Ghostly grief of Wanda's past

Spoilers for the latest episode of Marvel Studios' WandaVision streaming on Disney+. If you haven't caught up with, or started watching, WandaVision and don't want to find out what's going on, please look away from the screen now.

The penultimate episode of WandaVision brings all the feels and the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) has never resonated more deeply! It serves as an unfiltered exploration of loss and grief through the lens of comic book tropes.

After trapping Wanda Maximoff (Elizabeth Olsen) in a basement of horrors, Agatha Harkness (Kathryn Hahn), revealed as a survivor of the Salem witch trials, takes Wanda on a timey-wimey tour of her traumatic past. Is Agatha a mentor or meddler?

Wanda has to confront moments that have shaped her destiny towards becoming the Scarlet Witch, the most powerful Avenger, ahead of Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.

Surely Benedict Cumberbatch is going to cameo as Doctor Strange in the season finale?

From the violent death of Wanda's parents to twin brother Pietro's (Aaron Taylor-Johnson) death in Avengers: Age of Ultron to Vision's (Paul Bettany) death in Avengers: Infinity War, it's a heartbreaking story arc worthy of Shakespeare and, like the return of Luke Skywalker in The Mandalorian, left me in an ugly mess.

Anyone who has seen a dead loved one will relate to the overwhelming sense of powerlessness and nothingness.

The myth Wanda had ghoulishly reanimated Vision is dispelled when it's revealed she conjured him back into existence in her grief-stricken state in the sitcom simulacrum of Westview. Bad Marvelites (myself included) for thinking Wanda was channelling Dr Frankenstein.

Olsen's acting prowess proves this was her show all along (not that I ever doubted it). And there's a mid-credits scene that ups the ante to the nth degree for the season finale, which I refuse to spoil.

WandaVision has been a ray of light during the seemingly endless darkness of a global pandemic. The weekly release schedule has seen fans united in their enjoyment of the series on social media and many (myself included) are going to be bereft when it ends.

Yes, there's The Falcon and the Winter Soldier to look forward to next in the MCU. However, Wanda's story has been an emotive journey, far more rewarding than I ever dared dream.

WandaVision concludes Friday exclusively on Disney+.

What do you think will happen in the season finale? Let me know in the comments below.

Something wicked this way comes, Wanda!

Spoilers for the latest episode of Marvel Studios' WandaVision streaming on Disney+. If you haven't caught up with, or started watching, WandaVision and don't want to find out what's going on, please look away from the screen now.

As many fellow true believers guessed correctly, the neighbourly Agnes (Kathryn Hahn) is in fact Agatha Harkness (Russell T Davies, a former Doctor Who showrunner, named Captain Jack Harkness in homage to the original comic book character).

Agatha Harkness, a witch mentor to Wanda Maximoff (Elizabeth Olsen) in the comic books, has been toying with Wanda all along, and is responsible for the appearance of a recast Pietro (Evan Peters) who appears in a surprise mid-credits scene, which many fans missed (much like the reveal of The Book of Boba Fett at the end of The Mandalorian).

After the twins, Billy and Tommy, go mysteriously missing, Agatha lures Wanda into a basement (House of M meets Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets) before revealing her true identity and Darkhold can be seen. Ruh-roh!

Whilst Wanda and Vision (Paul Bettany) channel Modern Family's Claire and Phil Dunphy with exquisite comedic results. Monica Rambeau (Teyonah Parris) gets her own superhero origin story as she forces her way back through the barrier into Westview. And Ultron (James Spader) was mentioned again.

This can't be a throwaway and suggests Tony Stark's (Robert Downey Jr.) twisted titan could be back to reclaim Vision's body following events in Avengers: Age of Ultron - much better than I remembered.

New episodes of WandaVision premiere every Friday exclusively on Disney+.

What do you think will happen next? Let me know in the comments below.

Captain America: Civil War's trailer shakes the MCU

Viewers of Jimmy Kimmel Live were treated to the world premiere of Captain America: Civil War's first trailer!



The next installment in the blockbusting Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) combines the tone of The Winter Soldier, my favourite Marvel movie, and the sweeping scale of the Avengers. Age of Ultron is a snooze fest compared to this.

Captain America: Civil War premieres April 2016 in the UK.

Marvel's Ant-Man is James Gunn's fave since Iron Man

Director James Gunn (Guardians of the Galaxy) raved about Marvel's Daredevil and now it's Ant-Man's moment of triumph in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Gunn posted his review on Facebook:

"Ant-Man may just be my favorite Marvel film since Jon Favreau’s Iron Man (well, maybe excluding one film to which I’m partial). Honestly, the movie is a complete blast! I was so happy after seeing it. It’s never boring for a second and it’s hilarious and warm throughout. It doesn’t get caught up in the webbing of its own science-fiction concept like so many movies do these days, remaining simple and elegant. It’s a part of the Marvel universe without being ruled by that fact..."

Naysayers have suggested the movie would be a disaster following the departure of Edgar Wright from the project. However, Ant-Man looks like a fun heist movie in the wake of Avengers: Age of Ultron. Ant-Man will be appearing next in Captain America: Civil War.

Marvel's Ant-Man is released in theatres July 17th.

Emily VanCamp returns as Agent 13 in Civil War

The dust is starting to settle around Avengers: Age of Ultron's blockbusting conquest of cinema screens the world over.

Next year's Captain America: Civil War sees The Winter Soldier's Agent 13, as played by Emily VanCamp (Revenge), return. She'll be joining a cast that dwarfs the two Avengers movies. Ant-Man will be there too, following his origin story this July.

Civil War takes its cue from the comic book series, but there's scant detail how it'll play on the big screen and whether or not Spider-Man makes his feted debut in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. However, here's a synopsis to whet your appetite.

"Captain America: Civil War picks up where Avengers: Age of Ultron left off, as Steve Rogers leads the new team of Avengers in their continued efforts to safeguard humanity. After another international incident involving the Avengers results in collateral damage, political pressure mounts to install a system of accountability and a governing body to determine when to enlist the services of the team. The new status quo fractures the Avengers while they try to protect the world from a new and nefarious villain."

On a technical note. Civil War will be filmed using a new 2D digital IMAX camera co-developed by the company and Arri. As such it won't be shown in 3D, which is fine by me.

Excited? Let me know in the comments below.

Marvel's Ant-Man confronts Thomas the Tank Engine

Marvel's Ant-Man, much like Guardians of the Galaxy, is a standalone movie within the expansive Marvel Cinematic Universe. A comedic respite between Avengers: Age of Ultron and Captain America: Civil War.



Many fans were left nonplussed by the Ant-Man teaser released earlier this year. However, this latest trailer may assuage any concerns and a cameo from Thomas the Tank Engine is hilarious.



Marvel's Ant-Man is released July 17th.

Audi and The Avengers

This isn't an April Fools' Day joke.

Audi, Tony Stark's car manufacturer of choice in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, has unleashed its latest commercial promoting the new TTS, which includes new footage from Marvel's Avengers: Age of Ultron and Ant-Man.



Thanks for the Marvel marketing double-dip, Audi.

The Force Awakens trailer shown with Age of Ultron

The force is strong with corporate synergy.

Disney will show the new trailer for Star Wars: The Force Awakens before the company's Avengers: Age of Ultron in cinemas.

However, the trailer is expected to premiere during this year's Star Wars Celebration between April 16 and 19, before appearing alongside the Avengers sequel later in the month.

No news regarding an online premiere, but expect it to debut in a timely fashion if Disney wants to avoid unofficial copies swamping Youtube.

Star Wars: The Force Awakens has a release date of December 18th.

Hawkeye joins the fray in Captain America: Civil War

The Hollywood Reporter confirms Jeremy Renner will reprise the role of Hawkeye for Marvel's Captain America: Civil War, which begins shooting in the next few weeks.

Renner joins a star-studded cast including Chris Evans, Robert Downey Jr. and Scarlett Johansson who appeared with Evans in The Winter Soldier. Aside from half of the Avengers cast, Civil War will also feature Chadwick Boseman as the Black Panther, Anthony Mackie as the Falcon, Frank Grillo as Crossbones, Daniel Bruhl as Baron Zemo, Sebastian Stan as Bucky Barnes, and, possibly, Spider-Man.

Could Civil War eclipse Avengers: Age of Ultron?

The movie premieres in April 2016.

Hot Toys' Hulkbuster from Avengers: Age of Ultron

Hot Toys has published photos of the Hulkbuster from Avengers: Age of Ultron!

This colossal collectible ships in 2016 with a hefty price tag to match. Start saving and be sure to make room in your collection...

The 1/6th scale Hulkbuster Collectible Figure specially features:

- Authentic and detailed likeness of Hulkbuster in Avengers: Age of Ultron
- Approximately 55 cm tall (approximately 21 inches)
- Special features on armor:
- Chest can be opened to reveal the Mark XLIII bust with LED light-up eyes and arc reactor on chest
- Metallic red, gold and silver colored painting on armor with weathering effect
- Over 30 points of articulations
- Over 16 LED light-up areas located in the eyes, arc reactor on chest, repulsor palms, back, and legs (white light, battery operated)
- Shoulder armors can be opened
- Interchangeable neck armor for when displaying the Mark XLIII bust
- One (1) pair of removable forearm armors
- One (1) pair of hands with movable fingers and light-up repulsors (white light, battery operated)

In related news. Here's the new trailer for Avengers: Age of Ultron.



Vision FTW!

Joss Whedon's unhinged ending for Age of Ultron

Joss Whedon exclusively talked to YAHOO! about his highly-anticipated Avengers sequel. Age of Ultron. And teased about its completely unhinged ending.

“[Avengers: Age of Ultron] got larger than the first film. I didn’t mean for it to get larger, but the climax that I pitched was completely unhinged and nobody said no, so that’s that … You know they’re going to fight Ultron. You know Ultron has a tendency to build hundreds of Ultrons. So that’s going to lead you in a certain direction, but the hard work of the thing is making sure everyone feels serviced and integrated. So, in the beginning it’s fun. You’re thinking, ‘What would be fun, what would be cool?’

The whole movie is a process of changing everything and keeping everything the same. You want to hit all the things that made people love the first movie, but you also want to make something new or why are you here … I don’t want to make The Avengers again - I did that one time. With the ending it was important for me that we felt a progression. We didn’t just feel, ‘well, no problem, we cleaned that up!’ because that’s an episode of television. That’s not a film. This film, there’s more at stake and we take that seriously.”

The trailers suggest a darker second act, much like The Empire Strikes Back, ending with our beloved Marvel heroes beaten and scattered...

I'm super stoked for this sequel. However, excuse me whilst I go and build the brand new The Hulk Buster Smash by LEGO.

Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. teases Marvel's Inhumans

Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. returns from its mid-season break, on March 3rd, with Skye discovering her quaking powers as an Inhuman.

“My whole life, I wanted a family” intones Skye as the latest Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. trailer begins, which premiered during the Oscars telecast. “S.H.I.E.L.D. took me in. They trained me to be an agent, but there was something inside of me, something I didn't even know was there. Something possibly… Inhuman. And if it gets out, nothing will ever be the same.”



Inhumans isn't hitting cinema screens until November 2018, but Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s story arc will whet fans appetite.

If, like me, you stopped watching early in season 1, may I suggest you go back and watch from episode 10, The Bridge. The series goes from strength to strength and there's tie-ins with the upcoming Avengers: Age of Ultron.

Looking forward to seeing Skye's powers in action? Let me know in the comments below.

Black Widow returns for Captain America: Civil War

Directing siblings Anthony and Joe Russo, who helmed Captain America: The Winter Soldier, have confirmed Scarlett Johansson will be reprising her role as Black Widow in Captain America: Civil War.

Civil War follows events in this year's Avengers: Age of Ultron directed by Joss Whedon.

“We’ve been preparing for the movie since the last one debuted last year,” said Anthony. “So, we’ve been working on it for a long time now. We’re very happy how it’s coming along. Captain America 3 is gonna be called Captain America: Civil War and it’s going to star Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson will be back, Winter Soldier [Sebastian Stan] will be back, and Robert Downey Jr. as Iron Man will also be joining us in the next film.”

Expect sparks to fly.

“The new element in this film is that Captain America and Iron Man get into a fight with each other.”

Yes, that could be considered an epic spoiler, but it's direct from the source.

Given the size of the announced cast, Civil War may be on a scale to rival an Avengers movie. What do you think? Let me know in the comments below.

The movie opens in the UK in April 2016.

Source: Sino.com

See Star Wars: The Force Awakens trailer this weekend

A post Thanksgiving treat for Star Wars fans. This weekend witnesses the release of the first trailer for Star Wars: The Force Awakens at selected cinemas in the US.

Regal Cinemas has confirmed the following locations:

CA, Irvine - Edwards Irvine Spectrum 22 & IMAX

CA, San Diego - Edwards Mira Mesa Stadium 18 IMAX & RPX

GA, Atlanta - Regal Atlantic Station Stadium 18 IMAX & RPX

IL, Chicago - Regal City North Stadium 14 IMAX & RPX

NY, New York - Regal Union Square Stadium 14

PA, Warrington - Regal Warrington Crossing Stadium 22 & IMAX

TN, Knoxville - Regal Pinnacle Stadium 18 IMAX & RPX

TX, Houston - Edwards Houston Marq'E Stadium 23 IMAX & RPX

WA, Seattle - Regal Thornton Place Stadium 14 & IMAX

Disney has a proven track record for effectively leveraging the social media space and I'd suggest the company premiere's the trailer online as soon as possible. If not, someone else will. Age of Ultron anyone?

Avengers: Age of Ultron teaser trailer is amazing

"Dammit, Hydra" Marvel tweeted following the leak of Age of Ultron's teaser trailer ahead of its world premiere during Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. next Tuesday. So, it's unleashed the trailer online.



It's the Marvel Cinematic Universe amped to the nth degree. James Spader's Ultron is channeling Pinocchio and breaking free of creator Tony Stark with devastating consequences. Phase II will culminate in a bombastic finale to eclipse events witnessed at the end of Phase I.

Age of Ultron trailer debuts in Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.

The first trailer for Avengers: Age of Ultron, directed by Joss Whedon, premieres during Marvel's Agents on S.H.I.E.L.D. next Tuesday and presumably online thereafter.

Marvel Studios presents Avengers: Age of Ultron, the epic follow-up to the biggest Super Hero movie of all time. When Tony Stark tries to jumpstart a dormant peacekeeping program, things go awry and Earth’s Mightiest Heroes, including Iron Man, Captain America, Thor, The Incredible Hulk, Black Widow and Hawkeye, are put to the ultimate test as the fate of the planet hangs in the balance. As the villainous Ultron emerges, it is up to the Avengers to stop him from enacting his terrible plans, and soon uneasy alliances and unexpected action pave the way for an epic and unique global adventure.

Marvel’s Avengers: Age of Ultron stars Robert Downey Jr., who returns as Iron Man, along with Chris Evans as Captain America, Chris Hemsworth as Thor and Mark Ruffalo as The Hulk. Together with Scarlett Johansson as Black Widow and Jeremy Renner as Hawkeye, and with the additional support of Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury and Cobie Smulders as Agent Maria Hill, the team must reassemble to defeat James Spader as Ultron, a terrifying technological villain hell-bent on human extinction. Along the way, they confront two mysterious and powerful newcomers, Wanda Maximoff, played by Elizabeth Olsen, and Pietro Maximoff, played by Aaron Taylor-Johnson, and meet an old friend in a new form when Paul Bettany becomes Vision.

Written and directed by Joss Whedon and produced by Kevin Feige, Marvel’s Avengers: Age of Ultron is based on the ever-popular Marvel comic book series “The Avengers,” first published in 1963. Get set for an action-packed thrill ride when The Avengers return in Marvel’s Avengers: Age of Ultron on May 1, 2015.

Iron Man joins Captain America in Civil War

According to industry paper Variety, who got the exclusive, Robert Downey Jr. will be joining Chris Evans' Captain America as Marvel's Civil War storyline shatters the Marvel Cinematic Universe in Captain America 3.

If The Winter Soldier is anything to go by; the Civil War will send shockwaves throughout the Marvel Universe including Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., which was bolstered by events in The Winter Soldier after a stuttering start. Hail Hydra!

The thought of Iron Man vs Captain America is much more compelling than Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, and we've yet to see Avengers: Age of Ultron.

It's worth noting Spider-Man had a pivotal role in the original Civil War comic book series, Marvel's rebooting the comic book series in 2015 and Disney is purportedly in negotiations with Sony on closer tie-ins. My spider-sense is tingling.

Do you think Tony Stark will be the main villain? Let me know in the comments below.

An Avengers movie every 3 years?

During San Diego Comic-Con Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige outlined plans for where the Avengers movies might fall in the Marvel Cinematic Universe release schedule.

"The last one was just a scheduling thing, there were other studios that were moving their chess pieces around on their boards, which is why that had been in the works — why that other 2018 date came up a few days after the initial release. We haven’t really talked about when we’ll see Avengers 3. I assume we’d like to stick to three years between Avengers movies like we did [between Avengers and Age of Ultron]."

This is the theatrical release schedule as it stands. May 4, 2018 seems most likely for The Avengers 3, but is unconfirmed:

Avengers: Age of Ultron on May 1, 2015
Ant-Man on July 17, 2015
Captain America 3 on May 6, 2016
Untitled on July 8, 2016 (Doctor Strange?)
Untitled on May 5, 2017
Guardians of the Galaxy 2 on July 28, 2017
November 3, 2017
May 4, 2018
July 6, 2018
November 2, 2018
May 3, 2019

Are you excited for more Avengers? Let me know in the comments below.

Star Wars and Age of Ultron brings ILM to London

Lucasfilm is to open a new ILM facility in Soho, London, and will make its Vancouver outpost permanent.

The London-based FX house will primarily focus on Disney's two tentpole movies for 2015: Avengers: Age of Ultron and Star Wars: Episode VII, which will purportedly be in post-production for a year.

“We’re thrilled to have a good-news story in this industry. We’re in a very healthy place,” said ILM president and general manager Lynwen Brennan.

The Hollywood Reporter quotes ILM president Lynwen Brennan as saying the new facility will be "a full service studio" with an "end-to-end visual effects and computer graphics pipeline".

The severe weather conditions in the UK has delayed filming of Avengers: Age of Ultron.

From this March Netflix will exclusively stream the unaired The Clone Wars final season in the US. No word on whether or not this applies to the UK too.

Avengers: Age of Ultron is set to open in May 2015, while Star Wars: Episode VII will be released in December that year.

The Winter Soldier to tie into Age of Ultron

Disney CEO Bob Iger confirmed that Captain America: The Winter Soldier will tie into both Avengers: Age of Ultron and the Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D. TV series.

“I’ve really been impressed with the early buzz that we’re seeing for the Marvel films,” said Iger. “Captain America is just huge. Now, we’re already in the marketplace with some marketing, but it’s been relatively limited. We had a pre-game for instance in the Super Bowl. And yet the interest in the Captain America film, which comes out April 4 here in the states, seems much louder than it would be for what I would call a non-branded film.”

Stopped watching Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. after episode 2! Perhaps it's time to revisit?