What I want to See from Marvel's 'Civil War' Storyline

I couldn't sleep at all last night, and no it's not my usual restlessness. Just before hitting the sack word came down that Robert Downey Jr. was joining Marvel's Captain America 3, which is a big deal but not half as big as the rest of the story. The storyline would apparently be the kick off to Civil War, based on the controversial 2006-2007 miniseries by Mark Millar and Steve McNiven. So why was it so polarizing? Well, pretty much everything Millar does turns out that way, but in this case it was justified.

Civil War begins with a team that has not been seen in the cinematic universe yet: the New Warriors. One of my favorite teams from the '90s, they're basically made up of B-list characters like Speedball, Night Thrasher, Justice, and Nova...yes, the Nova everyone wanted in Guardians of the Galaxy. An incident during one of their missions ends with the villain Nitro blowing up an entire city, killing millions. The government decided to institute the Superhero Registration Act, which demands superheroes to register with the government, reveal their civilian identities to the public, and become deputized agents if they want to stay in action. Captain America gathered up a group of like-minded heroes to fight against the Act, while Tony Stark fights to enforce it. They came to blows, a war erupts, and basically Stark becomes the most hated man amongst the superhero community. Yes, Stark is portrayed as the "bad" guy, although there are points to be made on both sides of the argument.

It's a huge story, one that would require Marvel make some severe changes bringing it to the big screen simply because there aren't enough characters available. The X-men played a key role, so did Spider-Man and the Fantastic Four. So assuming Captain America 3 will indeed begin the Civil War, here are a few things I'm hoping to see play out. And keep in mind, this would have to unfold over the course of multiple movies, that's how big Civil War is.

1. The Return of Spider-Man
Okay, this one's a long shot and more of a personal hope than anything else, but recent rumors have suggested Marvel and Sony could work out a deal allowing Spider-Man to be part of the shared universe. Peter Parker had an integral role in Civil War; in fact he was something like the moral compass at the center of it. He began on the side of Iron Man and the Registration Act, but as the government's tactics became more brutal he would switch to Cap's side.  It's possible we could see another character step in to fill that role but it would be more effective with Spider-Man, who everybody knows and respects.

2. The Death of Captain America
We've been saying it for awhile and others have noticed it, too, but the Captain America movies are conveniently populated by all the characters who have a role in The Death of Captain America storyline. That story was the tragic finale to the Civil War, with Cap assassinated and the Winter Soldier taking over the mantle. It's a crucial piece to the puzzle, and when I think about recent stories suggesting Captain America may not be factoring much into future films, it leads me to think his demise is right around the corner. This would be the time to do it.

3. Ragnarok
Tony Stark did some truly loathsome sh*t during Civil War, and one of those involved cloning his missing buddy, Thor.  Stark used Thor's DNA to create an all-powerful clone named Ragnarok, and he proceeded to tear apart Cap's team, even going so far as to kill the superhero Goliath, a former Avenger and friend of Hank Pym aka Ant-Man. If Raganarok appears in the films it would likely be in a similar way. We could see Chris Hemsworth's Thor too busy on Asgard to join up with his Avengers pals, and Stark comes up with Ragnarok as a solution. Whatever the case, the presence of Ragnarok is a good way to show just how twisted Stark's idea of right and wrong has become.

4. The Introduction of Blade, Ghost Rider, and Punisher
One thing about Civil War is that it includes a ton of characters, practically the entire Marvel Universe is involved. There simply aren't enough characters right now for Marvel to make this look like a huge "war", and one way to help fill out the ranks is bringing in popular characters like Blade, Ghost Rider, and the Punisher. Marvel recently gained their film rights back and this would be an easy way to work them in, possibly leading to future solo movies in the process. This one actually leads directly to my next hope.

5. Iron Man and Captain America Lead Separate Avengers Teams

With Cap and Iron Man on opposing sides of the Registration Act, both men began leading their own teams of Avengers. Cap's "New Avengers" (which included Luke Cage and Hawkeye) mostly worked underground and in secret to avoid confrontation with Iron Man's government-sanctioned "Mighty Avengers". With Doctor Strange and Ant-Man being introduced in the next couple of years, it stands to reason they'll be joining some Avengers team, probably one led by Iron Man. This may also be a good way to bring the Netflix TV series characters: Luke Cage, Daredevil, Iron Fist, and Jessica Jones.

6.  Tony Stark: Director of SHIELD
One of the strongest repercussions of Civil War had Tony Stark taking over as the director of SHIELD. With the spy organization in shambles and Nick Fury presumed dead (we know better), now would be the perfect time for a move like this. It would also allow for Downey Jr. to make limited appearances in the films, and whether he appears on the show or not it may have a ratings impact on Agents of SHIELD. We saw the boost it got from being tied in to Captain America: The Winter Soldier, and the same could happen again.

So those are just a few things I'm hoping for, and some of them seem feasible. If I thought harder about it I'd probably include more wishful things, like movies for the Thunderbolts and New Warriors, the introduction of Moon Knight (he needs a film now!), and more. I'm genuinely excited to see where Marvel goes with this, and given their track record I have every reason to believe they can pull off Civil War in the epic fashion it deserves.

Read More

Civil War Breaks Out as Robert Downey Jr. Joins 'Captain America 3'; Russo Brothers may Direct 'Avengers 3 & 4'

So all last week Robert Downey Jr. was giving fans the runaround about Iron Man 4. One day he said it was happening, only to come back that same day and say it wasn't, but that he and Marvel were negotiating SOMETHING. Well, now we know what those talks were about and it is huge. Variety is now reporting that Downey will join Chris Evans in the untitled Captain America 3, but the even bigger news is what the storyline will be.

The next Captain America film, which is officially set for May 6th 2016, will use elements of Marvel's mega-crossover Civil War. The highly-controversial storyline saw the superhero universe fractured over the Superhero Registration Act, which forces everyone with powers to become registered with the government and reveal their civilian identities to the public. One team of heroes, led by Captain America, fought against this idea. Tony Stark led the other faction that believed in the registration act. That led to a massive "civil war" that split up the Avengers and caused the entire hero community to distrust one another. It also was a key step that led to Captain America's eventual "death".

This is a pretty big deal for a few reasons, but primarily it keeps Downey under the Marvel umbrella for awhile longer. He wasn't signed on for any appearances after The Avengers 3, and apparently negotiations were tense with Marvel nearly ending them altogether. But there's even more, as Variety's piece states “The fallout from the government and Stark’s actions would factor into a new 'Avengers 4' film and beyond that will assemble new characters being introduced like Ant-Man and Doctor Strange, among others, in their own movies.” This seems to fit with recent rumors of a major lineup change for Avengers 3 that would see most of the original cast left out.

Finally, this means Captain America 3 will be a bigger part of the Marvel cinematic universe as a whole rather than a standalone film. To that effect, Badass Digest says Captain America: The Winter Soldier and Captain America 3 directors the Russo Brothers are in talks to helm Avengers 3 & 4.

So this is a lot to take in but the point is that Marvel is flipping the script once again and taking the superhero genre to a different level.

Read More

Jeremy Renner Teases 'Captain America 3' Appearance; Is Open to 'Hansel & Gretel 2' Return

One of the sad consequences of Matt Damon's return to the Jason Bourne role is that it basically derails Jeremy Renner's sequel to The Bourne Legacy. It was his first crack at leading a solo franchise and while it didn't do huge numbers Renner made for a kickass super agent. Of course he has plenty of other franchise experience, and now we're getting updates on what could be another Marvel appearance, plus his potential return for a Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters sequel.

Renner's Hawkeye hasn't made an appearance since The Avengers, but with Scarlett Johansson's Black Widow adding so much to Captain America: The Winter Soldier (it's the second highest-grossing film of 2014), the plan could be to add the archer to Captain America 3.  He tells MTV that the idea is being considered, while shooting down any notions of a Hawkeye solo film...for now.

Renner: "I’m happy to be the ensemble. I'm not scratching or clawing to do a solo movie by any means. I think he's a utility guy that can bounce around into other people’s universes a little bit, especially 'Cap 3'. There's whispers of that."

Hawkeye will be seen next battling a robotic James Spader in Avengers: Age of Ultron, hitting theaters on May 1st 2015. Captain America 3 sees the return of directors Joe and Anthony Russo, opening May 6th 2016.

Meanwhile, Renner is also open to the idea of coming back for Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters 2, which director Tommy Wirkola recently finished scripting. The original film, a campy R-rated mash-up of fairy tales and monster movies, was trashed by critics but ended up scoring $225M worldwide. A sequel was quickly ordered up and Wirkola recently expressed his desire for Renner for Gemma Arterton to return if they could fit it into their busy schedules. For what it's worth, Renner seems very open to the idea even though he's not yet signed. He tells Cinemablend...

Renner:  "I don't have any problem with it. Yeah. It was a lot of fun. It was fun to do that movie, and just have a ball."

We'll see what happens with that one. Renner next plays journalist Gary Webb in Kill the Messenger, opening on October 10th. 

Read More

Chris Evans isn't Ready to Give Up Captain America Just Yet

There has been a lot of talk about Chris Evans' future as Captain America, as the actor has seemed eager to move on from Marvel to focus on other projects. One of those is his directorial debut, Before We Go (formerly 1:30 Train) which he has been promoting while in Toronto. Of course, any interview he does is going to veer into superhero territory, and when asked by MTV about rumors he'd be passing the shield to Sebastian Stan or Anthony Mackie, Evans made it clear he plans on sticking around for awhile longer...

Evans: “Who’s handing off the shield?” he asked, jokingly. “Don’t take my job from me prematurely dude. I’m sure it’ll happen at some point, all good things have to come to an end. But I’m really happy playing the character.”

That's not too far off from what Evans said a few months ago. While his six-film contract with Marvel ends soon after Captain America 3 (probably after The Avengers 3), it may be too early to write him off completely as many have done. It's possible Evans sticks around as Captain America but pursues his directing goals in-between.

Evans was also asked about some recent rumors suggesting Captain America would take over a new Avengers team after Avengers: Age of Ultron, and he managed a good non-answer.

Evans:  “What do I think about this, what can I say about this? You wanna give something! Marvel doesn’t disappoint. Whatever you’re hoping for, you’re probably going to get.”

And what exactly can fans expect to get in Captain America 3?

Evans:  “It’s this giant web of plot, where everything is connected to everything else… that’s the beautiful thing, and especially for the fanboys who understand these plotlines. With Cap 3, we’re going to continue this excitement.”

Avengers: Age of Ultron opens May 1st 2015, followed by Captain America 3 on May  6th 2016.

Read More

'Captain America 3' Directors Tease a Passing of the Shield

Change is inevitable in the world of the Avengers; it's kind of their thing, really. And over the last few years there has been a lot of change for Captain America who has died, been replaced by his formerly dead buddy the Winter Solider, only to return and get replaced again by his other friend, Falcon. With all of those guys wearing the suit in the comics, and Chris Evans' contract status kind of up in the air, many have wondered if we might see a new Captain America on screen. Returning directors Joe & Anthony Russo were asked by MTV about if a change was in the works for Captain America 3, and they certainly didn't shoot the idea down, in fact they seem to confirm that this will be the end of Cap's story...

Anthony Russo: "It is a hard question to answer because it gets to the specific of where the narratives are going. I will say this: yes, for satisfying storytelling, you want a beginning, middle and end. That’s the natural arc that we all thrive off of in narrative.” 

When one looks at what Marvel did with Iron Man, they were able to wrap up his story neatly in Iron Man 3. While there have been some minor discussions about a fourth film it doesn't seem likely, especially with Robert Downey Jr. more than happy only to return for Avengers movies. That's opened up room for new franchises to begin, like this summer's Guardians of the Galaxy. The Russos believe the cinematic universe will begin to look even more like the comics, meaning new characters will often be shuffled in to prominent roles while older ones step aside for a time...

Anthony Russo: “The great thing about the Marvel universe, just like the publishing, it’s a very vast, inter-connected universe, where characters will have their rise and fall, so to speak, and hand off to other characters. As the cinematic universe moves forward, you may start to see the cinematic universe adopt that same pattern, as the publishing has, where there’s closure with some characters and new beginnings with other characters. How those hand-offs are made is always part of the fun.”

Yes, he's talking openly about Steve Rogers handing off the Captain America mantle to another, but does that mean it will happen? And if so, who would pick it up? The Russos tell Collider....

Anthony Russo: "You know, to be honest with you, it’s just – even though there’s sort of a grand plan of things, Kevin Feige also has this awesome attitude of one movie at a time, which I think is very healthy, not to get too far ahead of yourself.  And I think even though we can see in the distant horizon some contracts coming to an end and whatnot, and sort of wondering about what happens, I think the truth is, we’re not close enough to it to really be addressing it on a narrative level yet."

Joe Russo: "When Bucky takes over the mantle at the end of Cap 3 – [turns to Anthony] did I just …[LAUGHS] Did I just say that?  I meant to say Falcon. Falcon takes over the mantle at the end of Cap 3.  It’s a process that, you know, you have to tell the best story that you can now and the contract issue’s not necessarily something that we’re worried all that much about."

Anthony Russo: "All we know is we get Chris Evans for this movie."

All jokes aside, these questions are going to keep popping up from now until Captain America: The Death of Captain America or whatever it will be titled opens on May 6th 2016. 

Read More

Jeremy Renner Says Hawkeye May Turn Up in 'Captain America 3'

Avengers: Age of Ultron is filming now, and as we saw in the set photos released today, Jeremy Renner will be sporting some new threads...even if they're ugly and super impractical. The character hasn't really had his time to shine yet or make multiple guest appearances in other films, but Renner hints that could be about to change.

Speaking with Collider, Renner teased Hawkeye making an appearance in Captain America 3, following his partner Black Widow having a key part in Captain America: The Winter Soldier...

Renner: "There are rumblings of Captain America 3. I don't know what's going to happen there. I've got to find the time, man (laughs). I'm trying to stay home and I can't."

He's not kidding about finding the time. Renner is currently shooting Mission: Impossible 5, and he also has a sequel to The Bourne Legacy coming up. That's a lot of franchises for one guy to handle which makes it more incredible he finds time for American Hustle or this fall's Kill the Messenger.

For what it's worth, returning directors Joe & Anthony Russo were vague when SuperheroHype asked them whether Captain America 3 had room for Hawkeye....

Anthony: "Unfortunately we can't (comment)"It's too specific to what the movie may be."

Joe: "There are certainly characters that Cap is close to or has a strong relationship with that would make sense appearing in his films. I think that's all we can say about it."

Hawkeye and Captain America share a friendly but antagonistic relationship in the comics, one we haven't really seen play out on screen yet. Captain America 3 opens May 6th 2016.

Read More

'Captain America 3' Writers Talk Chances of Falcon Taking Over as Cap

All of the attention may be focused on Guardians of the Galaxy and the $325M it's earned so far but it's got a long way to go to top the $713M of Marvel's top earner of the year, Captain America: The Winter Soldier. It was the latest success for screenwriting duo  Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely who previously wrote Captain America: The First Avenger and Thor: The Dark World. With the pair already hard at work on Captain America 3, they spoke with SFX about the tone of the film, but also the new hot thing which is Falcon taking over for Steve Rogers in the comics. Could we see Anthony Mackie donning the red, white and blue if Chris Evans steps aside?

McFeely: "We tend to stay on the sidelines when it comes to the comics. We wait and see what we’ll steal from in three or four years from now!"

Markus:  "I think the movies can accommodate almost anything, if there’s a need. I think there is a much greater need to shake things up in the comics because that’s a narrative that’s been going on for 60 or 70 years, so you’re going to wind up having to do things to it. Ours has only been off the ground for five or so. So it’s not quite time to start changing things up yet. Plus I can’t figure out how he’s going to have the wings and the shield at the same time. Isn’t it going to get all crammed up on the wing? I don’t know… When those things happen in the comics you also have a tendency, perhaps cynically, to go “Yeah, but he’s going to be Steve Rogers in two months…” He’s going to wake up out of cryo-stasis or whatever it is and it’s going to be like “Oh, I need the shield back”. 

Many purists get the idea that the movies should follow the comics to the tiniest detail, but that's kind of ludicrous and Markus gives a pretty good reason why. Well, except for that stuff about the shield and wings.

One of the reasons audiences really took to 'The Winter Soldier' was that it resembled a fast-paced political thriller, very Bourne-esque in execution, and the writers say you can probably expect to see the same thing in Captain America 3....

McFeely:  "When we hit upon the Brubaker run of the comic book, we all said that, with certain exceptions, that’s the tone of Cap’s modern franchise. And you can imagine that with us back, with the Russos back, then if you like Winter Soldier you’ll hopefully like the third one, if we do it right!"

I'm of the mind we'll see the Winter Soldier take over as Captain America before we see Falcon, but Marvel has done a pretty good job of throwing curveballs at us. Things change all the time, and chances are we'll find out which direction Captain America 3 is headed when it gets a real title. 

Read More

Adam Warlock Rumored for 'Guardians of the Galaxy 2'; Plus a Possible 'Captain America 3' Villain

Remember Roger Wardell? Probably not, but his Twitter account went on a pretty good run of major Marvel scoops last year, many of which panned out. He seems to only pop up randomly, filling his role as a mysterious all-knowing purveyor of Marvel news on the big and small screen. Speculation as to who Wardell actually was ran rampant, with some calling him a well-known Marvel insider, or a journalist skulking in the shadows, or just some guy pulling stuff out of his butt. He's been too accurate (no more or less than say, Latino Review) for that latter one, but the fact is he hadn't been heard from since last September, and now he's back with a couple of rumors regarding Guardians of the Galaxy 2 and Captain America 3.

This could be a small spoiler for Guardians of the Galaxy so if you haven't seen it yet (but let's be honest, you have seen it!) steer clear. If you look around the Collector's museum one of the things you'll spot is what appears to be a giant coccoon. Many have assumed this to be Adam Warlock in his regenerative state and they're probably right.  In the comics Warlock is an all-powerful being, former member of the Guardians of the Galaxy, and possessor of the Soul Gem, one of the Infinity gems Thanos is searching for. Wardell says not only will Warlock appear in 2017's 'Guardians' sequel, but that his personality, which is pretty Zen-like, will clash with that of Drax and Gamora.  A lot of fans have been eager to see Warlock appear and the timing of it seems to be right, especially as Marvel continues to build up to Avengers 3 and the big Thanos showdown.

And in another tweet, Wardell says that Captain America 3 will feature the arrival of Sin, the daughter of the Red Skull. This isn't the first time she's been mentioned as Iron Man 3 co-writer Drew Pearce once talked about doing a One-Shot film about her but that hasn't happened yet. If true then it's another piece added from the "Death of Captain America" storyline that involves Winter Soldier (Sebastian Stan), Crossbones (Frank Grillo), and others who are already part of Marvel's cinematic universe. Captain America 3 is slated to open May 6th 2016. Some of this may pan out, or maybe none of it will, but it'll be fun to kick around for awhile until we learn something concrete.

Read More

Frank Grillo Confirmed for 'The Raid' Remake; Talks Possible Return for 'Captain America 3'

After seeing how badly parkour flick District B13 was remade into Brick Mansions, action genre fans are more skeptical than ever about the upcoming remake of The Raid. There was some modestly good news awhile back when production was temporarily delayed, but make no mistake the film is still happening with Patrick Hughes (The Expendables 3) directing. Last we heard a shortlist of potential stars emerged that included Frank Grillo, recently seen as Crossbones in Captain America: The Winter Soldier, and now he's officially on board.

Grillo spoke with We Got This Covered about his starring role in The Purge: Anarchy, and revealed his martial arts background will be put to good use in The Raid....

Grillo: "What people don’t know is that I’m a blackbelt in jujitsu, which I’ve been for 20 years, and I’ve been boxing since I’ve been 15 years old – those are things that come natural to me. Believe it or not, I just got hired to do [the remake of] The Raid…I loved [the original]…we’ve got to do this justice. It’s a fanboy favorite."

Others rumored at the same time as Grillo were his Captain America 2 co-star, Anthony Mackie, along with Luke Evans and Ethan Hawke (!?!), but we don't know if any of them will join. And speaking of Captain America, Grillo sounds confident Crossbones will be returning for the sequel despite what happened to him at the end of the prior film. There are some small spoilers beyond this point.

Some time back Grillo had mentioned Captain America 2 as something of an origin story for Crossbones, suggesting he will be hanging around for awhile and possibly become very important. In the comics we know Crossbones plays a vital role in Cap's "death", and while it's unlikely we'll see that storyline replicated on screen in the same way, Grillo does say discussions have begun about what comes next. He tells Collider...

Grillo: "We’ve had multiple discussions about what comes after that, that thing. So, you know, it’s obvious Rumlow is covered in rubble and burned to crisp at the end, but you see he’s still there. They don’t do that for no reason."

And would this mean we'll finally get to see him in his famous skull costume?

Grillo: "He needs a costume! Coincidentally it could be a mask with a crossbones on it."

Filming on The Raid remake will finally begin next January, while Captain America 3 is currently slated for release on May 16th 2016. 

Read More

Alan Horn Talks 'Star Wars: Episode VII', Reveals Struggles with 'Captain America 3' Release Date

As predicted, J.J. Abrams is keeping every detail of Star Wars: Episode VII frozen in carbonite, which is why it's good people like Alan Horn are around to spill the beans. We already know that some filming has begun earlier than expected, with principle photography beginning next month.The Disney Chairman attended the Tribeca Film Festival where he revealed a few minor details about Star Wars, while also commenting on the brewing showdown between Captain America 3 and Batman vs. Superman.

First up, Horn talked about the early shooting that has taken place, and basically says it's just setting the stage for when the big show begins in a few weeks. So don't bother looking for any cool set photos....

Horn: "We did some second unit work in Abu Dhabi and other places, because we have all these locations we have to film and we have to give it that Star-Warsian look.  So we needed to go to different places that give us the right look and feel and we did have second unit work shooting already but we haven't commenced the main part of principle photography yet."

That makes sense because casting has yet to be finished, despite a few names having emerged as  likely stars.

Horn: "We're not prepared to announce it yet but we will be very shortly announcing what we're doing.

Nobody will be surprised to learn that Disney is throwing every dollar they can at Abrams' vision of Star Wars, and Horn says the budget could hit the $200M mark. Kind of surprising after the expensive flops they've had of late....


Horn: "We actually don't even have the completed budget yet. But it will be in that range. These large, tentpole kinds of movies, on the expensive side, are in the neighborhood of $175-200 million, that kind of a number — some are more, some are less. We need to give the audience, essentially, a full meal in return for their affection and devotion and love for these properties."

And even though George Lucas gets razzed by fans for what he did with the Star Wars prequels, Disney says he's still involved with the new trilogy as a consultant...

Horn: "We actually don't even have the completed budget yet. But it will be in that range. These large, tentpole kinds of movies, on the expensive side, are in the neighborhood of $175-200 million, that kind of a number — some are more, some are less. We need to give the audience, essentially, a full meal in return for their affection and devotion and love for these properties."

Right. Sounds like Lucas doesn't actually have a whole lot of input. Star Wars: Episode VII arrives on December 18th 2015, which is an unusual time of year for the franchise historically. Horn was asked if that would be the expected season for future Star Wars movies, or if they could revert back to the early summer as usual...

Horn: "No, we're not sure yet, we may revert. The Star Wars dates have been May, and we may revert to that at some point, it depends on the readiness of the screenplays or where we are, but this first one will be December 18th of 2015, so we'll start with that and we'll see.

Horn then spoke about Marvel's Captain America 3 and the May 16th 2016 showdown with Batman vs. Superman. With Captain America: The Winter Soldier quickly becoming one of the studio's biggest hits, Warner Bros. is expected to back down and move their film to another date. But in a conversation with Variety's Brent Lang, Horn said that Marvel has some concerns of their own...

"We'll see. We're struggling with it" Alan Horn on #CaptainAmerica3 debuting against #BatmanvsSuperman
— Brent Lang (@BrentALang) April 22, 2014

It simply doesn't make sense to keep both films on that date as they'll chew up one another's audience. But maybe it won't be Zack Snyder and Warner Bros. who turn tail and run?

Read More

Cinema Royale #58- Draft Day; Dom Hemingway; Marvel vs. DC

The NFL season may be months away, but pro football hits the big screen in Draft Day, the new film starring Kevin Costner and Jennifer Garner! Directed by Ivan Reitman and backed fully by the NFL, we'll take a look at whether it truly captures the energy and excitement surrounding the annual NFL Draft!

Plus, we'll look at Jonathan Glazer's sci-fi flick Under the Skin, starring Scarlett Johansson as a sexy alien hunting on Earth; and Jude Law is a foul-mouthed, uncontrollable criminal in Dom Hemingway.

All this and we'll look at the growing war between Marvel and DC's upcoming superhero films. Keeping It Reel with Filmgordon's +Tim Gordon joins us for another great show!

Head over to the Cinema Royale website and sign up to receive the free podcast every single week, full of movie news and reviews from some of DC's top critics. And while you're there, consider signing up for the premium service, which grants you access to the full back catalog of shows; complete unedited interviews with top guests such as Jason Bateman, Jesse Eisenberg, Steve Coogan and more. Plus you'll receive special premium content such as our Oscars and WAFCA awards specials, and our comic book movie refresher courses!

Read More

*UPDATE* Warner Bros. Won't Back Down from 'Batman vs. Superman' Release Date

 *UPDATE* While neither side has budged domestically, Warner Bros. will open Batman vs. Superman on April 29th 2016 in the U.K. This date had been rumored a few weeks ago as a potential option here, and that may end up being the case some time in the future. It's common practice for the U.K. to have different release dates than us, though.*

One good turn deserves another. A few weeks ago, after it began to look as if Marvel's Captain America 3 would go head-to-head with Warner Bros.' Batman vs. Superman on May 6th 2016, Kevin Feige was firm in stating he had no plans to change release dates. Now that the Cap sequel is confirmed for that date, the expectation is that Warner Bros. will have to back down. Well, not so fast.

Dan Fellman, WB's president of distribution, has come out against the idea of moving dates, while acknowledging the stupidity in two blockbusters opening on the same day....

Fellman: "It doesn't make a lot of sense for two huge superhero films to open on the same date but there is a lot of time between now and 5/6/16. However at this time, we are not considering a change of date for 'Batman vs. Superman.'" 

Captain America: The Winter Soldier has cleared $100M in five days of domestic release and over $300M worldwide. Man of Steel finished its run with $670M. Marvel has nothing to prove at this point. We all know they are the big swinging cock in Hollywood and their films will always make a ton. WB can't say the same thing, and I think rather than risking the future of their franchise by trying to show up Marvel is a mistake. I fully expect they will move Batman vs. Superman some time in the next two years.  [Bloomberg]

Read More

Marvel Confirms 'Captain America 3' will Face 'Batman vs. Superman' in 2016

With Captain America: The Winter Soldier racking up an incredible $96M its opening weekend, and $303M worldwide, Marvel has every reason to be confident in the strength of their brand. A few weeks ago Marvel head honcho Kevin Feige didn't back down from a rumor that Captain America 3 would open opposite Warner Bros.' Batman vs. Superman, and now it's been confirmed the two films will indeed have a showdown.

Marvel has announced Captain America 3 for May 6th 2016, pitting it against the Man of Steel sequel on that date. It's a ballsy move for both studios if they decide to stay, but considering how well 'The Winter Soldier' fared, one has to think Warner Bros. will back down because they have so much more to lose. In fact, some stories have already sprung up saying they intend to move back a week.

Joe and Anthony Russo will be back to direct, along with screenwriters Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely who have hinted at seeing psychotic 1950s Captain America in the story.

Read More

Interview: Joe and Anthony Russo Talk 'Captain America: The Winter Soldier', 'Cap 3', and Being Marvel Geeks

Never let it be said that Marvel hasn't been doing some out of the box thinking when it comes to building their cinematic universe of superheroes. And part of that was their decision to hire Joe and Anthony Russo, directors best known for comedies like Welcome to Collinwood, You Me & Dupree, and NBC's Community, to helm Captain America: The Winter Soldier. But just like nearly every other gamble Marvel has taken, it was one that paid off in spades. The film thrusts Cap into an unfamiliar world where the good guys and bad guys aren't clearly defined, and the government is willing to sacrifice freedom at the altar of security.

My colleague +Tim Gordon  and I had a chance to sit down with the Russo Brothers and talk about their inspirations for Captain America 2, their comic book geek credentials, and what the future holds for Captain America 3.  Check out the interview below, then check out my review of the film here! Captain America: The Winter Soldier is in theaters now!

Read More

"Psychotic 1950s Cap' Teased for 'Captain America 3'

The strong word-of-mouth surrounding Captain America: The Winter Soldier has Marvel pushing hard on a third (and final?) film featuring the star-spangled Avenger. We know Joe and Anthony Russo are back to direct Captain America 3, and that it will open confidently on May 6th 2016 opposite Man of Steel 2. While there's been some speculation the "Death of Steve Rogers" storyline could factor into the plot, writers Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely are teasing something totally different...and waaay out there.

In a conversation with Den of Geek, the writers let slip a nugget of information about the storyline, and it's probably not what Captain America fans would expect....

Markus: "All I’m saying is psychotic 1950s Cap."

The "psychotic 1950s Cap" he simply has to be referring to is William Burnside, aka the Grand Director. He was an obsessed Captain America fan who, along with his own teen sidekick, took on the public and private identity of Steve Rogers and Bucky after discovering the truth behind the Super Soldier serum. Taking part in a new government-sponsored program designed to replace their lost heroes, only to learn that their serum was flawed and had psychotic side-effects. Burnside was placed in suspended animation until he was revived years later as a villain. He was brought back again recently by the Red Skull and tasked with killing the Winter Soldier, who had taken up the mantle of Captain America after Steve Rogers' death. After escaping the Red Skull's grip, Burnside is a man out of time, just like Rogers was upon his awakening. His views on American patriotism are more imperialistic, and he eventually joins a terrorist organization before leaving them and turning to crime-fighting. The serum makes him unstable and unreliable as a hero, but he's hardly a villain in the classic sense.

So here we have another storyline that suggests the Winter Soldier will be sticking around for awhile.  It's also another chance to have Captain America examine his place in an increasingly violent and paranoid America, themes which seem to be prevalent in 'The Winter Soldier'. 

Read More

Marvel Sets 'Captain America 3' Opposite 'Batman vs. Superman' in 2016

"We’re certainly keeping the date there and we’ll announce what that movie is, I assume, in the next few months."

That was what Marvel President Kevin Feige said earlier today when asked about moving their untitled mystery film away from the May 6th 2016 date to avoid a showdown with Warner Bros.' Batman vs. Superman. Well, Marvel hasn't backed down, but we don't have to wait to find out the movie as THR reports it will be Captain America 3.

Not exactly the breakthrough reveal some were hoping, and not much of a surprise either as Marvel had already re-hired Joe and Anthony Russo to direct the sequel and begin plotting out the story. Chris Evans is coming back as Captain America, of course, although he's already looking towards the end of his contract, meaning we may see the groundwork laid for a "passing of the torch". This also would squash a prior rumor the date would go to the un-confirmed Guardians of the Galaxy sequel.

Is the threat of Captain America enough to force Batman vs. Superman to switch release dates? It may already have happened. 

Read More

Rumor: Marvel's Phase Three Includes Doctor Strange, but No 'Guardians of the Galaxy' Sequel

While there's still a good deal of Marvel's Phase Two left, plans are already underway for Phase Three. And that of course means the rumors are already flying around about which films will comprise the next blockbuster line-up. Release dates seem to be locked in place, and we know Ant-Man will be amongst them, with development on Captain America and Thor sequels having begun. But we've also heard promises of a Doctor Strange film and some early buzz about Guardians of the Galaxy 2. Will either of those films make the cut? A new rumor has emerged that claims to have the answer.

According to the guys at Schomes Know (judge accordingly), the "absolute certain" line-up for Phase Three is Ant-Man, Captain America 3, Thor 3, The Avengers 3, and Doctor Strange. Marvel President Kevin Feige has basically been confirming Doctor Strange for awhile, so that's not much of a surprise. But what about 'Guardians 2'? The site's source claims that Marvel always envisioned it as a "one and done", and that continues to be their mindset unless that has suddenly changed in the last couple of weeks. The recent rumors of a sequel would seem to suggest their opinion has changed, but none of this can be taken as gospel until we hear some confirmations. The source continues on by saying...

"They only have so many films they can do each year and they don’t want them all to be trilogies to where they’re just dealing with the same handful of characters for the next 5-10 years."

But that doesn't really make sense considering most of these franchises have been staggered. Iron Man is done; Captain America and Thor are on the verge of completing their trilogies, which would open up room for two more. And in regards to new franchises, Black Panther and Inhumans are still in the pipeline but still a ways off.

Other than the Guardians of the Galaxy bit, none of this is particularly special. They go on to say that an announcement will come at Comic-Con, which is pretty much a given, right?

Read More

'Captain America 3' in the Works; Joe and Anthony Russo to Direct

It should come as no surprise that Marvel is already looking ahead to a third Captain America film. The early reaction to Captain America: The Winter Soldier has been strong, and Marvel tends to get a jump on future projects early to make for a seamless fit into their cinematic universe. With test screenings going extremely well, Variety reports that Captain America 3 is in development now, with Joe and Anthony Russo expected to return as co-directors.

No deals have been signed yet and won't until the second film wraps up, but Marvel has been impressed enough by the Russos that they're being brought back. Of course, if the film flops that could all change, but when was the last Marvel movie to be a box office dud? Ever since The Avengers we've seen all of Marvel's movies get a considerable bump, including Thor: The Dark World which hauled in over $630M. We can probably expect a similar bounce from the Captain America sequel.

The Russos are already putting together a storyline, and it'll be interesting if this turns out to be the final part of a trilogy. So far no Marvel movie has gone past three films.  If it is, we may see them use some version of "The Death of Captain America" storyline, as many of the characters are already present and accounted for.

Read More