Marvel Archives

August 25, 2015August 25, 2015

Black Star Power: Legendary Actress Alfre Woodward to Join Marvel Netflix Show ‘Luke Cage’

According to a Deadline report, veteran actress Alfre Woodard will join the cast of the next Marvel Netflix show Luke Cage. Woodard has had a long career as a stage, TV and film actress. This won’t be her first comic book adaptation.

She has voiced Dondi Reese in the 2009-10 animated Black Panther series. She also voiced Jean Hawkins in the early 2000s’ Static Shock.

She is rumored to play Black Mariah, the leader of the crime gang called the Rat Pack. Woodard would join Michael Colter, who will be the title character Luke Cage.

The project will be produced by Showtime’s Ray Donovan executive producer Cheo Hodari Coker who will also act as executive producer of the upcoming show.

The show does not have an official release date, but it likely will be available next year.

July 27, 2015July 27, 2015

‘Jessica Jones’ Co-Creator Raves About the New Netflix Series

Netflix’s upcoming Jessica Jones series will be a new addition to Marvel’s ever expanding universe.

Krysten Ritter plays the title character, Jessica Jones, and Mike Colter plays Jones’ significant other and hero in his own right, Luke Cage. In November 2001, comic writer Brian Michael Bendis and artist Michael Gaydos introduced the former super heroine turned private investigator in Alias #1 to the Marvel universe.

Luke Cage will be introduced in the series and then he will have his own series soon after. Cage was a prison inmate and the government used him to as an experimental guinea pig. In their efforts, they turned the man into an invulnerable and impenetrable wall. Now he has bullet proof skin and works as a hero for hire.

In a long Tumblr post, Bendis answered a fan’s concern for the series.

“The show is so good. I have seen the first couple of episodes and because I didn’t work on it directly I can say this with full no ego fanfare: I loved it!! and believe me, I was going to be the hardest on it. Harder than any of you. Jessica is a part of my DNA. A bad Jessica Jones show would have hurt me deeply. BUT it is faithful and lively and everything that I could personally have wanted from the show. the mean streets of marvel Netflix from a different perspective than Matt’s but at the same time… it all fits. just like the comics on their best day. and just like Netflix DD, the look of the show is cracklin’ noir but with its own palette.”

Over the past month, the series has been picking up steam with multiple set photos being released and increasing media coverage.

The show is set to air later this year. Below are some of the released set photos.

July 22, 2015July 22, 2015

5 Major Problems That the Marvel Cinematic Universe Needs to Address

The Marvel cinematic universe has become a gold standard in cinematic world building. However, it isn’t perfect. For fans who waited years to see their favorite super heroes on the big screen, the MCU is perfect and can do no wrong, but for others, it is a pool of mediocrity. With all of the good there is also bad. Here are some problems that need to be addressed.

People of Color

Watching Marvel movies can be a painful experience for people of color. Actors like Idris Elba, who is a Golden Globe winner, has been relegated to a divine doorman. He may get five minutes of screen time per Thor film, even though he is a dynamic actor who starred in his own TV show.

Oscar winner Don Cheadle plays the sidekick to Robert Downey, Jr., a man who was nominated for an Oscar portraying a Black man in Black face. There has to be a reason Terence Howard jumped ship. These talented Black actors have climbed the mountain top of their craft and they get no real respect or significance in these films.

Honestly, Anthony Mackie has a decent role and some actual importance in the Captain America films. Also, Nick Fury is vital to the universe but what will happen after Infinity War? People are banking for Black Panther, but will he be relegated to a bit player in the team up films? It is possible. Marvel has a lot of diverse characters. It would be nice to see more Hispanic and Asian heroes as well.

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June 25, 2015June 25, 2015

5 Ways DC Comics Can Pose a Serious Threat to the Marvel Cinematic Universe

After the success of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, every major studio wants to copy that model. There have been rumors of a Ghostbusters Universe, Transformers Universe and more Star Wars. Universal Studios was hoping to launch a new Monsters Universe beginning with 2014’s Dracula Untold, but that is in limbo. However, that is just the tip of the iceberg and the beginning of the mimicry. The biggest threat comes in the form of a massive experiment from Warner Brothers. DC Comics and Warner Brothers appear to be the only forces that could come close to dethroning Marvel. With the slew of announcements, the DC Cinematic Universe could be a breath of fresh air or a beautiful disaster with merit.

Diversity

From the beginning, DC and Warner Brothers announced that the Justice League would be replacing founder Martian Manhunter with Cyborg. This minor change was just the beginning to something bigger when we learned that Jason Momoa was Aquaman. Stage actor Ray Fisher will portray Cyborg and also star in the solo film, which was announced before Black Panther. The interesting aspect to this is who will direct the film. Let’s look at other directing choices:

Patty Jenkins will direct Wonder Woman after only directing one real hit film, 2003’s Monster.

James Wan who is of Malaysian and Chinese descent will direct Aquaman. Wan has directed countless hits including Furious Seven (2015), which is one the highest grossing films of all time and one of the most diverse.

There is a strong chance Antoine Fuqua or someone else could direct Cyborg’s film.

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December 23, 2014December 23, 2014

Marvel Confirms ‘Halo: Nightfall’ Star Mike Colter Will Play Luke Cage in ‘A.K.A Jessica Jones’

From the video game-inspired world of Halo to the comic universe of Marvel, Mike Colter will take on the role of Luke Cage in Marvel’s A.K.A Jessica Jones, scheduled to air on Netflix in 2015.

Colter is certainly no stranger to taking on fantasy driven worlds as he is currently starring in the Xbox Originals series Halo: Nightfall as Jameson Locke.

His newest role, however, will have him starring alongside Krysten Ritter as both actors will attempt to bring the story of Jessica Jones to life.

Jones is the super-powered heroine whose life changed after she was in a car accident that left her doused in chemicals.

Jones went into a coma but when she awoke she eventually realized she had super powers.

As Luke Cage, Colter will be playing Jones’s super strong husband who was once locked up for a crime he didn’t commit.

Cage’s unique experiences create several emotional layers to the character and showrunner Melissa Rosenberg says she has faith that Colter will bring that to the life.

“Mike embodies the strength, edge and depth of Luke Cage,” Rosenberg, who is also the executive producer, said, as reported by Marvel.com. “We’re excited to have him bring this iconic Marvel character to life.”

It’s an important role for Colter as he will essentially be introducing the mainstream media world to Cage.

“Fans have longed to see Luke Cage and in Mike we’ve found the perfect actor,” said Jeph Loeb, Executive Producer and Marvel’s Head of Television, as reported by Marvel.com. “Viewers will get to meet Luke Cage in ‘Marvel’s A.K.A. Jessica Jones,’ and experience why he is such an important super hero in the Marvel mythos.”

With comic book-inspired films and shows reaching an all-time peak in popularity, now is as good a time as any to release the Jessica Jones series.

Of course, many blerds might argue that this is about more than just adding another comic book adaptation success to Marvel’s resume.

This is yet another project by the comic giant that will bring diversity to the gang of Marvel super heroes in mainstream media.

It’s a mission Marvel has been pretty adamant about after casting Black actor Michael B. Jordan to take on the role of the traditionally white character Johnny Storm, known best as the Human Torch.

Then there was also the announcement that The Falcon will take over as the new Captain America, marking the first Black Captain America in the comic’s history.

This was a particularly important portrayal of a Black character, according to Marvel Comics editor-in-chief Axel Alonso.

During a recent interview with CBSN Alonso explained that, “the significance of an African-American man dressed in red, white and blue is not lost on the public.”

“It’s caused a lot of interesting debate, but this is the world in which we live,” Alonso added.

Marvel has also made other serious shakeups to boost diversity by introducing a female Thor and a Pakistani-American teen as the new Ms. Marvel.

October 29, 2014October 29, 2014

Marvel Finally Gives Out More Details About ‘Black Panther’ Film

The upcoming Black Panther Marvel film has been shrouded in rumor and speculation, but Marvel has finally blessed its fans with some more confirmed information about the movie.

Marvel fans got their first look at the movie by getting to see the current concept art for the film at Marvel’s press conference Tuesday during an event at El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood, CNET reports.

So far, it looks like Marvel won’t disappoint.

The movie art features the Black Panther looking incredibly strong, fierce and rather intimidating – just as he should be.

The artist has managed to capture the hero’s incredibly athletic and muscular build flawlessly and only time will tell if that same build is captured on screen.

In addition to releasing the movie art, Marvel finally gave insatiable fans a release date for the movie, but it’s still far too early for the countdown to begin.

Black Panther won’t be hitting theaters until November 2017.

That doesn’t mean fans won’t get to get a glimpse of the prince-turned-superhero before then.

Marvel had already previously announced that the Black Panther will have his introduction to Marvel’s big screen universe in the upcoming Captain America: Civil War.

The new Captain America film is scheduled to hit theaters in May 2016.

Chadwick Boseman will take on the role of Black Panther in Captain America: Civil War, but that doesn’t necessarily confirm his role for the actual solo film.

Producers behind the film will likely have a close eye on fans’ reactions to Boseman in the Captain America film.

It certainly will be a different role for Boseman, who has been taking on more historical roles lately.

He is best known for playing iconic baseball player Jackie Robinson in 42 and taking on the role of soul music legend James Brown in Get On Up.

Either way, Boseman doesn’t seem to be too nervous and said he’s excited about the upcoming projects.

“I’m blessed to be a part of this Marvel Universe, and to work with you both, and I look forward to making magic together,” Boseman said while he was on the stage with Robert Downey Jr. and Chris Evans who play Iron Man and Captain America, respectively.

Unfortunately, that’s about all the information fans were able to get out of the press conference, and there is still no confirmation about who will taking on the role of Doctor Strange.

Rumors have already attached Benedict Cumberbatch to the role, but Marvel has not responded to the rumors.

Deadline.com reports that Cumberbatch is already in negotiations with the studio, but that also has not been confirmed by Marvel.

Cumberbatch is known for his roles in Sherlock in 2010, Star Trek Into the Darkness in 2013, The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug in 2013, and he will be starring in the upcoming Hobbit film as well as Penguins of Madagascar.

Meanwhile, Marvel also revealed an impressive roster of films that are scheduled to be released over the next few years.

In addition to Captain America: Civil War, fans can be on the lookout for Guardians of the Galaxy 2”to hit theaters in May 2017, Thor: Rangnarok to hit theaters on July 28, 2017, Captain Marvel to debut on July 6, 2018, Inhumans to hit theaters on Nov. 2, 2018, and Avengers: Infinity War Part 1 to hit theaters on May 4, 2018.

Avengers: Infinity War Part 2 is scheduled to hit theaters on May 3, 2019.