Tag: WandaVision

Posted on in Film News

EXCLUSIVE: Paramount’s ‘Star Trek 4’ Adds ‘WandaVision’ Production Designer Mark Worthington

Paramount has been trying to put together Star Trek 4 for ages now. There had been some hope after hiring Matt Shakman to direct that things would be moving forward but when the studio announced they secured the returning cast, that was refuted by the actors in question that deals haven’t been finalized. Well, it looks like Shakman has already started the pre-production stage and is putting together a crew of his own.

The Ronin can reveal that Shakman is looking to reunite with WandaVision production designer Mark Worthington as he’s been added to the anticipated sci-fi adventure project. Worthington is no stranger to the Star Trek franchise as he’s worked on Star Trek: Discovery in the past. His credits as a production designer and art director include things such as Lost, Tombstone, Austin Powers In Goldmember, HBO’s Watchmen, and American Horror Story.

We can also confirm that the film’s working title will be Riverside. If you’re unfamiliar with franchise lore, the production title that will be used during filming is a direct nod to the hometown of James T. Kirk that is Riverside, Iowa.

At one point, an incarnation of the fourth film would have used time travel to see Chris Pine‘s Kirk meet up with his father George, who was played by Chris Hemsworth in the first reboot installment from 2009 before becoming Thor in the MCU. George, of course, dies and changes many of the events of Kirk’s life. However, those George Kirk resurrection plans seemingly dissolved when the actors and studio couldn’t agree on contracts/pay.

Despite Paramount’s optimism to get cameras rolling by the end of the year, it’s possible another delay could be on the horizon as Shakman is expected to shoot the Godzilla & The Titans series next.

A surprise attack in outer space forces the Enterprise to crash-land on a mysterious world. The assault came from Krall (Idris Elba), a lizard-like dictator who derives his energy by sucking the life out of his victims. Krall needs an ancient and valuable artifact that’s aboard the badly damaged starship. Left stranded in a rugged wilderness, Kirk (Chris Pine), Spock (Zachary Quinto) and the rest of the crew must now battle a deadly alien race while trying to find a way off their hostile planet.

Posted on in News

‘Agatha: House Of Harkness’ Series Announced By Marvel Alongside ‘Marvel Zombies’ & ‘Spider-Man: Freshman Year’

WandaVision’s Kathryn Hahn was announced to lead her own series from Jac Schaeffer and Marvel Studios has given the Disney+ live-action project the title of Agatha: House of Harkness. They also announced two new animated series, Marvel Zombies and Spider-Man: Freshman Year.

Here’s how Marvel Studios describes the projects:

Agatha: House of Harkness will reveal more about the character first introduced in Marvel Studios’ WandaVision. Jac Schaefer, who served as head writer and executive producer on WandaVision, returns for Agatha: House of Harkness. Be sure to hide all dogs named Sparky.

The animated series from Marvel Studios reimagines the Marvel Universe as a new generation of heroes battle against an ever-spreading zombie scourge. Directed by Executive Producer Bryan Andrews and written by Executive Producer Zeb Wells.

The animated series follows Peter Parker on his way to becoming Spider-Man in the MCU, with a journey unlike we’ve ever seen and a style that celebrates the character’s early comic book roots. Written by Executive Producer Jeff Trammel.

Posted on in News, Television News

Kathryn Hahn Returning As Agatha Harkness For Untitled ‘WandaVision’ Spinoff Series From Jac Schaeffer

Another spinoff series is reportedly in the works at Marvel Studios and Disney+, this new one will apparently include actress Kathryn Hahn reprising the Agatha Harkness role that was introduced in WandaVision.

Variety reports that untitled Marvel series is said to be a WandaVision spinoff coming from head writer Jac Schaeffer, who signed an overall deal with Marvel Studios and 20th Television earlier in the year.

Hahn would reprise the role of Agatha Harkness in the series, which is described by sources as a dark comedy, though exact plot details remain under wraps. WandaVision head writer Jac Schaeffer would serve as the writer and executive producer on the project. Should the spinoff go forward, it would be the first project Schaeffer has set up with Marvel since she signed an overall deal with them and 20th Television in May.

In WandaVision, Hahn started out playing the role of Agnes, Wanda and Vision’s nosy neighbor, before it was revealed she was in fact Agatha, a powerful witch. In the Marvel comics and the series, Agatha is shown to have survived the Salem Witch Trials and is more than a match for Wanda, a.k.a. Scarlet Witch. When viewers last saw her in the finale of WandaVision, Wanda traps Agatha in Westview by using her powers to force her revert to her Agnes persona.

However, it’s not clear what the “dark comedy” Marvel show actually is and they don’t mention a title or concrete plot details.

When the S.W.O.R.D./Nick Fury series was first announced in separate trade reports they weren’t aware it was going to be an adapation of Secret Invasion. It’s possible the show could another project with multiple key MCU characters coming together. We also aren’t aware if this series leaves room for other established magic users like Elizabeth Olsen’s Scarlet Witch, Benedict Cumberbatch’s Doctor Strange or Benedict Wong’s Wong will be involved.

We should be getting a lineup update on new and upcoming Marvel Studios projects at Disney+ Day on November 12.

SOURCE: VARIETY

Posted on in News

UPDATE: Ionic Productions Confirmed To Be A Marvel Studios Project

A while back, The Ronin listed off a heap of new Limited Liability Companies (LLCs) established by the Walt Disney Company for a bunch of untitled Marvel Studios projects (film and television). We’ve been now able to confirm that one of the companies we listed off in the past, Ionic Productions LLC, is indeed at Marvel Studios.

We could theorize that Ionic Productions is alluding to characters like X-Men’s Rogue (less likely) or Avengers member Wonder Man, given the two superheroes have ionic-based powers.

At one time, Canadian actor Nathan Fillion (Slither, The Suicide Squad, Guardians of The Galaxy) was in the role of Simon Williams aka Wonder Man in James Gunn’s Guardians of The Galaxy Vol.2 (was cut from the final film) and he recently played the Avengers character in Hulu’s M.O.D.O.K. series, however, it remains to be seen if he’ll return to the part in any live-action capacity.

In August, Fillion took to Twitter during The Suicide Squad watch party to campaign to play Walter Langowski aka Sasquatch in a hypothetical Alpha Flight (Canadian mutant team) project at Marvel Studios. It’s an interesting character pick since Nathan’s longtime pal Ryan Reynolds is playing Canadian mutant Wade Wilson in Deadpool 3 and could lead to those characters interacting.

Wonder Man has connections to established MCU characters such as Baron Zemo, Captain Marvel, Vision, and Scarlet Witch.

There is still a good chance this might be simply another Disney+ spinoff either focusing on Paul Bettany’s Vision (Wonder Man teaser art was spotted in a WandaVision promo) or even Teyonah Parris’ Monica Rambeau, but we’ll have to wait to get real confirmation on what the project actually is.

Wonder Man concept art appeared in WandaVision promo

In May, WandaVision head writer Jac Schaeffer signed an overall deal with Marvel Studios/20th Century Television, but future projects haven’t been announced. If this turns out to be Wonder Man, given the concept art in the WandaVision production office, I wouldn’t be shocked if Schaeffer is involved given her extended deal with Marvel.

It’s noteworthy to mention WandaVision’s LLC was Static Productions, so a connection to characters from the show wouldn’t be a surprise to us.

Old Guard Productions LLC is another LLC we first uncovered that is expected to be for Marvel Studios, but we’ll still trying to get that one confirmed. It’ll be interesting to see if Old Guard might be liked to X-Men, Fantastic Four, Winter Guard/Red Guardian, or the original Guardians of The Galaxy lineup (who appeared in Guardians of The Galaxy Vol.2).

Here is a rundown of the other LLCs.

  • GRASS-FED PRODUCTIONS (SECRET INVASION)
  • BAD EGG PRODUCTIONS (IRONHEART)
  • FREQUENT PRODUCTIONS (EHCO)
  • MAGLEV TRAIN PRODUCTIONS (WAKANDA DISNEY+ SERIES)
  • NATURAL HISTORY PRODUCTIONS (DISNEY+ PROJECT)
  • BLUEBERRY WAFFLES PRODUCTIONS
  • STANDOFFISH PRODUCTIONS
  • CHANGEUP PRODUCTIONS
  • SOLVE EVERYTHING PRODUCTIONS
  • ON YOUR MARK PRODUCTIONS
  • CANTINA PRODUCTIONS
  • BATTLE ANYONE PRODUCTIONS
  • ACID POP PRODUCTIONS 
  • SPEYSIDE PRODUCTIONS 
  • RICHMOND STREET PRODUCTIONS
  • IONIC PRODUCTIONS
  • OLD GUARD PRODUCTIONS (UNCONFIRMED)

There is certainly an expectation while this stuff is for new projects (sequels don’t get new LLC names), some of the LLCs are likely for known/announced things like Bassam Tariq’s Blade reboot, Ryan Reynolds’ Deadpool 3, Jon Watts’ Fantastic Four or stuff that hasn’t been made official like X-Men/Secret Wars/Avengers 5/Silver Surfer.

New animation projects for the Disney+ lineup are also coming from Marvel.

Other live-action projects on the horizon include Eternals, Hawkeye, Spider-Man: No Way Home (collaboration with Sony Pictures), Ms. Marvel, Doctor Strange In The Multiverse of Madness, Thor: Love & Thunder, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, She-Hulk, Moon Knight, The Marvels, Secret Invasion, Ant-Man & The Wasp: Quantumania, Ironheart, Echo, Armor Wars, Guardians of The Galaxy Vol.3, and an untitled Wakanda series from Ryan Coogler.

Marvel Studios’ Kevin Feige could easily announce the new film titles at D23 Expo and then television projects at the Disney+ Day event on November 12, as an info dump by the end of the year on their upcoming slate is expected.

Posted on in Film News

‘WandaVision’s Matt Shakman Becomes Third Director Hired For ‘Star Trek 4’; Paramount Aims For Spring 2022 Production Start

Paramount Pictures released Star Trek Beyond in 2016 and has been mulling over the next steps for Star Trek 4 for ages now. They’ve been churning-out multiple Star Trek series but for some reason just couldn’t settle with the right incarnation for the fourth installment, directors S.J. Clarkson (Jessica Jones) and Noah Hawley (Fargo, Legion) previously being attached to helm the sequel.

Deadline is now reporting a third candidate has stepped in, as Paramount has hired WandaVision director Matt Shakman to hopefully bring Star Trek 4 past the finish line after various hiccups uring the project’s development. The outlet adds that a new script has been penned by Lindsey Beer and Geneva Robertson-Dworet with an aim to get cameras rolling by next spring.

This announcement would seemly nudge to us that Hawley has joined Clarkson by exiting.

J.J. Abrams and Bad Robot are returning to produce. It’s also assumed that we’ll see the return of Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Zoe Saldana, Karl Urban, Simon Pegg, and new addition Sofia Boutella as well.

An earlier incarnation was going to involve time-travel and allow Pine’s Captain Kirk interact with his father George Kirk, who was played by a young Chris Hemsworth before he was cast by Marvel for Thor. Apparently, contract negotiations fell apart leading to the project dissolving.

Quentin Tarantino and Mark L. Smith (The Revenant) had been developing their own film based on the gangster episode of the original series. However, that project doesn’t seem like it will be happening.

Star Trek 4 likely won’t be ready for release until spring or summer of 2023.

STAR TREK BEYOND – A surprise attack in outer space forces the Enterprise to crash-land on a mysterious world. The assault came from Krall (Idris Elba), a lizard-like dictator who derives his energy by sucking the life out of his victims. Krall needs an ancient and valuable artifact that’s aboard the badly damaged starship. Left stranded in a rugged wilderness, Kirk (Chris Pine), Spock (Zachary Quinto) and the rest of the crew must now battle a deadly alien race while trying to find a way off their hostile planet.

SOURCE: DEADLINE

Posted on in Television News

James Gunn Echoes Marvel Studios’ Stance That Marvel Television Era Shows Aren’t MCU Canon

Earlier in the year, Marvel Studios’ producer/executive Nate Moore revealed that the Disney+ shows were the first time that films universe, the MCU, connects directly with Marvel shows. This comes after Marvel Television head Jeph Loeb exited the company and Kevin Feige took over the television division (killing multiple shows including a Ghost Rider series) after becoming Marvel’s chief creative officer, re-branding as Marvel TV Studios.

“When Disney+ was announced we realized that there was an opportunity to interweave a cinematic universe with a television universe which has never been done before,” Nate Moore said in a Disney+ special Marvel Studios: ASSEMBLED focusing on The Falcon & The Winter Soldier.

You can see that clip below spotted by The Playlist.

This would confirm that Marvel Studios only sees the series that they make are the shows that are canon in the MCU because Moore’s statements were cleared by both Disney and Marvel, since this was their own segment and not a random interview. Even if it was an interview, Moore is so high-up at Marvel Studios that what he says is gospel, just like when Kevin, Victoria or Louis speak upon what the studio is doing.

Now, Guardians of The Galaxy franchise writer and director James Gunn (who speaks with Marvel Studios brass on a regular basis) is under this impression too while interacting with fans on Twitter and dismissing that Agents of SHIELD/Agent Carter are MCU Canon, despite what fans think or desperately want to believe is true.

https://twitter.com/JamesGunn/status/1410677884390236160
https://twitter.com/JamesGunn/status/1410762542998122498
https://twitter.com/JamesGunn/status/1410764308712022018

He also debunks the narrative that Marvel Studios had been blocking actors from taking roles in DC Comics projects at Warner Bros. Pictures.

https://twitter.com/JamesGunn/status/1410677684871393280

James Gunn has completed work on The Suicide Squad (releases August 6), will wrap on his HBO Max series Peacemaker this month (releasing January 2022), and Chris Pratt says Guardians of The Galaxy Vol.3 (will hit theaters on May 5, 2023) begins shooting this November.

SOURCE: JAMES GUNN

Posted on in Film News

Elizabeth Olsen Says Wanda’s Sokovian Accent Is Returning For ‘Doctor Strange In The Multiverse of Madness’

We’re all excited to get our first glimpse of Sam Raimi’s return to the comic book genre with Marvel’s Doctor Strange In The Multiverse of Madness, while a trailer is likely months away, actress Elizabeth Olsen is giving a little bit of insight about the latest incarnation of Wanda Maximoff aka The Scarlet Witch.

Wanda Maximoff’s American and Sokovian accent seemingly have a life of their own, but Elizabeth Olsen spoke to Rolling Stone recently and dished that her Sokovian accent will be making a return for the Doctor Strange sequel. She also explained why Wanda pivoted to varying levels of accents in previous projects.

OLSEN: “So that started with Civil War. The Russos [directors Anthony and Joseph Russo] said, ‘Can she just have a softer accent, because she’s been in America, and has to have been speaking English more.’ So I was like, sure. I do have to say that in [Wanda’s next appearance, in 2022’s] Dr. Strange [in the Multiverse of Madness], after the experience she has in WandaVision, she goes back to an accent that’s more true to her. Now that I feel a little bit more ownership of the character, I feel like she does retreat back to having this more honest expression. The sitcom part was totally different, because she’s trying to hold on to an American sitcom world and play the part the best she can.”

The sequel seemingly takes place directly after Wanda becomes the Scarlet Witch and is attempting to bring her family out of the Multiverse using the dark magic spell book, The Darkhold, which suggests that she unwillingly unleashes evil creatures into their dimension and leads to Doctor Strange getting involved.

Marvel has officially announced that newcomer Xochitl Gomez will play America Chavez aka Miss America, but the studio hasn’t announced who will be the main villains other than Baron Mordo or if we’ll see characters such as Clea or Brother Voodoo despite former director Scott Derrickson teasing their involvement on social media.

Other returning cast members are Benedict Wong as Wong, Chiwetel Ejiofor as Baron Karl Mordo, and Rachel McAdams as Dr. Christine Palmer.

The production team includes composer Danny Elfman (Batman, Spider-Man 1-3), cinematographer John Mathieson (Logan, X-Men: First Class) and production designer Charles Wood (Black Widow, Avengers: Endgame).

Doctor Strange In The Multiverse of Madness will be released on Mach 25th, 2022.

SOURCE: ROLLING STONE MAGAZINE

Posted on in Television News

‘WandaVision’ Head Writer Jac Schaeffer Signs Overall Deal With Marvel Studios & 20th Television

Jac Schaeffer first made waves at Marvel Studios when she was originally hired pen the new Black Widow script (currently has story credit), after the first incarnation of the female superhero project fell apart at Lionsgate and Marvel Studios decided to finally give Scarlett Johansson’s Natasha Romanoff the solo spinoff film they had been teasing since the Iron Man 2 press rounds. She would later become the head writer and executive producer of Marvel Studios’ first series to air on Disney+, WandaVision, which was considered a huge success and looks like will be making more MCU shows for the foreseeable future.

Schaeffer has landed a lucrative 3-year overall deal with Marvel Studios and 20th Television to develop multiple shows, according to Variety. The Marvel Studios projects, of course, will land on Disney+, but potential titles or characters weren’t mentioned in the announcement.

Marvel’s next wave of shows on the Disney streaming platform include Loki (June 9), the animated series What-If…? (August?), Hawkeye (late 2021), Ms. Marvel (late 2021), Moon Knight (2022), She-Hulk (2022), Secret Invasion (2022), Armor Wars, Ironheart, a Wakanda series from Ryan Coogler, and a spinoff featuring Hawkeye supporting character, Echo.

It’ll be interesting to see if they ultimately attempt a second season of WandaVision, but that would likely depend on how Sam Raimi’s Doctor Strange In The Multiverse of Madness ends and if Wanda aka Scarlet Witch survives that ordeal.

There are plenty of existing characters that Jac Schaeffer could end up developing a series around such as Tessa Thompson’s Valkryie, Florence Pugh’s Yelena Belova (will appear on Hawkeye), Natalie Portman’s Jane Foster aka Lady Thor, and Karen Gillan’s Nebula. That’s if they don’t attempt to launch other Marvel characters via shows such as the rebooted MCU versions of X-Men’s female team members like Rogue, Storm or Psylocke.

I guess we’ll have to be patient to find out what her new Marvel shows will be.

SOURCE: VARIETY

Posted on in Film News

‘Knives Out 2’: ‘WandaVision’s Kathryn Hahn Latest Actor To Star Opposite Daniel Craig In Murder Mystery Comedy

Breaking news as WandaVision actress Kathryn Hahn is the latest addition to Rian Johnson’s Knives Out 2, according to a report from Deadline. The comedic actress is having a career renaissance and landing a role in the comedy murder mystery should be fun to watch given how underrated Kathryn has been for the longest time.

She’ll join a growing cast that consists of Bond actor Daniel Craig reprising the role of crime novelist and part-time private detective Benoit Blanc, Dave Bautista (Blade Runner 2049, Spectre, Guardians of The Galaxy, Army of The Dead), Edward Norton (Fight Club, The Incredible Hulk, Rounders, Moonrise Kingdom), and Janelle Monae (Moonlight).

The untitled sequel will begin shooting next month in Greece giving the movie a stark contrast to the original’s setting in the United States. While it’s a sequel, there are expectations that Benoit Blanc will be the only returning character (as far as we known at this time).

Netflix made a massive deal with Rian Johnson and Daniel Craig to secure two sequels to Knives Out, reportedly spending $400+ million with Rian and Daniel earning $100 million each. The streaming service could end up pushing beyond that depending on the success and viewership the first round of films bring to Netflix.

Kathryn Hahn will be third actor from the Marvel Cinematic Universe added to the sequel’s roster alongside Dave Bautista (plays Drax) and Edward Norton (once played Bruce Banner). Hahn was a huge standout in Marvel’s Disney+ series WandaVision playing the manipulative witch Agatha Harkness and arguably stole many scenes from the main cast, including getting her own theme song Agatha All Along.

A release date hasn’t been announced by Netflix.

KNIVES OUT – The circumstances surrounding the death of crime novelist Harlan Thrombey are mysterious, but there’s one thing that renowned Detective Benoit Blanc knows for sure — everyone in the wildly dysfunctional Thrombey family is a suspect. Now, Blanc must sift through a web of lies and red herrings to uncover the truth.

SOURCE: DEADLINE

Posted on in Film News

Kevin Feige Says ‘Doctor Strange 2’ In Final Week of Shooting

Kevin Feige has revealed during an interview with The Undefeated (via The Direct) that Doctor Strange In The Multiverse of Madness is in the final stretch as it’s the last week of filming. Adding that Elizabeth Olsen jumped directly from finishing up WandaVision directly to Doctor Strange 2 in London.

FEIGE: “I’m here in London on the set of Doctor Strange 2 for our final week, and Lizzie is here having worked non-stop from wrapping WandaVision to stepping right into Doctor Strange 2.”

While details are being kept under lock-and-key, WandaVision ended with Wanda becoming the Scarlet Witch and getting her mitts on the Darkhold. A spell book that contains dark magic and likely will unleash the multiverse trying to get her family back.

We’ll also see the introduction of America Chavez aka Miss America, played by newcomer Xochitl Gomez.

Scott Derrickson exited the project over creative differences with Marvel hiring Spider-Man’s Sam Raimi as his replacement. Benedict Cumberbatch recently spoke to Collider revealing what it was like working with Raimi.

CUMBERBATCH: “Sam, amazing. He’s so collaborative. God, he comes with the baggage of an icon. He’s an incredible force, especially in this genre. But he’s so humble, he’s so nice, he’s so appreciative, you really wanna serve him. And boy, when he’s happy, you know you’ve done something right. He’s so good at getting you there and getting it there. It’s been a very, very collaborative process, this one. Our origin stories, I guess, and obviously the beasts that were the Avengers films to be a part of were a thrill, but you’re kind of just along for the ride. You do the best with what you’ve already got given to do. The second time around, there’s a bit more of, ‘So, what do you want to do, and how do we go about solving this?’ So it feels very creative. Scarily so, sometimes.”

Doctor Strange In The Multiverse of Madness will be released on Mach 25th, 2022.

SOURCE: THE UNDEFEATED