Earlier this week it was reported that Chris Evans would be making his grand return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe in “Avengers: Doomsday,” although it is somewhat unclear if the actor would be reprising the elderly version of Steve Rogers from “Avengers: Endgame,’ another variant (Hydra Supreme for example), or simply take another role (Multiverse adversary Hyperion?) like co-star Robert Downey Jr. as he’s playing “Fantastic Four” villain, Doctor Doom.
Well, another long-established MCU actor is coming back as the latest reporting from Deadline states that British actress Hayley Atwell (“Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning”) has joined the event film’s call-sheet. Suggesting she is indeed back in the role of Peggy Carter.
Atwell first debuted the character in “Captain America: The First Avenger” and got a spinoff TV series “Agent Carter” that followed her as the early stages of SHIELD were coming together post-WWII and remained part of the secretive agency. Still, it’s unclear if we’re getting the Agent Carter incarnation or the well-liked variant Captain Carter from “What If…?” and “Doctor Strange In The Multiverse of Madness,” where Peggy had taken the super-soldier serum during World War II instead of Rogers giving her those exact powers.
Captain Carter from Earth-383 was ultimately killed alongside most of her cohorts at the hands of Wanda, and if that specific variant returns there is a strong possibility it would be from another timeline/universe. There is also the “What If..?” version of her, where Steve Rogers is the pilot of a WWII-era Iron Man suit built by Howard Stark, another possible variant that Evans could be playing.
In the mainline version of the MCU timeline, the Earth-616 version of Carter died during the events of “Captain America: Civil War” but that likely has changed since Rogers went back in time at the end of “Avengers: Endgame” to be with Peggy and changing those events as they seemingly lived-out their own happy ending off-screen.
Again, I wouldn’t be all that shocked if Scarlett Johansson is the next name Marvel and the Russo Brothers resurrect for “Doomsday” given they don’t seem terribly interested in letting certain actors and characters rest after their graceful exits from the MCU.
Yesterday, it was reported by The Wrap that Phase One actor Chris Evans is going to be returning to the Marvel Cinematic Universe in an undisclosed capacity for “Avengers: Doomsday.” The expectation has been since the summer that we might see some actors who have exited the MCU make a grand return. However, the outlet is keeping mum beyond that and doesn’t seem exactly aware if Evans is going to be suiting back up as Steve Rogers or someone else completely (recastings don’t seem to be off the table given the Multiverse angle).
A return for Evans isn’t exactly new information either, trades like Deadline had previously stated he was trying to work out an unnamed “new project” with Marvel Studios that, which ultimately could have been more about him reprising his Fox-era version of “Fantastic Four” member Johnny Storm in last summer’s “Deadpool & Wolverine” Although, we should point out Evans, in theory, could be playing a new character entirely in “Doomsday” like how Robert Downey Jr. was announced at San Diego Comic-Con as the villainous Doctor Doom after playing Iron Man.
Perhaps, they’re trying to get some of the original actors to play villains in the film? It is certainly plausible as “Avengers: Endgame” teased the idea of the Hydra-backed version of Rogers.
While some fans might be giddy about the prospect of the return of “Steve Rogers” (who was established as old-as-hell at the end of “Avengers: Endgame’), it’s unclear how substantial the return is actually going to be and if it’ll be more than a cameo/flashback. There also doesn’t seem to be a clear idea if he’s even playing Rogers, although, in the comics, an older version of Rogers was still kicking ass even if Sam Wilson had taken the Captain America mantle.
There was a funny conspiracy theory mentioned in “The Falcon & The Winter Soldier,” that Rogers was now living on the moon. While a return for Rogers is likely, given the comics established an older Rogers in hero mode, we’ll have to wait for more information about all this.
This news comes after Evans has had a few critical hiccups recently with features such as “The Gray Man,” “Ghosted,” “Pain Hustlers,” and “Red One” not exactly electrifying folks after the actor gracefully exited the MCU. His minor stint in “Deadpool & Wolverine” wasn’t terribly distracting and he seemed like he had fun doing it, including his foul-mouth rant used as the film’s stinger/post-credit scene.
It’s hard to make an in-depth call on the thinking behind having The Russo Brothers back as directors (after some post-MCU misfires) alongside newly minted Oscar-winner Robert Downey Jr. and now Evans. But it’s starting to give the vibe that Marvel/Disney is increasingly desperate to recreate the magic of the last two “Avengers” installments after some perceived stumples on a handful of their film and TV projects. This could simply be the studio’s attempt at hedging their bets that more callbacks are going to draw more people to the theater and boost the box office appeal. All while at the same time event sequels like “Spider-Man: No Way Home” and the aforementioned “Deadpool & Wolverine” have certainly established that if you cram in enough nostalgia fan service, and callbacks, even if the story/scripts are weak, folks will show up in impressive numbers.
In our opinion, it is only a matter of time before we start hearing Scarlett Johansson’s (leading next year’s “Jurassic World Rebirth”) name being thrown around as well, as it looks like Marvel isn’t too interested in letting these actors move on with their careers (or potentially their characters) and are somewhat relying heavily on recapture the magic on the last two “Avengers” installments after bailing on “Avengers: The Kang Dynasty” (had “Spider-Man 4” and “Shang-Chi” director Destin Daniel Cretton set to helm) due to Jonathan Major’s legal issues leading to his firing and Marvel sort of icing the Multiverse villain in the second season of “Loki.”
I’m not exactly thrilled by these stunt castings of “Avengers: Doomsday,” maybe, it won’t feel as much of a headache in the final film and undoes the great ending of “Avengers: Endgame.”
Netflix and The Russo Brothers are teaming to bring the streaming service’s most expensive original film with a feature adaptation of The Gray Man, a spy thriller that is said to have a budget of over $200 million.
To those who lurk in the shadows, he’s known as the Gray Man. He is a legend in the covert realm, moving silently from job to job, accomplishing the impossible and then fading away. And he always hits his target. Always. But there are forces more lethal than Gentry in the world. Forces like money. And power. And there are men who hold these as the only currency worth fighting for. And in their eyes, Gentry has just outlived his usefulness. But Court Gentry is going to prove that, for him, there’s no gray area between killing for a living and killing to stay alive…
The impressive cast consists of Ryan Gosling (The Nice Guys, Drive, Blade Runner 2049), Chris Evans (Snowpiercer, Captain America 1-3, Avengers 1-4), Ana De Armas (No Time To Die, Blade Runner 2049, Knives Out), Wagner Moura (Narcos), Jessica Henwick, Dhanush, Rege-Jean Page (Bridgerton, Dungeons & Dragons), Billy Bob Thornton (Fargo), Alfre Woodard (Luke Cage), Julia Butters (Once Upon A Time In Hollywood), Eme Ikwuakor (Inhumans, Moonfall) and Scott Haze (Venom, Jurassic World: Dominion, Minari).
The sibling filmmakers have announced over the weekend that they have wrapped on the film.
It’s been said that Netflix hopes The Gray Man will be the first of multiple installments as they see it has potential to become their own Mission: Impossible or James Bond franchise. However, we’ll have to see if spending all that money was worth it as many of the original films from Netflix make for flashy trailers but never really live up to the hype and tend to lack the quality of studio blockbusters.
Netflix brass recently told Deadline they have zero plans to make a follow-up to Michael Bay’s 6 Underground starring Ryan Reynolds, something I’m sure they believed would become a massive success for them too.
They’re likely crossing their fingers that Red Notice starring Dwayne Johnson, Gal Gadot, and Ryan Reynolds (another pricey action film) will also become a franchise player for them as well.
The Russo Brothers are busy shooting their massive Netflix spy film The Gray Man in California and they’ve enlisted two more Marvel alumni to their cast.
The siblings have hired Eme Ikwuakor (Inhumans, Moonfall) and Scott Haze (Venom, Jurassic World: Dominion, Minari) to take roles in the epic action-thriller that is budgeted at over $200 million, making it the most expensive Netflix original movie to date. The casting news comes from Deadline but who they’ll be playing isn’t mentioned in the report.
To those who lurk in the shadows, he’s known as the Gray Man. He is a legend in the covert realm, moving silently from job to job, accomplishing the impossible and then fading away. And he always hits his target. Always. But there are forces more lethal than Gentry in the world. Forces like money. And power. And there are men who hold these as the only currency worth fighting for. And in their eyes, Gentry has just outlived his usefulness. But Court Gentry is going to prove that, for him, there’s no gray area between killing for a living and killing to stay alive…
The rest of the cast consists of Ryan Gosling, Chris Evans Ana De Armas, Wagner Moura, Jessica Henwick, Dhanush, Rege-Jean Page, Billy Bob Thornton, Alfre Woodard, and Julia Butters.
During a chat with Entertainment Weekly to promote the upcoming Disney+ series The Falcon & The Winer Soldier, Marvel’s Kevin Feige finally responded to the Deadline rumor that Chris Evans was in talks to return to the MCU for undisclosed projects.
Kevin seems to refer to Evans’ own debunking on Twitter when he said “news to me.”
FEIGE: “I rarely answer no to anything anymore because things are always surprising me with what happens, but that rumor, I think, was dispelled rather quickly by the man himself.”
He could have easily side-stepped the question or given a non-answer but seemed to double-down on Evans’ tweet. There has been some speculation that we could see the death of Steve Rogers in Falcon, however, that has yet be confirmed. It’s worth pointing out that we don’t really see a lot of Wyatt Russell’s U.S. Agent and gives me the impression that he might last that long in the show.
Netflix’s most expensive original film has officially started production according to a Twitter post made by The Gray Man’s directors, The Russo Brothers. The film’s budget is said to be well over $200 million dollars and is expected to be a large-scale spy film, given the money involved we’re assuming there should be some over-the-top action sequences.
Production was reportedly taking place in Long Beach, California and it will reunite them with Captain America/Avengers star Chris Evans.
To those who lurk in the shadows, he’s known as the Gray Man. He is a legend in the covert realm, moving silently from job to job, accomplishing the impossible and then fading away. And he always hits his target. Always. But there are forces more lethal than Gentry in the world. Forces like money. And power. And there are men who hold these as the only currency worth fighting for. And in their eyes, Gentry has just outlived his usefulness. But Court Gentry is going to prove that, for him, there’s no gray area between killing for a living and killing to stay alive…
It’s cast includes Ryan Gosling, Chris Evans Ana De Armas, Wagner Moura, Jessica Henwick, Dhanush, Rege-Jean Page, Billy Bob Thornton, Alfre Woodard, and Julia Butters.
Their post confirms the cinematographer will be Stephen F. Windon, the director of photography for The Fast & The Furious films going back to Tokyo Drift. Stephen also worked on Star Trek Beyond, Sonic The Hedgehog, and G.I. Joe: Retaliation.
Yesterday, news broke via Deadline that Chris Evans’ retirement from the Marvel Cinematic Universe was about to end with talks of the Avengers actor nearing a deal to reprise the Steve Rogers role for an upcoming MCU project and adding a second project could also be in play.
Chris Evans has taken to Twitter to seemingly respond to Deadline’s report stating “news to me” with a shrug emoji.
Deadline is quite reliable and actors connected to Marvel roles have been deceptive before when it comes to them publicly confirming casting reports or returns to various projects before the go-ahead from the studio. It’s also possible Evans’ return doesn’t come together and Avengers: Endgame is the final say on Steve Rogers.
Having an older Steve mentoring Sam Wilson in a Captain America 4 feature film feels like the play here, but I’m not sure that is something they’ll be ultimately attempt as they gave Rogers a solid ending that seemed to sit well with Chris Evans.
The actor signaling on Twitter he would stepping down from the role back in 2018.
There are other ways to have Evans return with his time-travelling to the late 1940s to meet up with Peggy Carter post-WWII and spends a lifetime with her, allowing some wiggle room to have him tackling The Cold War era threats to the United States and world peace via a team like The Invaders.
The role they were talking-up sounds larger than a simple cameo that could take more time than he currently has for other projects as he is about to begin filming Netflix’s $200 million budgeted spy film The Gray Man directed by The Russo Brothers. This might telegraph his work in California could conflict with current Marvel Studios productions such as Spider-Man 3, Doctor Strange In The Multiverse of Madness or even Thor: Love &Thunder.
Speaking of the Multiverse, there could be another timeline where Captain America fought through-out the entire WWII campaign beyond just taking down HYDRA and was able to hook up with other Marvel superheroes from that era.
Yesterday, it was revealed by Deadline that Chris Evans was nearing a deal to reprise SteveRogers aka Captain America in a small supporting role (similar to Robert Downey Jr. in Spider-Man: Homecoming) for an undisclosed MCU project. They also mention Evans might be returning for second thing, possibly a film but didn’t reveal what that could be either.
There are a couple of obvious options such as old Steve Rogers becoming a mentor to Sam Wilson in Captain America 4 as he takes over the mantle. Also, seeing what Steve was up to while hiding between Captain America: Civil War to Avengers: Infinity War, not unlike where Black Widow takes place in the MCU timeline. There is the multiple years between Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame, I’m sure there would still be threats in the wake of Thanos’ snap.
There is another option to add. Thanks to Avengers: Endgame, that Steve was able to go back in time to be with Peggy Carter and stayed there starting in 1948 just when The Cold War begins. Steve as an old man ends up handing Sam Wilson the shield at the end of the film and launching the events that will be covered in The Falcon & The Winter Soldier.
The Multiverse also opens the door to other timelines allowing to them return to WWII.
I think it’s hard to imagine with all the threats surrounding him during that timeline and Peggy Carter’s work at S.H.I.E.L.D. that he doesn’t eventually jump back into the fray between his return and Avengers: Endgame. What would make a lot of sense would be Rogers leading his own team which has previously happened with The Invaders, a group mostly made up of WWII era heroes such as Namor McKenzie aka The Sub-Mariner, Union Jack, Spitfire, the original android version of The Human Torch aka Jim Hammond, Blazing Skull, and multiple other wartime heroes that could get some live-action love.
It’s worth noting that Wyatt Russell’s John Walker aka U.S. Agent, Anthony Mackie’s Sam Wilson, and Sebastian Stan’s Bucky Barnes have been established members on the roster.
There is another superhero that was kicking around during WWII and The Cold War that has teamed-up with Captain America the comics that could make for another excellent addition to those ranks, that being the Canadian super-soldier Wolverine.
Luckily, since Logan doesn’t really age he can be able to time-hop to various eras of the MCU including something like WWII or even futuristic setting like with Old Man Logan.
Rebooting Wolverine is clearly a huge priority to the studio alongside the X-Men and having the anti-hero connect to various MCU characters beforehand wouldn’t be shocking since he’s, like Steve Rogers, he is part of a super-soldier program via Weapon. When his origin takes places in the MCU doesn’t seem to be set in stone and Marvel can certainly tinker with it to fit their needs but I’d personally like to see him running around WWII without his indestructible skeleton and then get it during The Cold War.
It might be a good idea to introduce Wolverine as a supporting character elsewhere so that he doesn’t dominate the main X-Men films as much. The fictional X-Men locale of Madripoor is going to be introduced in The Falcon & The Winter Soldier, which had many fans jump to conclusions that Wolverine is connected to the Disney+ series, although, there hasn’t been credible information backing up these fan desires. However, it becoming a stomping ground for the mutant eventually wouldn’t a surprise.
If they’re genuinely going to bring Chris Evans back I think it is worth considering giving him another period project since while Captain America: The First Avenger canonically takes place during WWII, it felt like they copped-out by limiting how much fighting he did against the actual Axis. The Cold War era could be another fine option as Steve combating the new threat of The Soviet Union during the height of the nuclear arms race feels just as a plausible of a setting for another adventure.
X-Men villain Omega Red could be a good baddie to use as well given his connections to Soviet Union super-soldier experiments.
It’s worth mentioning we’ve previously seen Easter Eggs to canonical members of The Invaders lineup in previous Marvel Studios films.
Union Jack was teased via Iron Man 2 as Joey Chapman was listed as one of the racers going head-to-head with Tony Stark. The Human Torch is seen encased in glass and Namor’s Atlantis was briefly teased in Captain America: The First Avenger at the Stark Expo (blink and you’ll miss the underwater city nod). The S.H.I.E.L.D. boat called The Lemurian Star in Captain America: The Winter Soldier is a direct nod to Namor villains The Lemurians, a sign that something nefarious was happening onboard.
I’m sure we’ll start to get confirmation what Evans is actually going to show up in but I think fans are also quite comfortable leaving old Rogers alone as well given his satisfying ending.
It looks like Chris Evan‘s break as Captain America didn’t last that long.
Deadline is reporting Evans is closing-in on a deal to play Steve Rogers aka Captain America one more time for Marvel in an unnamed project at Marvel Studios. The outlet stops short from revealing what the project could be, either film or a Disney+ series, claim it’s much more substantial than a cameo potentially more in a supporting role.
In a move that is sure to rock the Marvel Cinematic Universe, sources tell Deadline that Chris Evans is cleaning the dust off his Captain America attire as he expected reprise the role in the MCU in some form. Still vague if deal as completely closed but insiders say its headed in that direction for Evans to return as Steve Rogers aka Captain America in at least one Marvel property with the door open for a second film. Sources add it’s unlikely to be a new Captain America installment and more likely to be like what Robert Downey Jr. did after Iron Man 3, appearing in films like Captain America: Civil War and Spider-Man: Homecoming.
A Multiverse project feels like the most current thing he could be doing for Marvel Studios, however, he’s about to begin shooting Netflix’s spy flick The Gray Man for the Russo Brothers in California making it difficult for him to be flying to London or Atlanta anytime soon to shoot a bunch of scenes.
I personally would love to see an Invaders film/series that takes place during WWII since we really didn’t get that in Captain America: The First Avenger, the studio seemed to be squeamish about having one of their heroes taking on a group of real Nazis. A Multiverse project set within the WWII could allow Marvel to return to that era and explore the multiple superhero characters that fought alongside Cap and Bucky. Those include Namor, Union Jack, Spitfire, and the original android version of The Human Torch. Plus, there are many many other WWII era characters they could use that would likely never see the light of day elsewhere.
When Steve goes back to be with Peggy there is a possibility he had further adventures which could allow for the Invaders to come together in that timeline.
Then again, they could use the older version of Steve Rogers from Avengers: Endgame in a project as well.
A new report from Deadline is suggest that the California production start on Netflix’s $200+ million budgeted spy flick The Gray Man from Avengers: Endgame directors The Russo Brothers might be seeing a production delay pushing the film’s start into early February or late January from it’s original planned start in mid-January due to positive COVID-19 tests. Netflix is hoping the expensive project could become a franchise on the level of James Bond.
The script was penned by the Russos with help from Marvel Studios alumni Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely.
The Gray Man is the debut novel by Mark Greaney, published in 2009 by Jove Books. It also is the first novel to feature the Gray Man, freelance assassin and former CIA operative Court Gentry. The action thriller will follow Gentry (Gosling) as he’s hunted across the globe by Lloyd Hansen (Evans), a former cohort at the CIA. The film is based on the first installment of the best-selling Gray Man book series.
It’s impressive cast already consists of Ryan Gosling (The Nice Guys, Drive, Blade Runner 2049), Chris Evans (Snowpiercer, Avengers franchise, Captain America franchise), Ana de Armas (No Time To Die, Knives Out, Blade Runner 2049), Jessica Henwick (The Matrix 4, Godzilla vs Kong, Game of Thrones, Star Wars: The Force Awakens), Wagner Moura (Narcos, Elysium), Dhanush, and young actress Julia Butters (Once Upon A Time In Hollywood).
The Ronin has also learned that 2nd unit director and veteran stunt coordinator Spiro Razatos is expected to join the spy movie’s production team. Razatos’ extensive credits include The Expendables, Fast Five, X-Men: First Class, Fast & Furious 6, Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Furious 7, Captain America: Civil War, Kong: Skull Island, The Fate of The Furious, Venom, 21 Bridges, Bad Boys For Life, and F9.
The Russo Brothers are busy bees as they’ve wrapped on their Tom Holland (Spider-Man 3) crime drama Cherry and are already lining up their next film The Electric State for Universal Pictures starring Millie Bobby Brown (Stranger Things, Godzilla vs Kong). They’ve also been developing a live-action feature film based on the anime series Battle of The Planets and have considered returning to Marvel Studios to direct an event film such as Secret Wars.
A release date for The Gray Man has yet to be set by Netflix.
THE RONIN 