Moviefone Editorial

Tag: kevin feige

  • Disney Met With James Gunn ‘as a Courtesy,’ But Still Won’t Rehire Him for ‘Guardians 3’

    Disney Met With James Gunn ‘as a Courtesy,’ But Still Won’t Rehire Him for ‘Guardians 3’

    Marvel Studios

    It looks like this is truly the end of the road for Disney and James Gunn: A new report says that the studio met with the fired director as a professional courtesy, but is holding firm in its decision not to rehire him for “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.”

    According to Variety, the recent meeting between Gunn and Disney chief Alan Horn was “civil and professional,” but Horn declined to change his mind on the writer-director’s firing. Gunn was let go last month after  alt-right activists dug up some of his years-old tweets in which he made offensive jokes about inflammatory subjects such as rape and pedophilia. Disney swiftly distanced itself from the director, saying in a statement that his views were “indefensible and inconsistent with our studio’s values.”

    Gunn owned up to and apologized for his past actions, and insisted he had grown and changed as a person, an opinion shared by his “Guardians of the Galaxy” cast. The entire principal ensemble signed a statement in support of his rehiring, and star Dave Bautista even declared that he would leave the franchise if Gunn’s script wasn’t used for the threequel.

    It looks like Disney will indeed be using the writer-director’s already-finished “Guardians 3” screenplay, but it appears that that’s where their relationship with Gunn will end. There had been dueling reports in recent weeks suggesting Disney was unwavering in its decision to fire Gunn, but that Marvel wanted the studio to reconsider. It looks like the former scenario is what won out.

    Variety’s report says that Gunn and his agents had “pushed hard for him to be given a second chance, and Horn decided to take the meeting but only as a courtesy to clear the air with Gunn.” The trade also notes that Marvel Studios chair Kevin Feige — who had been rumored to be championing Gunn behind the scenes and personally appealing to Disney to rehire him — was out of town and not present at the meeting, but that he “stands by the studio’s decision.”

    So it looks like that’s that. Gunn will move on — likely to another studio — and so will Disney. Variety’s report says that once Feige gets back into town, the search for a replacement director will kick into overdrive. Whether or not that affects the film’s planned 2019 production start remains to be seen. As Chris Pratt said, it’s complicated.

    [via: Variety]

  • Marvel Is Trying to Convince Disney to Rehire James Gunn: Report

    Marvel Is Trying to Convince Disney to Rehire James Gunn: Report

    Marvel Studios

    Following news this week that several rival studios are eager to snatch up the recently fired “Guardians of the Galaxy” director James Gunn — including archnemesis Warner Bros./DC — Marvel is reportedly working overtime to persuade Disney to change its mind.

    That’s the word from Deadline, which shared a story on Thursday citing industry chatter that suggests that Marvel isn’t going to let Disney dispatch Gunn without a fight. The mastermind of the “Guardians” films was dismissed by the Mouse House last month after alt-right activists dug up a series of old, offensive tweets in which Gunn made jokes about disturbing subjects like rape and pedophilia.

    The commonality throughout the entire saga has not been to defend Gunn’s tweets — which the writer-director himself has owned up to and apologized for — but rather, encourage Disney not to be swayed by an online smear campaign. The entire “Guardians” cast has already declared their loyalty to Gunn, and star Dave Bautista has even threatened to walk away from the series if Gunn’s already-finished script for “Guardians 3” isn’t kept. (Though The Hollywood Reporter said earlier this week that Disney is almost certainly going to use that screenplay.)

    It was the cast’s passionate display of support that apparently inspired Marvel Studios chief Kevin Feige to “make one last try at rapprochement,” Deadline reports, leading to “back channel conversations ” in which Marvel is “trying to persuade Disney to explore a compromise that might bring Gunn back into the fold for ‘Guardians 3.’”

    Though Deadline admits that the tactic is “a long shot,” the trade also reports that both Marvel and Disney are eager to get the next “Guardians” film off the ground as quickly as possible, perhaps paving the way for reconciliation.

    Deadline writes:

    “It seems clear what is best for a film franchise that will become damaged goods for the next director. Some have posited that the precocious ‘Thor: Ragnarok”s Taika Waititi as a perfect fit, but what principled filmmaker will feel good about taking over in such circumstances?

    Can even as mighty and as family friendly a corporation as Disney consider being changeable here?”

    That’s the million-dollar question (or $7-10 million, as the case may be). While the previous answer was almost assuredly no, we’ll now have to wait and see if that remains true.

    [via: Deadline]

  • Is ‘Doctor Strange 2’ Starting Pre-Production in September (to Replace ‘Guardians 3’)?

    Is ‘Doctor Strange 2’ Starting Pre-Production in September (to Replace ‘Guardians 3’)?

    Doctor Strange
    Marvel Studios

     

    We knew “Doctor Strange 2” was still in the works, but we didn’t think it would move this fast.

    Maybe it isn’t. All we have to go on right now is an Instagram post and Marvel Cinematic Universe speculation.

    But.

    The Instagram post comes from the director of the first “Doctor Strange” film, it includes a Doctor Strange comic image, and mentions “See you in September.”

    It could be that MCU fans are now way off the mark, and he was just using a DS image for something else — to say he’s taking a break on social media until September, or whatnot.

    But.

    Put together with more info from Marvel Studios boss Kevin Feige, you don’t need to analyze 14 million different outcomes to think we’ll be seeing and hearing more on Benedict Cumberbatch‘s sequel in September — despite the situation Stephen Strange was left in at the end of “Avengers: Infinity War.” Whatever. Spider-Man has a sequel filming now too.

    Question: Is “Doctor Strange 2” being moved up on the filming schedule because of the whole James Gunn thing, or was whatever is happening in September always going to happen in September?

    Because Kevin Feige had told Collider in June that James Gunn had delivered a script draft for “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3” and “we begin official pre-production on that very, very soon. It’ll be shooting early next year.”

    But now that James Gunn has been fired … could “Doctor Strange 2” be sliding into the pre-production schedule?

    Scott Derrickson directed “Doctor Strange,” and he had just reposted the “Guardians” cast’s open letter of support for James Gunn. Shortly after that, he posted a photo of Strange appearing to kneel in prayer, adding this quote: “‘Not my will, but thine be done…’ See you in September.”

    https://www.instagram.com/p/Bl4o17el4z8/

    So is that a hint to pre-production starting in September for the “Doctor Strange” sequel? “Not my will, but thine” — Marvel/Disney’s will that it replace “Guardians 3” until this whole thing is resolved and we know what’s happening there? Total speculation on all fronts.

    Not even two months ago, Kevin Feige talked about doing another “Doctor Strange” movie during a chat with CinemaBlend on how he balances which characters get sequels and when:

    “Sometimes it’s where do those characters pop up? [Doctor] Strange, you know, whenever we do another Strange one, which we will do, it will be a number of years from the first Strange, and yet he’s a very big part of [Avengers:] Infinity War. So it is just a good problem to have when you have too many beloved characters that people want to see more of, whilst keeping to our core belief that we need to keep exploring nuance and keep doing different types of things.”

    At this point, Marvel hasn’t officially given anything a release date beyond “Spider-Man: Far From Home” on July 5, 2019. But “Guardians 2” was penciled in for 2020, and expected to take the May 2020 release date.

    Now everything is up in the air, but you can bet Marvel is not going to let the crews go without work because of the whole Disney mess, so someone is probably moving up the line while they figuring out what to do about “Guardians 3.”

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  • Congrats, Disney (and Marvel Fans): Comcast Drops Out of Fight for 21st Century Fox

    Congrats, Disney (and Marvel Fans): Comcast Drops Out of Fight for 21st Century Fox

    Disney, 21st Century Fox
    Disney/Fox

    Never bet against Mickey and the Marvel Cinematic Universe!

    Comcast announced Thursday morning that it was dropping out of the race to buy 21st Century Fox assets. That’s a big win for Disney, although the fight is not yet won. In a movie, this would be the climactic moment, but in real life these legal battles are long and rather dull.

    A remaining snag is that Comcast still wants to bid for British broadcaster Sky, which Disney is also trying to buy through 21st Century Fox. So that will continue for a while.

    But still! The BIG deal appears to be official.

    Comcast had offered $65 billion cash to top Disney’s initial offer. Disney countered with $71.3 billion in cash/stock. There was an issue with regional sports networks, and Disney agreed to sell those off to get Department of Justice approval. Comcast was expected to make another offer, but instead they’re moving on and focusing on Sky.

    According to CNN, Rupert Murdoch’s empire will retain its broadcast, news and national sports programming, including Fox News, Fox Business and Fox Sports. The new company, known as “New Fox,” will be headed by Lachlan Murdoch.

    Here’s a statement from Comcast chief Brian Roberts, ceding victory to Disney:

    “I’d like to congratulate Bob Iger and the team at Disney and commend the Murdoch family and Fox for creating such a desirable and respected company.”

    This means it’s really happening: Fox’s Marvel characters like the X-Men, Deadpool, and Fantastic Four will be in the same family as the MCU Avengers.

    Fans are pretty excited:

     

    https://twitter.com/SuperheroFilmz/status/1019939503400734720

    Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige had said we would be “years away” from any X-Men/Avengers integration, even if the deal went through. He’s already planned MCU movies for several years into the future. But now he has even more options to play with.

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  • ‘Avengers 4’ Brings ‘a Definitive Ending’ to Current MCU Storyline, and Fans Are Freaking Out

    ‘Avengers 4’ Brings ‘a Definitive Ending’ to Current MCU Storyline, and Fans Are Freaking Out

    Avengers: Infinity War
    Marvel Studios

    So, Kevin Feige has you in your feelings again…

    Captain America
    Marvel Studios

    The Marvel Studios boss didn’t actually say anything new about “Avengers 4” to get fans upset, it’s just that hearing “ending” and “conclusion” again and again has fans feeling like Peter Parker at the close of “Avengers: Infinity War.”

    Some of the latest panic is coming third-hand — first from a tweet linking to a new Empire article, with that article quoting a Toronto Sun interview from back in April.

    Here’s the tweet:

    Here’s the full Q&A response from Kevin Feige’s April Toronto Sun story:

    I always ask you about the blueprint. Going forward, the movies that Marvel has coming five, 10 years from now, are they always going to be threaded back to the beginning? Is the MCU a world with no real end?

    “Yes. … It’s a world I hope continues far into the future in the same way all of these storylines have continued in the comics. We’re one decade in. In the comics, some of these heroes are five, six, seven decades in. So I do hope they continue for a long time.

    But, storylines can come to an end. The best stories do come to an end. [‘Star Wars’ Episode VI] ‘Return of the Jedi’ was an ending for a long time and as a 10-year-old in 1983 that carried me through 30 years until there was a sequel. That hasn’t happened before in the superhero genre. A new actor comes in and a new storyline starts right away. We wanted to do it this way because we think that the best stories have a definitive ending to a storyline. That’s certainly what’s going to happen next year with ‘Avengers 4.’

    The Universe, the world, many of the characters we’ve introduced will continue onward in unexpected ways, some of which I don’t even know yet. But bringing a definitive conclusion at the 22-film mark, and just over 10 years, seemed like the right thing to do.”

    Star Wars
    Lucasfilm

    Sad as it is, it does make sense for the Marvel Cinematic Universe to evolve.

    Feige something very similar to Vanity Fair back in November, teasing that “Avengers 4” would have “things you’ve never seen in superhero films: a finale.”

    But some fans were seeing the quote for the first time, or were feeling re-traumatized by the end of “Infinity War” and the phrasing of the MCU News tweet:

    https://twitter.com/mahamed_1210/status/1019227085401927680

    https://twitter.com/ZeinabAchi/status/1019227631026401280

    There’s a lot of confusion and fear about the fates of all of the remaining MCU characters — the ones who were snapped by Thanos, and the ones who were not. “Sacrifices” are coming, according to the “Avengers 4” synopsis:

    “A culmination of 22 interconnected films the fourth installment of the Avengers saga will draw audiences to witness the turning point of this epic journey. Our beloved heroes will truly understand how fragile this reality is and the sacrifices that must be made to uphold it.”

    See, that time it’s “culmination,” instead of “conclusion” or “ending.” Whatever you call it, it’s coming. But hey! Somehow, so are Spider-Man’s sequel and “Guardians 3” in the MCU’s Phase 4. We know “a new franchise beyond Avengers” is ahead, with new characters and “different incarnations” of characters we already know.

    “Avengers 4” opens in theaters May 3, 2019.

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  • The ‘Guardians Vol. 3’ Script Is Done, Should Shoot Early 2019

    WARNING: This post contains SPOILERS for “Avengers: Infinity War.” Read on at your own risk.

    While the rest of the MCU sorts through the wreckage — and pile of superhero bodies — left behind by “Avengers: Infinity War,” the Guardians of the Galaxy crew is gearing up for yet another sequel. Now, Marvel Studios boss Kevin Feige has revealed when the latest volume in the series is set to begin production.

    In an interview with Collider, Feige provided an update on the project, which is currently aiming to get in front of cameras sometime in the early months of 2019.

    “[Writer/director] James [Gunn] has delivered a draft and we begin official pre-production on that very, very soon,” Feige told Collider of the threequel. “It’ll be shooting early next year. ‘Captain Marvel’ finishes in about two weeks, ‘Spider-Man’ starts in about two weeks, and then ‘Guardians 3’ will start early next year.”

    As the site points out, it remains to be seen what effect the events of “Infinity War” will have on “Guardians Vol. 3,” since (SPOILER ALERT) Zoe Saldana’s Gamora was killed off in that flick. Will “Vol. 3” take place before “Infinity War,” or after? Will they find a way to include Saldana regardless of the timeline?

    Fans will have to wait a while to find out. Right now, speculation suggests that “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3” will be released on May 1, 2020, which is one of several calendar slots that’s currently reserved for an untitled Marvel project. Stay tuned to see if that’s the magic date.

    [via: Collider]

  • Muslim Hero Ms. Marvel May Be Coming to the MCU (But Not Until After ‘Captain Marvel’)

    Upcoming MCU flick “Captain Marvel” isn’t due in theaters until next year, but a groundbreaking hero inspired by her may eventually be joining her on the big screen.

    In an interview with the BBC, Marvel Studios chief Kevin Feige chatted about the future of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and was asked specifically if there were plans to include Ms. Marvel. Feige said that while the studio is currently focused on “Captain Marvel,” starring Brie Larson as the titular heroine, it’s also interested in exploring her newer counterpart.

    “Ms. Marvel, which is another character in the comic books, the Muslim hero who is inspired by Captain Marvel, is definitely sort of in the works,” Feige told the BBC. “We have plans for that once we introduce Captain Marvel into the world.”

    For the uninitiated, Ms. Marvel — alias Kamala Khan — is a Pakistani-American Muslim teen, who is inspired to become a superhero by Captain Marvel. The phrase “definitely sort of in the works” isn’t exactly a guarantee, but it’s encouraging for fans that Feige is already so familiar with the character, and openly discussing future plans to include her in the MCU.

    There are already so many different ways for the MCU to turn in the wake of the end of the “Avengers” saga, and lots of movies already filling up Marvel’s schedule. Kamala Khan could certainly swoop in somewhere down the line.

    First up, though, is “Captain Marvel,” which is shooting now and due in theaters on March 8, 2019. Stay tuned to see if/when Ms. Marvel factors in.

  • Marvel Chief Kevin Feige Thanks Fans for Helping ‘Infinity War’ Break Records

    Marvel fans are nothing if not a loyal bunch, something they proved this past weekend when “Avengers: Infinity War” broke all kinds of box office records. Now, the film studio is thanking those fans for their unwavering support.

    In a heartfelt letter shared on social media, Marvel Studios chief Kevin Feige reflected on the 10th anniversary of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and praised the entire Marvel team, the cast and crew of all the MCU films, and the comic book creators who shepherded their iconic characters. But Feige saved his biggest shout-out for the fans.

    “Thank you for embracing these characters and stories since we kicked off the MCU ten years ago,” the exec’s letter said. “This past weekend was beyond our wildest dreams. … [T]hank you for being the best fans in the universe and making Avengers: Infinity War the biggest opening weekend of all time.”

    “Infinity War” raked in a jaw-dropping $630 million worldwide in its opening frame, including a $250 million domestic haul that topped previous champ “Star Wars: The Force Awakens,” which pulled in $248 million in 2015. With little competition standing in its way right now, it should easily earn another huge pile of cash this coming weekend, too.

    The sky is truly the limit for the MCU, and with plenty more movies on the horizon, the studio should have multiple opportunities to top itself in the coming years. Feige may want to keep his stationery handy.

    [via: Kevin Feige/Twitter]

  • Marvel Is Already Planning MCU Films Through 2025

    The MCU has once again proven it has a choke hold on the box office, with “Avengers: Infinity War” breaking a ridiculous number of records and raking in a boatload of cash on its opening weekend. But the folks at Marvel are already looking ahead at what’s next, and movie fans may want to keep their schedules clear for the next few years.

    In an interview with The Associated Press ahead of “Infinity War”‘s big debut, Marvel Studios chief Kevin Feige revealed that the company has no plans to slow down once this chapter of the “Avengers” saga wraps. In fact, Feige said that the studio just convened to discuss movies that aren’t slated to hit theaters for another seven years — and fans will definitely be surprised by the future MCU’s direction.

    “We’re always thinking ahead,” the exec explained to The AP. “Just when people think they can pin us down, we go somewhere else and that’s going to happen again after ‘Infinity War’ in the build-up to the next Avengers film. And we had meetings earlier today about 2024 and 2025.”

    What those films might be is currently a closely guarded secret (what, did you expect anything different from the notoriously tight-lipped studio?), and fans won’t be getting any clues at this year’s Comic-Con, either. But based on the reaction to “Infinity War,” it seems Marvel fans are willing to wait for big payoffs. Looks like they won’t have any trouble standing by for more intel, whenever Feige and co. may choose to reveal it.

    [via: The Associated Press]

  • Sorry, Marvel Fans: The Studio Won’t Hold a Comic-Con Hall H Panel This Year

    Marvel fans may want to rethink booking their tickets for this year’s Comic-Con: The studio is skipping its annual panel presentation at Hall H.

    That’s what several media outlets are reporting after speaking with none other than Marvel Studios head honcho Kevin Feige, who told reporters from both Vulture and Collider that the MCU would still have a presence at SDCC to celebrate its 10th anniversary. But there won’t be any splashy cast reunions or big-time movie reveals at a fan-packed panel event.

    “Kevin Feige just told me that while Marvel will still have a floor presence, they’re skipping the usual Hall H panel to let the dust settle from INFINITY WAR,” Vulture’s Kyle Buchanan tweeted.

    Collider offered a few more details from Feige, including the reminder that this isn’t the first time that Marvel will be missing from Hall H (they also skipped the panel after the first “Avengers” flick in 2012, as well as in 2015). And according to the exec, the studio purposefully wants to avoid giving out any information about its upcoming slate of flicks — including not proving the names of several untitled films scheduled to hit theaters in 2020 until after “Avengers 4” is released in May of 2019.

    Skipping a flashy Comic-Con panel is certainly one way of ensuring absolute secrecy about its future releases, though as fans noted on Twitter, it’s a bit odd, considering the studio has been promoting the 10th year of the MCU so heavily and seemed primed for a big, celebratory Hall H event. And now, there won’t be any more “Avengers” panels at Comic-Con, since “Avengers 4” will come out well before SDCC 2019 (currently scheduled for July).

    While this news may be disappointing for fans, at least they can comfort themselves with the knowledge that “Avengers: Infinity War” is coming out on Friday (or Thursday night, for those who bought tickets for advance showings).

    [via: Vulture, Collider]