly getting a movie), The Authority is much closer to Swift spreading her wings. It’s been 15 years since Snyder’s Watchmen failed to capitalize on one of DC’s most promising R-rated IPs, so let’s see if lessons have been learned. The renaissance of hyper-violent superhero sluggers is here, and with The Authority poised to be the next big outing, we couldn’t be happier. 

Based in Manchester, UK, Tom Chapman has over seven years’ experience covering everything from dragons to Demogorgons. Starting out with a stint at Movie Pilot in Berlin, Tom has since branched out to indulge his love of all things Star Wars and the MCU at Digital Spy, Den of Geek, IGN, Yahoo! and more. These days, you’ll find Tom channelling his inner Gale Weathers and ranting about how HBO did us dirty with Game of Thrones Season Eight.

Or vice versa.

Majors hit the headlines when he was arrested over charges of assault, strangulation and harassment in March 2023. There were questions about the potential MCU mainstay’s future with the franchise, and less than an hour after he was convicted of misdemeanor assault and harassment on December 18, Majors was dropped from the MCU.

A bit of a predicament when the next Avengers movie was supposed to be titled Avengers: The Kang Dynasty.

Kang’s short stint in the MCU

First appearing in Loki season 1 as He Who Remains, Majors was placed at the centre of the franchise’s Multiverse Saga. With He Who Remains kicking the bucket in a shocking finale twist, we could’ve had an exit here. Instead, the meddling madman warned there were “others” out there — how very Lost. For those up on their comics, they’ll know the many iterations of the time traveling Kang meant Majors was never going to be gone for long.

We got plenty more Kang for our buck in the divisive Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, where Paul Rudd’s pint-sized hero fought against the villain. There’s a pattern here, and with this variant also bested, the MCU had another chance to park Kang. But the MCU opted for the franchise-shattering post-credit that introduced the Council of Kangs. Featuring everyone from the mythological Rama-Tut, who was teased in Moon Knight, to the all-powerful future Kang known as Immortus, Majors was set to pull a lot more than just double duty.

Following Majors’ arrest, it was unclear how prominently he’d be featured in Loki season 2. After all, another Quantumania post-credit featured Loki (Tom Hiddleston) and Mobius (Owen Wilson) scoping out Kang’s Victor Timely variant in 1893. Given that this would be Kang’s first MCU inclusion since Majors’ arrest, there were rumors that his role would be dramatically reduced. Early promos suggested this would be the case, but as the timey-wimey adventure kicked off, it became clear it was business as usual with Majors.

A “Majors” problem

This brings us up to date with MCU, and as we head into 2024, there’s a Disney-lite slate that sees the release of Sony movies like Kraven the Hunter, Fox’s post-acquisition Deadpool 3, and series including Echo and Agatha: Darkhold Diaries. This gives the powers-that-be time to assess what to do with the Kang situation. Similarly, Majors wasn’t officially on the docket for 2025 outings like Captain America: Brave New World or Matt Shakman’s Fantastic Four reboot.

Still, with the clue being in the name, 2026’s The Kang Dynasty undoubtedly had a major role for Majors. Given how the MCU likes to sprinkle teases ahead of time, it’s easy to imagine Majors was pencilled in for a return before then. As with Brie Larson and Mark Ruffalo popping up in Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, we’ve learned to expect unexpected cameos. There are no more cameos for Majors, and with The Hollywood Reporter claiming Marvel Studios is now internally referring to The Kang Dynasty as Avengers 5, change is already happening.

Majors’ departure comes shortly after Shang-Chi’s Destin Daniel Cretton stepped away from directorial duties on Avengers 5, and Loki’s Michael Waldron replaced Jeff Loveness on the screenplay. Filming was due to kick off in early 2024, but following Majors’ firing, delays abound. The SAG-AFTRA strikes already saw Avengers 5 slip from its May 2025 release, and now that May 2026 release is looking a lot less likely.

Norton, Howard…Majors

The question remains, will the MCU retool Kang with a new star in purple and green, or will we wave farewell to the character and his (many) variants to bring another big bad into the fold? The MCU is no stranger to recasting, with Don Cheadle taking over from Terrence Howard as James “Rhodey” Rhodes between Iron Man and Iron Man 2. There was the altogether more dramatic departure of Edward Norton, who Ruffalo replaced for The Avengers. If you can replace the Hulk, then nothing is impossible — especially with the Multiverse at your fingertips. 

One brilliant pitch is that Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3’s Chukwudi Iwuji could take over from Majors. Iwuji’s turn as the unhinged High Evolutionary is up there with some of the MCU’s best villain performances, while Gunn confirming he survived in a deleted scene makes bringing him back fairly easy. Others have called for Loki standout Gugu Mbatha-Raw’s Ravonna Renslayer to be reworked into a female Kang Variant. We’ve already seen similar with Loki and Sylvie (Sophia Di Martino), but if not, the fact that a vengeful Renslayer is marooned in The Void at the end of time gives her more than enough of an M.O. to take over from Kang without being a variant. 

Heading back into the MCU’s own “what if”, MCU overlord Kevin Feige could revisit his Kang casting list. Then again, Majors told Total Film he didn’t have to audition — suggesting he might’ve always been the top choice for the part. One person we know isn’t interested in John Boyega. The Star Wars actor has become a popular fan choice to replace Majors, but when someone asked him on Twitter/X, Boyega nixed the idea. Reintroducing any existing MCU actors or newcomers as a Kang variant becomes a little harder without Majors to ease the transition. Having someone other than Majors step onto the screen and say, “Hey, I’m Kang,” will feel a little clunky, but we’re sure the writers can work it out. 

New Blood

Kang was once central to the franchise’s future, and in a February 2023 exclusive, Feige told EW, “We’ve always had the inkling that Kang would be an amazing follow-up to Thanos.” Although he hyped Kang’s importance post-Quantumania, plans change.

The Loki season 2 finale puts us in an interesting place, and with the reformed God of Mischief becoming a live-action adaptation of the comic book God of Stories, he now has the power to rewrite the Multiverse. Although not confirmed, Loki could likely retcon Kang and the entire council out of the Multiverse — allowing a new big bad to step out of the shadows. Thankfully, there’s a groaning rogues gallery ready to step up to the plate.

We’re likely a way out from the planet-munching Galactus (who Feige has name-dropped as a personal favorite of his), while having Keanu Reeves play the Silver Surfer feels like a dream casting we should save for the next saga. Looking slightly closer to home, the role of the Beyonder in 1984’s “Secret War” comic makes him a prime candidate. Introducing the Beyonder before Avengers 5 presents more of a challenge because we don’t imagine he’d be a recruit for Jake Schreier’s Thunderbolts.

There have been whispers that the Beyonder would be the main villain of Secret Wars, but as he’s again rumored to be a Kang variant, it brings us back to the same headache. Hey, why not screw with all those WandaVision theorists and make Mephisto Kang’s replacement?

The sensible choice would be Victor Von Doom. Given his prominence in 2015’s “Secret Wars” comic, Doctor Doom is that perfect Thanos-level villain fans are dying to see.

It would be a little cliché to repeat the history of Tim Story’s Fantastic Four and Josh Trank’s Fant4stic by having Doom as the villain of Shakman’s upcoming franchise reboot, but with him being the quartet’s most iconic foe, it makes sense. Introducing Doctor Doom here would echo what Quantumania was clearly doing with Kang. Imagine having Vic bested at the end of Fantastic Four, setting him up as an even bigger problem for the next two Avengers movies. Variety claimed execs discussed swapping in Doom when Majors was arrested, so it’s not like the idea hasn’t already been floated. 

With complaints that the MCU is growing stale, a shakeup of this magnitude could have a silver lining. It’s a shame that all eyes were on Avengers 5 and Secret Wars as a return to form on the scale of Infinity War and Endgame, and if even half the wild rumors about potential returns for Tobey Maguire, Hugh Jackman, and more are true, it’ll be a wild ride. It’s arguably better that Majors is out now instead of later, allowing Shakman to take his place as a real-life God of Stories to rewrite the Multiverse in his own image.

Either way, we’re on the cusp of a new dawn while Kang, as we knew him, has been banished to his own Citadel at the End of Time. Now that’s done, so someone get Javier Bardem on the phone to offer him the part of Doctor Doom.

Based in Manchester, UK, Tom Chapman has over seven years’ experience covering everything from dragons to Demogorgons. Starting out with a stint at Movie Pilot in Berlin, Tom has since branched out to indulge his love of all things Star Wars and the MCU at Digital Spy, Den of Geek, IGN, Yahoo! and more. These days, you’ll find Tom channelling his inner Gale Weathers and ranting about how HBO did us dirty with Game of Thrones Season Eight.

In this article, we’ll embark on an adventure filled with laughs, thrilling action, and stunning visuals as we discover why Aquaman has become the unsung hero of the superhero universe. So grab your tridents, strap on your fins, and lets delve deep into the history of the character for the release of Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom on December 22, 2023.

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Examining Aquaman’s comic origins and how they shaped the superhero we know today

Meet Aquaman, the legendary American comic book hero who rises to safeguard the enchanting underwater kingdom of Atlantis. Born as Arthur Curry to a human lighthouse keeper and the queen of Atlantis, he’s also known as Orin in the Atlantean realm. Additionally, Aquaman is known to be an esteemed member of the illustrious superhero alliance, the Justice League of America.

Jason Momoa is open about the likely end of his Aquaman’s run.

“I think it’s a really great movie that sums it all up. You get to see where he’s at, and it’s a pretty cool journey. It’s been 12 years, and the DCEU is at its end.”https://t.co/pWgZinbMSE pic.twitter.com/mAuOsA5Z1E

— DCU on ComicBook.com (@DCUonCB) December 20, 2023

Aquaman made his debut in the anthology series More Fun Comics #73 in 1941, but it wasn’t until 1962, almost two decades later, that he gained enough popularity to have his own comic. Mort Weisinger expertly penned this inaugural comic, while Paul Norris brought it to life with his beautiful illustrations. Over the years, Aquaman has made appearances in numerous DC Comics publications. Although his presence has had its ups and downs, there’s no denying that Aquaman has firmly established himself as a cornerstone of the vast DC Comics universe.

His origin story has gone through more revisions than a superhero costume fitting! While Arthur Curry is the most well-known Aquaman, did you know there have been other Aquamen too? Yep, like Joseph Curry, who had a brief stint as the aquatic hero. Oh, and let’s not forget about his former protégé Jackson Hyde or Adam Waterman, the Golden Age hero who made waves during World War II.

Aquaman isn’t just your average guy who can swim fast. He’s got superhuman strength, can breathe underwater like a fish, and can even chat with sea creatures telepathically. Talk about marine multitasking! He’s never alone in his adventures either as he’s got his powerful wife Mera, wise mentor Vulko, and cool sidekicks like Aqualad, Aquagirl, and Dolphin by his side. But wait, there’s more! He also has some seriously villainous foes to spice up the story, like the notorious Black Manta who’s caused Aquaman a lot of personal pain, and his own half-brother Orm, aka Ocean Master. Family drama, anyone?

Beyond the panels: How Aquaman surfaced in film and television

Back in the late ’60s, Aquaman left his mark in animated TV shows with his very own Aquaman series. It came onto the scene by repackaging the 30-minute segments from The Superman/Aquaman Hour of Adventure, minus the Superman and Superboy parts. Then, he joined forces with the Super Friends crew in the ’70s. These appearances made him one of the most recognized superheroes worldwide, but sadly, he became the target of wimpy jokes due to his portrayal in Super Friends. Poor Aquaman!

However, DC took it upon themselves to rectify this misperception. They embarked on a journey to reinvent Aquaman, crafting versions of the character that exuded an edgier and more formidable presence. Often depicted as somber and contemplative, Aquaman grapples with the weight of his public image, the burdens of kingship, and the intricate realm of Atlantean politics. These alterations aimed to shed the notion of weakness and establish Aquaman as a force to be reckoned with.

But that’s not all! Aquaman didn’t just swim in the animated waters. He ventured into live-action too, making appearances in the Superman-centric TV drama Smallville and even had his own self-titled made-for-TV movie in 2006. But his big break came in 2016’s Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, where actor Jason Momoa brought him to life. And boy, did he make a splash!

Momoa then starred in the epic Justice League movie, but it was his standalone Aquaman film that really made waves. It received rave reviews and made over $1.1 billion globally — talk about success! Recently, Aquaman has also made cameos in other DC Extended Universe projects, like the Max series Peacemaker and a post-credits scene in The Flash.

The adventures continue with Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom

Get ready for an epic showdown in the upcoming film! After failing to defeat Aquaman before, Black Manta (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II) is back with a vengeance, fueled by the need to avenge his father’s death. Armed with the powerful Black Trident, he’s more formidable than ever, unleashing an ancient and malevolent power. But hold on, Aquaman won’t face this challenge alone! In an unlikely alliance, he will join forces with his imprisoned brother Orm (Patrick Wilson), the former King of Atlantis and also known as Ocean Master. Together, they’ll set aside their differences to safeguard their kingdom, protect Aquaman’s family, and even save the world from irreversible destruction.

Hold on, there’s more! According to Empire Magazine, Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom will embrace a retro, ’60s horror aesthetic, setting it apart from previous DCEU entries. It should be intriguing to see this unique vision from acclaimed horror director James Wan, known for his work on Insidious, Malignant, and the expansive Conjuring Universe.

Moreover, this film marks the conclusive installment of the DCEU, signifying the shift into the newly revamped DC Universe, overseen by the newly-formed duo of James Gunn and Peter Safran as co-CEOs of DC Studios. It’ll be interesting to see whether the box office success of this movie will have any ramifications or influences on forthcoming DC ventures.

Aquaman is a deep-sea hero with a splash of fun and a whole lot of heart, keeping the seas safe and making waves in the DC universe. So, next time you think of Aquaman, remember his journey from the comics to the big screen — a journey that turned him into a billion-dollar superhero.

Be sure to catch Aquaman’s latest adventure in theaters on December 22, 2023.

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Ben Ahrens is a versatile Silicon Valley-based writer, content marketer, photographer, and graphic designer. His passion lies in crafting engaging stories for the entertainment industry and embracing the tech culture of the Bay Area to uncover the next ground-breaking innovations. When not weaving words, you’ll find him curating the perfect playlist for every occasion or exploring the diverse landscapes of Northern California.