(L to R) Paul Mescal is Paul McCartney, Harris Dickinson is John Lennon, Joseph Quinn is George Harrison, and Barry Keoghan is Ringo Starr in ‘The Beatles – A Four-Film Cinematic Event’. Photo: Sony Pictures.
Preview:
The first official pictures of leads Paul Mescal, Barry Keoghan, Joseph Quinn and Harris Dickinson as the Beatles are online.
Sam Mendes is busy making linked movies under the banner The Beatles – A Four-Film Cinematic Event.
The movies will be released in 2028.
The cameras have already been rolling on Sam Mendes’ ambitious aim to chronicle a particular period in the life of musical sensations The Beatles, known as ‘The Beatles — A Four-Film Cinematic Event.’
Paul Mescal is Paul McCartney in ‘The Beatles – A Four-Film Cinematic Event’. Photo: Sony Pictures.
With the backing of Sony Pictures Classics –– not to mention being granted full life story and music rights by Beatles holding company Apple Corps Ltd. (not the iPhone gang), surviving members McCartney and Starr and the families of deceased colleagues Lennon and Harrison –– Mendes will make four different biopics, covering each Beatles’ experiences during the band’s rise to massive popularity.
Though a strict time period for what the movies will cover has yet to be announced, the idea is for the stories to (naturally intersect), looking to get a fuller, clearer picture of their time than any one movie could hope to accomplish.
Harris Dickinson is John Lennon in ‘The Beatles – A Four-Film Cinematic Event’. Photo: Sony Pictures.
Here’s what Mendes had to say about the project:
“I’m honored to be telling the story of the greatest rock band of all time, and excited to challenge the notion of what constitutes a trip to the movies.”
When will ‘The Beatles — A Four-Film Cinematic Event’ be in theaters?
Barry Keoghan is Ringo Starr in ‘The Beatles – A Four-Film Cinematic Event’. Photo: Sony Pictures.
The current plan is for all four movies to land in April 2028.
Joseph Quinn is George Harrison in ‘The Beatles – A Four-Film Cinematic Event’. Photo: Sony Pictures.‘The Beatles – A Four-Film Cinematic Event’, directed by Sam Mendes. (L to R) Harris Dickinson (John Lennon), Paul Mescal (Paul McCartney), Barry Keoghan (Ringo Starr), and Joseph Quinn (George Harrison). In theaters April 2028. Photo by: John Russo.
(Left) Saoirse Ronan as Rona in ‘The Outrun’. Photo: Martin Scott Powell. Courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics. (Center) Anna Sawai in ‘Monarch: Legacy of Monsters,’ coming soon to Apple TV+. (Right) Aimee Lou Wood in ‘The White Lotus’ Season 3. Photo: Fabio Lovino/HBO.
Preview:
Saoirse Ronan will play Linda McCartney in Sam Mendes’ Beatles project.
Anna Sawai and Aimee Lou Wood are among those circling roles.
(L to R) Ringo Starr, George Harrison, Paul McCartney, and John Lennon in ‘The Beatles: Eight Days a Week – The Touring Years.’
With the backing of Sony Pictures Classics –– not to mention being granted full life story and music rights by Beatles holding company Apple Corps Ltd. (not the iPhone gang), surviving members McCartney and Starr and the families of deceased colleagues Lennon and Harrison –– Mendes will make four different biopics, covering each Beatles’ experiences during the band’s rise to massive popularity.
Though a strict time period for what the movies will cover has yet to be announced, the idea is for the stories to (naturally intersect), looking to get a fuller, clearer picture of their time than any one movie could hope to accomplish.
Here’s what Mendes had to say about the project:
“I’m honored to be telling the story of the greatest rock band of all time, and excited to challenge the notion of what constitutes a trip to the movies.”
When will ‘The Beatles — A Four-Film Cinematic Event’ be in theaters?
Mendes is currently aiming for the movies to release close together in April 2028, so he has his work cut out for him and a lot of hard day’s nights ahead.
Given some recent big missteps, low box office returns for its movies and complaints about the interconnectedness of the Disney+ shows, the team behind the Marvel Cinematic Universe had its work cut out to prove that it still has what it takes to compete in the crowded comic book genre field.
Add to that the pressure to properly –– after two attempts of variable quality back when 20th Century Fox owned the rights –– introduce Marvel’s “First Family” to the MCU, and you have the recipe for one almighty stress headache.
Fortunately, in switching focus from an overloaded schedule and chaotically overstuffed character roster, the studio has found its feet again, with a movie that really works.
Taking Stan Lee and Jack Kirby’s work as their inspiration, the various writers who contributed to ‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps’ (that would be Josh Friedman, Eric Pearson, Jeff Kaplan and newcomer Ian Springer) have managed to find a tone and a style of a peppy, retro-futuristic vision that both pays tribute to the characters’ 1960s comics origins and also feels like a fresh approach unmoored (at least until the end) from the wider universe.
Keeping the focus on the leads and ditching a labored repeat of the Four’s origin story (we’re introduced to the characters having already been through their traumatic encounter with cosmic radiation, the backstory helpfully filled in via a TV show about them and montages) proves to be a strength of the new movie, allowing more time for the cast to shine.
Also, this feels like a more human group, foibles and all, even if they have superpowers.
In directing terms, this is the most confident that Marvel has been in years, ‘WandaVision’ veteran Matt Shakman delivering a movie that has the feeling of being finely tooled rather than slapped together to meet a release date deadline.
From the visuals, whose effects feel finished and work for the world the movie portrays to the performances, which all blend together, this is a truly solid effort from the company.
If there are issues to be found, it’s in the creeping influence of the wider Marvel storyline –– it’s hard to truly feel threat when you know that the main cast will be back in future movies. Yes, that’s part and parcel for introductions, and no-one truly expects the company to bring in some of its most famous icons only to slaughter them, but the tropes are tropes for a reason.
But the journey this story takes remains much more enjoyable than the clumsily drawn and edited exploits of ‘Captain America: Brave New World’.
You might be feeling Pedro Pascal overload right now given the sheer amount of recent roles and pop cultural dominance, but there’s no doubting the humanity and sensitivity he brings to super-genius Reed Richards. This is a hero who, despite his incredible smarts, isn’t always as sure of himself as he might be, and impending fatherhood weighs heavy on him.
Pascal is suitably smooth when needed, but enjoyably nerdy.
He plays well off of Vanessa Kirby’s Sue Storm, who is better used than previous takes on the character and benefit from Kirby’s ability to bring life to a woman facing a big life change while embracing her abilities.
Joseph Quinn is an entertainingly endearing Johnny Storm, still a ladies’ man, but here much more well-rounded than the usual hunky version of the hero.
Ebon Moss-Bachrach, helped by some excellent effects work, is a less tortured, more assured take on The Thing.
Around the leads, the world is filled out effectively by the threats: Ralph Ineson’s rumbling tones are put to good use as Galactus, while Julia Garner brings steely menace but also real heart to the role of Shalla-Bal, the Silver Surfer who heralds the arrival of her planet-munching master.
And the likes Mark Gatiss (as an enthusiastic TV host) and Paul Walter Hauser (as a fun, different take on Harvey Elder, the Mole Man of the comics), bring quality to smaller supporting roles.
Though the mid-credits scene feels the strain of setting up the next step in the Four’s adventures, it’s a minor issue for a movie that is well thought-out, purposefully designed and truly fun to watch.
If Marvel can keep up this level of quality over quantity going forward, the prospects are bright, as this is the most purely satisfying MCU effort since the heady days of ‘Avengers: Endgame’.
z9uHs9M5vfCiKZCJCNg4I6
What’s the story of ‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps’?
Set against the vibrant backdrop of a 1960s-inspired, retro-futuristic world, ‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps’ introduces Marvel’s First Family — Reed Richards/Mister Fantastic (Pedro Pascal), Sue Storm/Invisible Woman (Vanessa Kirby), Ben Grimm/The Thing (Ebon Moss-Bachrach) and Johnny Storm/Human Torch (Joseph Quinn) as they face their most daunting challenge yet.
Forced to balance their roles as heroes with the strength of their family bond, they must defend Earth from a ravenous space god called Galactus (Ralph Ineson) and his enigmatic Herald, Silver Surfer (Julia Garner). And if Galactus’ plan to devour the entire planet and everyone on it weren’t bad enough, it suddenly gets very personal…
Who is in the cast of ‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps’?
(L to R) Vanessa Kirby, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Pedro Pascal, and Joseph Quinn in ‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps’. Photo: Marvel Studios.
Preview:
The end-credit scene of ‘Thunderbolts’ very clearly connects to the events of ‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps’ by revealing their ship arriving in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
There are several possibilities and theories regarding who exactly is on the ship.
This scene likely takes place immediately after the events of ‘The Fantastic Four: The First Steps’.
Marvel fans have been waiting what feels like forever for ‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps‘, so it came as no surprise when the team was introduced a little bit early into the Marvel Cinematic Universe, during the end-credit sequence of ‘Thunderbolts*‘. Even though all we got was a glimpse of their ship entering the atmosphere, excitement rippled through social media thanks to the fandom.
z9uHs9M5vfCiKZCJCNg4I6
While we cannot say for sure yet who is on The Fantastic Four ship and how exactly the events of both films will connect, we can make some pretty good guesses. One thing is for sure, the speculation that the majority of ‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps’ is not set in the Marvel universe we know and love must be accurate, considering The New Avengers team reveals the ship is an interdimensional ship.
For those who do not recall, the end of ‘Thunderbolts*’ teases the arrival of Marvel’s first family by literally bringing them into the MCU, which was a shock to many. The team is now called The New Avengers and is comprised of Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh), Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan), Ghost (Hannah John-Kamen), John Walker (Wyatt Russell), Red Guardian (David Harbour), and Bob, also known as Sentry/Void (Lewis Pullman).
When the team is notified that there is a space crisis, it is then discovered that an interdimensional ship has made its way into the Earth’s atmosphere. A close-up on the ship reveals The Fantastic Four logo. There are no more details other than that, which has set the internet ablaze with speculation.
But Who Could Actually Be On The Fantastic Four Ship?
There are many theories about who is actually arriving via The Fantastic Four ship. Most fans do not believe that it will actually be the first family, which includes Reed Richards (Pedro Pascal), Sue Storm (Vanessa Kirby), Johnny Storm (Joseph Quinn), and Ben Grimm (Ebon Moss-Bachrach). We know that Sue Storm is not only pregnant with her first born, Franklin Richards, in ‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps’, but also that she births him because he is seen as a baby in some of the TV spots and trailers.
Comic book readers know how smart this young child is, so it is not far-fetched to think that he is alone on that ship, off looking for help for his planet now that Galactus (Ralph Ineson), the planet eating, monsterous villain, has come to devour it. That said, I highly doubt that is accurate.
Others think that Franklin might be on the ship with Doctor Doom (Robert Downey Jr.), which will be revealed during the end-credit scene of ‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps’. While there is a good chance the connection of the two movies will be confirmed during the end-credit scene, not having the core four characters be on the ship is unlikely. That said, the possibilities are (almost) endless.
Looking at the trailers that have been revealed to the public, it can be inferred that Sue Storm is pregnant when Silver Surfer (Julia Garner) arrives to tell the planet that they will be consumed by Galactus soon, but that she gives birth shortly after, because Franklin is shown later on, several times. However, fans have learned to never trust a Marvel trailer, because if you remember, Hulk was shown fighting in the ‘Avengers: Infinity War‘ trailer and yet he was not in the entire movie. Not even once.
The greatest possibility is that the entire family is on board the ship, with Doom hot on their tails – he has to arrive in the MCU somehow before ‘Avengers: Doomsday‘. This would mean that their home universe was destroyed and they needed to find somewhere else to live, an easy task for Reed Richards. If they did indeed defeat Galactus, then there is a chance Doom has kidnapped Richard using the family’s ship, and they will be eventually following behind it.
The most likely scenario out of all of the above is that Galactus succeeds in consuming the home of The Fanastic Four, forcing them into another dimension. Possibly to save only themselves, or some people that they were able to rescue (similar to how Thor saved some Asgardians after their home was destroyed).
If indeed Galactus has survived, this means that he has the ability to return in the Marvel Cinematic Universe down the line. Considering that he is one of the most powerful, and most beloved Marvel villains, it would be smart to keep him around. The Fantastic Four might be his biggest rival in the comics, but they are not the only one. Seeing him come back, much like Thanos, is something fans would love to see, no matter who he is going up against.
Whatever happens in ‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps’, we will not have to wait much longer to find out, as the film releases in theaters on July 24th.
Disney and Marvel have shifted the release dates for the next two ‘Avengers’ movies.
‘Doomsday’ and ‘Secret Wars’ are moving from their May slots to December premieres.
Dates for ‘The Devil Wears Prada 2’ and ‘The Dog Stars’ were also confirmed.
Turns out, making two giant ‘Avengers’ movies back to back is going to take a little longer than originally thought.
Disney and Marvel have announced that the next two team-up films from the comic book behemoth are now set to arrive a little later in theaters than originally planned –– ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ is shifting from a planned May 5th, 2026 slot to December 18th, 2026.
aulDnGXPFkuVgP2q8dOyT6
Likewise, ‘Avengers: Secret Wars’ will now decamp from a May 5th, 2027 release date to –– you guessed it! –– December 18th that year.
Clearly, directors Joe Russo and Anthony Russo have decided the new movies will require some more work than they figured. Which honestly, is no bad thing –– better to wait and get it right in the hopes of an ‘Infinity War’ and ‘Endgame’-level success, than pump out something quickly.
The sprawling cast for at least the first movie (we’re expecting several to appear in both) was first announced in a viral video Marvel put online showing director’s chairs with the actor’s names on them.
Simu Liu will return as Shang-Chi, a character who really has deserved a sequel before now. And Danny Ramirez, who was introduced as Joaquim Torres in ‘The Falcon and the Winter Soldier’ and reprised the role in February’s ‘Captain America: Brave New World’ will show up as the new Falcon.
Finally, because you can’t really have ‘Doomsday’ without Doom, Robert Downey Jr. is making his big MCU return, this time playing classic ‘Fantastic Four’ villain Doctor Doom.
We’re sure more cast will be announced before ‘Doomsday’ arrives, but Disney has more time to get the message out.
“We’re very close with Kevin [Feige] and Lou [D’Esposito, Marvel Studios’ Co-President] and the entire Marvel team and we’ve had conversations through the years. We’ve talked about a lot of ideas. Really what happened was, we ended up stumbling upon a [‘Secret Wars’] idea that activated all of us, you couldn’t see it coming until it came, and once it came it was like, ‘Well, that’s a story we need to tell.’”
And that creative spark extended to regular collaborator Stephen McFeely, who is also back writing the new movies.
While other co-writer Christopher Markus is so far sticking with the Russos’ AGBO company to keep it running, McFeely was tempted back into the MCU machine.
Here’s what Joe told Empire:
“There were ideas that we were trying to wrap our heads around that preceded this one, and we just never found the story. I remember calling Steve and said, ‘Hey, crazy idea. What do you think if we all go back and do Secret Wars?’ He was like, ‘F*** no. Absolutely not.’ And then he hung up. And the next morning at 7.30 he called and were like, ‘Alright, I have an idea…’ ”
‘Secret Wars’ would draw from (through the usual Marvel movie filter where changes will be made) a pair of 1980s comic book series focused on an all-powerful antagonist known as the Beyonder, who in the first installment pitted Marvel’s heroes and villains against each other on a planet known as Battleworld.
In a 2015 revival by Jonathan Hickman, the resulting conflict left the multiverse collapsed, the survivors living on a single planet ruled by classic villain Doctor Doom.
The Russos have previously talked about their enthusiasm for ‘Secret Wars,’ so this one made sense.
What other movie release dates were announced?
Director James Cameron at D23 2024 presenting ‘Avatar: Fire and Ash’. Photo: Disney.
In a Thanos-like snap, three Marvel dates have disappeared from the calendar completely. The place holders for February 13th, 2026, November 6th, 2026, and November 5, 2027, have all been removed from Disney’s calendar, pointing towards the result of Marvel’s commitment to quality over quantity.
It wasn’t all Marvel changes –– Disney also confirmed the dates for some of the movies headed our way via its 20th Century Studios, including Ridley Scott’s post-apocalyptic thriller ‘The Dog Stars,’ starring Jacob Elordi and Josh Brolin. That one will be released on March 27th, 2026.
Then there is sequel ‘The Devil Wears Prada 2,’ which will see the return of Meryl Streep‘s imperious magazine editor Miranda Priestly as she navigates the challenges of the declining print industry. The comedy drama sequel is due on May 1st, 2026.
Directors Ray Mendoza and Alex Garland’s ‘Warfare’. Photo: A24.
After showing us what a near-future conflict in the United States could look like with 2024’s chilling ‘Civil War,’ writer-director Alex Garland has teamed up with Ray Mendoza – a former Navy SEAL and Iraq War veteran who helped stage the battle sequences in ‘Civil War’ – to reconstruct a real-life incident in which Mendoza’s platoon was trapped by enemy insurgents in a Ramadi apartment house for several hours.
The result is ‘Warfare,’ a powerfully immersive and visceral recreation, told in semi-real time, of the events of a single day in November 2006. That’s when the platoon of Navy SEALs in which Mendoza was a communications officer, embedded in an apartment building on what was supposed to be a routine surveillance mission, found themselves surrounded by Al-Qaeda insurgents and under attack. The movie strips away almost anything not related to that single chain of events, making it both succinct and displaced in time, yet still an overwhelming visual and auditory document of the brutality of war.
Story and Direction
Directors Ray Mendoza and Alex Garland on the set of ‘Warfare’. Photo: A24.
‘Warfare’ is based on the memories of Mendoza and others in his platoon about a single afternoon in which they find themselves pinned down in an apartment building in a dangerous neighborhood in Ramadi, while on what is supposed to be a low-key surveillance mission.
The first half hour of the movie starts out in almost restrained fashion, as the platoon quietly occupies the top floor of the building and tries to reassure the family they find there. A certain amount of tedium sets in as the SEALs settle into position and begin watching the area – but that tedium quickly gives way to unease and tension as they start to see a buildup of insurgents and weapons in the building opposite and realize that an attack is imminent.
When a grenade is hurled into the building, injuring lead sniper Elliot Miller (Cosmo Jarvis) and another SEAL, all hell breaks loose. An attempt to transport the injured outside to an armored vehicle ends with an IED exploding literally under their feet, killing a couple of Iraqi escorts and gravely injuring Miller (again) and another man. The platoon must retreat into the house and hope that reinforcements can come in time, all while defending their position against the encroaching insurgents.
The plot of ‘Warfare’ may be lean, as is the 95-minute running time, but what happens during that time is nothing less than an incredibly potent assault on the senses. Garland and Mendoza, aided by the extraordinary efforts of the production crew, immerse the viewer fully into the panic, terror, violence, and fog of battle. Bullets rip through walls and whine past soldiers; explosions shatter the confined space; smoke and debris cloud the vision; the air is filled with the screams of men in agonizing pain, the constant rattle of gunfire, barking voices over radios.
Director Ray Mendoza on the set of ‘Warfare’. Photo: A24.
Mendoza (D’Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai) does his best to keep Miller calm and still and safe even as chaos erupts around him and he continues to bleed out from his mutilated legs. The platoon leader, Erik (Will Poulter), goes into shock and melts down, unable to keep control of his nerves or the situation. Most terrifyingly, the men must wait for a second platoon to get to them and shore up their defenses, while sitting tight for hours until more armored vehicles can attempt another evacuation.
All of this happens in direct, no-nonsense style that plays out as a combination of high-octane action film and almost documentary-like authenticity. There are no triumphant victories, no heroic Hollywood moments, no musical score to tug at the emotions. What Garland and Mendoza simply aim to do is place the viewer right in the middle of a real-life “war is hell” nightmare, letting the pure, unspeakable intensity of the situation do all the heavy lifting – and they succeed.
Now there are two areas in which ‘Warfare’ may or may not fall down, depending on your perspective. Like other war films – particularly Ridley Scott’s ‘Black Hawk Down,’ to which this film does owe a large debt in some ways – ‘Warfare’ sacrifices character development for immediacy. We don’t really get to know the guys in the platoon, and as always seems to be the case, it’s often hard to tell who’s who in the midst of the most concentrated action. But the counterpoint to this is that ‘Warfare’ strives to be as realistic as possible, and in real life the sort of character-defining moments or arcs that occur in conventional Hollywood writing simply don’t happen. These are men (and it is all men this time) trying to do their jobs under the most harrowing circumstances possible, and we don’t have time for speeches or back stories.
The other area in which ‘Warfare’ may come under criticism is that of context: it’s widely established that the Iraq War was fought under false pretenses – making it more of an illegitimate invasion than a genuine war – but the movie does not address the geopolitical environment in which these troops fight at all. And again, the response is that this may be the point: ‘Warfare’ does not set out to make political statements – it shows what’s happening on the ground to the troops who are sent to fight whether they want to be there or not. And trust us – if ‘Warfare’ proves anything, it’s that almost no one in their right mind would want to be there. Stripped of context and traditional Hollywood tropes, ‘Warfare’ gets one point across: war is hell no matter where you are and who you’re fighting for.
Cast and Performances
Directors Ray Mendoza and Alex Garland’s ‘Warfare’. Photo: A24.
With little character development in the screenplay, it’s notable that the cast of unknowns and kind-of-knowns manage to make some discernible impressions. D’Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai (‘Reservation Dogs’) is striking as Mendoza himself, the soldier battling his own fear to keep his friend Miller alive and protect himself and his fellow platoon members. Charles Melton (‘May December’) also makes a powerful impression as Jake, the authoritative leader of the second platoon who arrives late in the game to reestablish command. That happens after Will Poulter’s Erik loses his grip, with the ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3’ star giving perhaps the most complicated performance in the film as a smart commanding officer who suddenly finds himself barely able to function at the worst time possible.
While the rest of the platoon does feature some familiar faces under their helmets, masks, and grime (Joseph Quinn and Noah Centineo among them), the actors stand out not for individual character moments but for their credibility as an ensemble – they certainly make you believe you’re watching a well-trained, well-organized group of soldiers who are doing their best to follow orders, protect each other, and stay alive.
Final Thoughts
Directors Ray Mendoza and Alex Garland’s ‘Warfare’. Photo: A24.
It’s difficult to say where Garland’s direction leaves off and Mendoza’s begins, but we’re guessing that the latter worked more directly with the actors based on his experience, while Garland handled the technical and practical side of the filmmaking, expanding on the expertise he’s developed on films like ‘Civil War’ and ‘Annihilation.’ Either way, it’s a seamless effort, aided immensely by the immersive cinematography of David J. Thompson, the precision editing of Fin Oates, the production design by Mark Digby, and especially the gut-churning sound design of Glenn Freemantle.
The result is a movie that defies standard Hollywood filmmaking conventions, and while some may find that jarring, well, we have no doubt that “jarring” doesn’t begin to cover the real experiences that Mendoza and his comrades went through. And even without political context or attempts at standard character journeys, ‘Warfare’ manages to bring forth the real cost of war for every human being involved with an incredible level of detail, horror, and authenticity. It’s brutal – as it should be.
dwdTFvnk3TfPv8Ayhy0sV
What is the plot of ‘Warfare’?
A platoon of Navy SEALS on a mission in insurgent-held territory during the Iraq War find themselves trapped in an apartment building by hostile forces and forced to wait for extraction.
Who is in the cast of ‘Warfare’?
D’Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai as Ray Mendoza
Will Poulter as Erik
Cosmo Jarvis as Elliot Miller
Joseph Quinn as Sam
Kit Connor as Tommy
Michael Gandolfini as Lt. McDonald
Noah Centineo as Brian
Evan Holtzman as Brock
Charles Melton as Jake
Directors Ray Mendoza and Alex Garland’s ‘Warfare’. Photo: A24.
While Marvel usually prefers to keep its secrets close (at least, closer than the current government seems to manage), there is also the conflicting compulsion to promote the next movie in its sprawling cinematic universe, ‘Avengers: Doomsday‘.
aulDnGXPFkuVgP2q8dOyT6
We’ve known for a while that the Avengers will be back to face the threat of Victor Von Doom (Robert Downey Jr.), but the rest of the cast was largely in the realm of speculation, even for those who have been part of the MCU family for years.
The company used a livestream to confirm who will show up in the new movie, consisting of footage of the backs of director’s chairs featuring the cast names.
We’re happy to see Simu Liu will return as Shang-Chi, a character who really has deserved a sequel before now. And Danny Ramirez, who was introduced as Joaquim Torres in ‘The Falcon and the Winter Soldier’ and reprised the role in February’s ‘Captain America: Brave New World’ will show up as the new Falcon.
Any surprises? We’re not sure we predicted Tenoch Huerta Mejia –– who played Namor in ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’ coming back, but his chair is among the others (not dripping with water –– missed joke opportunity there!).
(L to R) Lashana Lynch and Kelsey Grammer in ‘The Marvels’. Photo: Marvel Studios.
Lewis Pullman, who is introduced as a character called “Bob” (but who has since been revealed to be powerful character Sentry) in ‘Thunderbolts*’ is also listed. So we’re guessing his character –– who also appears to be an antagonist in the movie given the new trailer –– factors in somehow.
Last, but by no means least, the doors to the cavernous soundstage holding all the chairs opens up, and in strides Downey Jr., who sits in his own named chair and puts his finger to his lips. It’s over!
We’re sure there will be other announcements to come –– the company loves to hold back cameos and other roles, so we’ll have to wait and see if Tom Holland or Mark Ruffalo spoil the appearances or if an official press release arrives in due time.
If you’re desperate to see the Livestream, please click on the video player at the top of the page.
The new movie is now kicking off shooting in London, with Marvel veteran directors Joe and Anthony Russo –– who count the giant two previous Avengers outings ‘Infinity War’ and ‘Endgame’ on their shared resume –– back marshalling the chaos that is a team-up movie on this scale.
“We’re very close with Kevin [Feige] and Lou [D’Esposito, Marvel Studios’ Co-President] and the entire Marvel team and we’ve had conversations through the years. We’ve talked about a lot of ideas. Really what happened was, we ended up stumbling upon a [‘Secret Wars’] idea that activated all of us, you couldn’t see it coming until it came, and once it came it was like, ‘Well, that’s a story we need to tell.’”
And that creative spark extended to regular collaborator Stephen McFeely, who is also back writing the new movies.
While other co-writer Christopher Markus is so far sticking with the Russos’ AGBO company to keep it running, McFeely was tempted back into the MCU machine.
Here’s what Joe told Empire:
“There were ideas that we were trying to wrap our heads around that preceded this one, and we just never found the story. I remember calling Steve and said, ‘Hey, crazy idea. What do you think if we all go back and do Secret Wars?’ He was like, ‘F*** no. Absolutely not.’ And then he hung up. And the next morning at 7.30 he called and were like, ‘Alright, I have an idea…’ ”
‘Avengers: Doomsday’: The Russos talk Robert Downey Jr.
Of course, one of the biggest plot elements for the new movies has already been revealed on Marvel’s terms, with Robert Downey Jr. taking the stage at last year’s San Diego Comic-Con to confirm he’s playing Victor Von Doom.
And according to the directors he’s very involved in helping to shape the character.
“It’s a very intense process developing the character. He’s so immersed in it. He is so dialed in. That’s the kind of artist he is. That’s the kind of actor he is. He just loves really rich three-dimensional characters and I think he sees a real opportunity here with that character.”
And following ‘Doomsday,’ we’ll see ‘Secret Wars’…
‘Secret Wars’ would draw from (through the usual Marvel movie filter where changes will be made) a pair of 1980s comic book series focused on an all-powerful antagonist known as the Beyonder, who in the first installment pitted Marvel’s heroes and villains against each other on a planet known as Battleworld.
In a 2015 revival by Jonathan Hickman, the resulting conflict left the multiverse collapsed, the survivors living on a single planet ruled by classic villain Doctor Doom.
The Russos have previously talked about their enthusiasm for ‘Secret Wars,’ so this one made sense.
When will the next two ‘Avengers’ movies head to screens?
Marvel is planning to have ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ on screens on May 1st, 2026, followed by ‘Avengers: Secret Wars’ on May 7th, 2027.
Hayley Atwell as Peggy Carter / Captain Carter in ‘Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness’. Photo: Marvel Studios.
Preview:
Hayley Atwell is reportedly headed back to the MCU for ‘Avengers: Doomsday.’
Joe and Anthony Russo are aboard to direct the movie.
Robert Downey Jr. will be playing Dr. Doom, and Chris Evans is also coming back in some capacity.
It appears that, while it has a newer crop of heroes who will be tackling a giant new threat, Marvel intends to get at least some of the old gang back together –– in both familiar and fresh roles.
While there has been chatter about Evans possibly playing a character other than Steve “Captain America” Rogers –– Nomad, a title that Rogers takes on after giving up the Cap mantle to Sam Wilson, it seems Atwell would be back as Peggy Carter, AKA the MI6 and S.H.I.E.L.D. agent who is the great love of Steve’s life.
To say the road to the new ‘Avengers’ films has been problematic is to say ‘Kraven the Hunter’ had a slightly disappointing start at the box office this past weekend.
‘Secret Wars’ would draw from (through the usual Marvel movie filter where changes will be made) a pair of 1980s comic book series focused on an all-powerful antagonist known as the Beyonder, who in the first installment pitted Marvel’s heroes and villains against each other on a planet known as Battleworld.
In a 2015 revival by Jonathan Hickman, the resulting conflict left the multiverse collapsed, the survivors living on a single planet ruled by classic villain Doctor Doom.
The Russos have previously talked about their enthusiasm for ‘Secret Wars’, and they’re bringing along scripter Stephen McFeely, who co-wrote most of their previous Marvel output.
Carter’s return also makes sense for McFeely, who along with regular writer Christopher Markus, created the ‘Agent Carter’ series.
Alongside Evans in whatever capacity, we’ll of course see Downey plus the ‘Fantastic Four’ cast.
Mackie is very likely to show up as Cap, and Benedict Cumberbatch has been talked about to return as Doctor Strange. We’ll have to wait and see whether the likes of Tom Holland’s Peter Parker/Spider-Man or any of the other stalwarts will be back.
There’s good money on Chris Hemsworth as Thor (since he’s still active) and hopefully the likes of Simu Liu’s Shang-Chi and Sebastian Stan’s Bucky Barnes will report for duty.
What is Peggy Carter’s Marvel history?
Hayley Atwell as Peggy Carter / Captain Carter in ‘Agent Carter’. Photo: Marvel Studios.
Introduced (on screen, at least) in ‘Captain America: The First Avenger,’ Peggy Carter is a heroic British agent who met Evans’ Steve Rogers before the experiment that turned him into Captain America.
Believing Steve lost for decades at the end of that film, Peggy forged ahead with her own career, helping to build S.H.I.E.L.D. and appearing in her own TV series, ‘Agent Carter.’
By the time Rogers was discovered in the ice, Peggy was an old woman, and the pair had an emotional reunion. At the end of ‘Avengers: Endgame,’ Steve chose to go back in time and live a life with Peggy.
Where and when (and how) we’ll find Peggy this time around remains to be seen. Could it be a multiversal variant of the character? (We met an ill-fated version of Peggy, who got the Super Soldier Serum herself and became Captain Carter in ‘Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.’)
However she returns, we’ll be happy to see Peggy on screen again.
(Left) Paul Mescal plays Lucius in ‘Gladiator II’ from Paramount Pictures. (Right) Joseph Quinn plays Emperor Geta in ‘Gladiator II’ from Paramount Pictures.
Preview:
‘Gladiator II’s Paul Mescal and Joseph Quinn are reportedly playing Paul McCartney and George Harrison in new Beatles biopics.
Sam Mendes is putting the films together.
Barry Keoghan and Harris Dickinson are also linked to the movies.
Ever since we first learned months ago that ‘Skyfall’ and ‘Empire of Light’ director Sam Mendes had come up with an ambitious plan to craft not one, but four interlinked music biopics about possibly the most famous group in the world –– that would be The Beatles –– everyone has been wondering who would land the coveted, challenging roles of main members Paul McCartney, John Lennon, Ringo Starr and George Harrison.
That is now really coming into focus as, while nothing has been confirmed by either Mendes or the studio, the latest word from Deadline is that ‘Gladiator II’s Joseph Quinn is aboard to play George Harrison.
(Left) Barry Keoghan in ‘Masters of the Air,’ premiering January 26, 2024 on Apple TV+. (Right) Ringo Starr in ‘A Hard Day’s Night’. Photo: United Artists.
And talking of other people letting slip about potential casting, we also recently had Ridley Scott jokingly complaining that his ‘Gladiator II’ star Paul Mescal may not be able to reunite with him for the director’s next movie ‘The Dog Stars’ because of a clash with the Beatles movies.
Here’s what Scott said about Mescal acting in his next project when asked by Christopher Nolan in a conversational Q&A held this week at the Director’s Guild of America:
“Yes. Maybe. Paul is actually stacked up, doing the Beatles next. So I may have to let him go.”
It’s an odd coincidence that two ‘Gladiator II’ stars are both now linked to the Beatles movies, but we shouldn’t really be surprised –– both are in-demand talents, with Quinn also having just worked on Marvel’s new ‘Fantastic Four’ movie (and according to Deadline’s sources toting a guitar around set as he practices guitar for the McCartney role.)
Read on for more details on the Beatles film and the other current rumored casting…
What’s the plan for Sam Mendes’ Beatles films?
(L to R) George Harrison, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr and John Lennon in ‘The Beatles: Eight Days a Week – The Touring Years.’
With the backing of Sony Pictures Classics –– not to mention being granted full life story and music rights by Beatles holding company Apple Corps Ltd. (no, not the company behind the iPhone), surviving members McCartney and Starr and the families of deceased colleagues Lennon and Harrison –– Mendes will make four different biopics, covering each Beatles’ experiences during the band’s rise to massive popularity.
A strict time period for what the movies will cover has yet to be announced.
Here’s what Mendes had to say about the project:
“I’m honored to be telling the story of the greatest rock band of all time, and excited to challenge the notion of what constitutes a trip to the movies.”
And this is the statement from Mendes’ Neal Street Productions partner Pippa Harris:
“We intend this to be a uniquely thrilling, and epic cinematic experience: four films, told from four different perspectives which tell a single story about the most celebrated band of all time. To have The Beatles’ and Apple Corps’ blessing to do this is an immense privilege. From our first meeting with [Sony execs] Tom Rothman and Elizabeth Gabler, it was clear that they shared both our passion and ambition for this project, and we can’t think of a more perfect home than Sony Pictures.”
Who else has been rumored for Sam Mendes’ Beatles biopics?
(Left) Harris Dickinson as David Von Erich in ‘The Iron Claw.’ Photo: A24.
Alongside Mescal, Quinn and Keoghan (who we’ve heard was originally hired to play Emperor Geta in ‘Gladiator II,’ only to be replaced by Quinn when scheduling issues reared their heads), the buzz for John Lennon has been around Harris Dickinson.
Is it wrong that there’s a tiny part of us hoping for Mendes to shock the world by announcing that he’s instead chosen the actors who played the Fab Four in 2007’s ‘Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story’? Yes, the world demands that Paul Rudd, Jack Black, Justin Long and Jason Schwartzman return as John, Paul George and Ringo!
Given the scope of the movies, the current aim is to have the movies in theaters by 2027, with the plan for their release dates still to be announced. Will we see them release a month apart? Spread out across the years? It’s too early to tell.
“You have to match the boldness of the idea with a bold release strategy. There hasn’t been an enterprise like this before, and you can’t think about it in traditional releasing terms
(L to R) Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, and John Lennon in ‘The Beatles: Get Back – The Rooftop Concert.’
Chris Evans is reportedly heading back to the Marvel family for ‘Avengers: Doomsday.’
Joe and Anthony Russo are aboard to direct the movie.
Robert Downey Jr. will be playing Dr. Doom.
With the giant announcement back at Comic-Con this past July that Robert Downey Jr. would be returning to the sprawling Marvel Cinematic Universe –– but as Doctor Doom, rather than a variant of the late Tony “Iron Man” Stark –– talk has naturally turned to his fellow veteran Marvel actors and whether they’ll be back alongside the newer crop.
It seems one of the other main players has made the choice to come back, as The Wrap reports that Chris Evans is now deep in talks to return for the first of the two new ‘Avengers’ movies that the studio has planned –– ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ –– which will see the heroes going up against Doom.
aulDnGXPFkuVgP2q8dOyT6
What the story doesn’t specify is whether Evans will be back as Steve Rogers, AKA Captain America, who, let’s not forget was last seen as an old man at the end of ‘Avengers: Endgame’ after he opted to spend a different timeline’s life with Peggy Carter (Hayley Atwell).
So Evans could well be playing someone else, as he did when he reprised his old Fox Marvel role as Johnny Storm in this summer’s ‘Deadpool & Wolverine.’
But at the very least, it’s exciting news.
What has happened with the new ‘Avengers’ movies so far?
To say the road to the new ‘Avengers’ films has been problematic is to say an erupting volcano is a little toasty.
Originally announced as part of a big reveal by studio boss Kevin Feige at the 2022 San Diego Comic-Con about future “phase” developments, the new movies were called ‘Avengers: The Kang Dynasty’ and ‘Avengers: Secret Wars’.
‘The Kang Dynasty’ has been the real sticking point here. Though the plan had presumably been to build to a confrontation with Jonathan Majors’ multiversal villain, Majors found himself cut by Marvel after accusations (and, later a guilty result) of harassment.
While ‘Shang-Chi’ director Destin Daniel Cretton boarded the film shortly after it was announced, he’s since stepped away. ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’s Shawn Levy has reportedly offered been the gig since then, but the July Con announcement also confirmed that ‘Infinity War’ and ‘Endgame’ directors Joe and Anthony Russo are back to handle the two giant team-up efforts.
‘Secret Wars’ would draw from (through the usual Marvel movie filter where changes will be made) a pair of 1980s comic book series focused on an all-powerful antagonist known as the Beyonder, who in the first installment pitted Marvel’s heroes and villains against each other on a planet known as Battleworld.
In a 2015 revival by Jonathan Hickman, the resulting conflict left the multiverse collapsed, the survivors living on a single planet ruled by classic villain Doctor Doom.
The Russos have previously talked about their enthusiasm for ‘Secret Wars’, and they’re bringing along scripter Stephen McFeely, who co-wrote most of their previous Marvel output.
Alongside Evans in whatever capacity, we’ll of course see Downey plus the ‘Fantastic Four’ cast.
Mackie is very likely to show up as Cap, and Benedict Cumberbatch has been talked about to return as Doctor Strange. We’ll have to wait and see whether the likes of Tom Holland’s Peter Parker/Spider-Man or any of the other stalwarts will be back.
There’s good money on Chris Hemsworth as Thor (since he’s still active) and hopefully the likes of Simu Liu’s Shang-Chi and Sebastian Stan’s Bucky Barnes will report for duty.
(L to R) Dwayne Johnson and Chris Evans in ‘Red One.’ Photo: Amazon MGM Studios.
Since hanging up his shield, Evans has been seen in the likes of ‘Knives Out,’ in a cameo as himself in ‘Free Guy’ and Pixar’s ‘Toy Story’ spin-off ‘Lightyear.’
There has also been Netflix pill-slinging film ‘Pain Hustlers,’ Apple action movie ‘Ghosted,’ and he reunited with the Russos to play a scheming villain in thriller ‘The Gray Man.’
More recently, there was the aforementioned ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ and Christmas-themed movie ‘Red One’ opposite Dwayne Johnson.
Coming up, we have adventure comedy ‘Sacrifice,’ rom-com ‘Materialists’ and Ethan Coen’s latest, ‘Honey Don’t.’
When will the next two ‘Avengers’ movies head to screens?
Marvel is planning to have ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ on screens on May 1st, 2026, followed by ‘Avengers: Secret Wars’ on May 7th, 2027.
