Chris Hemsworth Fought For Thor’s Avengers: Endgame Transformation To Be Permanent

Chris Hemsworth Fought For Thor’s Avengers: Endgame Transformation To Be Permanent

Spoilers ahead for Avengers: Endgame

The Russo Brothers did the impossible with Avengers: Endgame, producing a movie even more ambitious and heart-wrenching than Infinity War. The latest Marvel blockbuster put an extra emphasis on the original team of Avengers, paying tribute to the characters that started it all. Chief among them was Chris Hemsworth's Thor, who struggled with a deep depression in the wake of Thanos' snap.

That depression manifested by Thor depending on alcohol, and a physical transformation that saw the God of Thunder pack on a few pounds during his time on New Asgard. And it turns out that Endgame originally saw Thor return to his typical physical pique, before Chris Hemsworth insisted that he stay the same weigh during the final battle against Thanos. As Hemsworth recently explained:

I enjoyed that version of Thor. It was so different than any other way I played the character. And then it took on a life of its own.

Chris Hemsworth's signature Marvel character is known for his physical presence, as each Thor movie usually contains a gratuitous shirtless scene or two. Avengers: Endgame followed suit, and Thor's weight gain was one of the first plot twists in the film's second act.

Chris Hemsworth's comments to Variety show how strong the collaboration between The Russo Brothers and the cast of Avengers: Endgame was. The co-directors meticulously crafted their complicated narrative, including the super ambitious Time Heist. But they still left conversation open with the powers that be within the studio, as well as the actors themselves.

Avengers: Endgame marks Chris Hemsworth's whopping seventh appearance in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, so its safe to say that he knows the character of Thor Odinson quite well. So when he had the instinct to keep the character's body transformation until the end of the massively popular blockbuster, Joe and Anthony Russo were kind enough to allow the 35 year-old actor to have that control.

Related: Jack Black Attempted To Do Chris Hemsworth's Intense Workout, And There's Hilarious Video

Thor has a really fascinating arc in Avengers: Endgame, as the God of Thunder was drowning in self-loathing following the death of Thanos. Thor's appearance was a constant reminder of the character's mental state, and he didn't have almost any scenes in the blockbuster without chugging the nearest alcoholic beverage. Overall Thor was at his most emotionally vulnerable in Endgame, and it was a character arc that really resonated with audiences.

Thor's body was actual the subject of conversation during Avengers: Infinity War, no doubt teasing his eventual weight gain in the following movie. When the Guardians took him aboard The Benatar, Gamora admired how his muscles looked like they were made out of metal. And in retrospect, The Russo Brothers were likely setting up Thor's weight gain during that brief scene.

It should be interesting to see if Thor's body goes through more changes in Phase Four. Chris Hemsworth's contract may have been up with Avengers: Endgame, but the blockbuster also teased that he might be heading to space with the Guardians of the Galaxy. Will he maintain his imperfect body during this adventure? We'll just have to wait and see.

Thor's weight gain in Avengers: Endgame was fodder for a variety of comedic beats in the movie, especially his first scene after the five year time jump. Seeing the God of Thunder chugging beer and playing Fortnite with Korg was not what anyone expected from Chris Hemsworth's character. Neither was seeing just how traumatized Thor was of Thanos-- unable to even utter the Mad Titan's name.

But the decision to give Thor a dad bod hasn't been universally accepted by the film world, as some moviegoers and advocates have taken umbrage with the creative choice. Making Thor's weight a punch line rubbed some people the wrong way, as it has the potential to reinforce stereotypes around shape. And while the MCU is putting women and people of color in the public eye, most of the shared universe's heroes have near-perfect bodies.

The Russo Brothers have since explained this plot device, and now it's revealed that Chris Hemsworth fought to keep Thor's imperfect body in Avengers: Endgame's bonkers final battle. And the OG Avenger was still able to kick ass and takes names, facing off against Thanos directly. So his size didn't make him any less of a hero, despite it being used as a moment of levity. I mean, Frigga literally told her son to eat a salad in the middle of the time heist.

Now the question is: will Thor go back to his typical svelte figure for his next appearance in the MCU? Chris Hemsworth revealed the suit he wore that showed off Thor's body weighed a whopping 90 pounds, so it might not be a sustainable choice for the character. Than again, maintaining a full figured superhero would no doubt do wonders to quell the naysayers out there. But we'll just have to wait and see what Kevin Feige and the MCU has in store for the future.

With Chris Hemsworth's contract with Marvel Studios up, the 35 year-old actor has the opportunity to make a major payday with any future appearances as Thor. Since he's no under contract, Hemsworth will be able to negotiate for more money if/when he pops back up. And considering just how much money Avengers: Endgame is continuing to make in theaters, the studio should have the funds available.

But what's next for Thor? The God of Thunder has given up his royal titles, and gave Tessa Thompson's Valkyrie the ability to rule New Asgard. As such, it seems possible that another Thor movie might not end up happening. That is, unless Valkyrie takes on the mantle to become a female Thor.

Thor was last seen back on The Benatar with the Guardians of the Galaxy (Asguardians?), so it seems like he might be officially joining the team. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is already highly anticipated, but it would blow fans' minds to see Thor as an official member. But we'll just have to wait, as Marvel Studios hasn't revealed its plans for Phase Four.

Avengers: Endgame is in theaters now. Be sure to check out our 2019 release list to plan your next trip to the movies.

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Robert Downey Jr. Shares Inside Look At Tony’s Most Epic Scene In Avengers: Endgame

Robert Downey Jr. Shares Inside Look At Tony’s Most Epic Scene In Avengers: Endgame

Warning: SPOILERS for Avengers: Endgame are ahead!

We knew going into Avengers: Endgame that this was going to be an especially big movie for Robert Downey Jr’s Tony Stark since it was the culmination of a story that he helped kick off in 2008’s Iron Man, as well as the fact that this was the final movie on Downey’s Marvel contract. Sure enough, Endgame saw Tony making the ultimate sacrifice to vanquish Thanos and his forces, and Downey has shared a behind-the-scenes look at Tony’s last act in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Following in the footsteps of Thanos and The Hulk, Tony Stark became the third individual to channel the power of all six Infinity Stones on screen, only like his buddy Bruce Banner, Tony inserted the Stones into his own nanotech Infinity Gauntlet. Alas, Robert Downey Jr. was not wearing such a glove in real life, as you can see from the above picture he posted on Instagram. That was completely CGI.

Nevertheless, this was one of the most epic moments in Avengers: Endgame, as just when it seemed like the Thanos from 2014 was going to erase the entire universe and replace it with a new one, it turned out that Tony Stark had swiped the Infinity Stones from Thanos’ gauntlet to put in his own. One snap later, and Thanos and his forces all turned to dust. Unfortunately, a normal human wasn’t meant to use all the Infinity Stones, so Tony lost his life to save all of existence.

Since Robert Downey Jr. knew going into Avengers: Endgame that this would be his last Marvel movie, you have to imagine filming these scenes were emotional for him, especially Tony Stark’s Infinity Snap. Not only does Tony deliver one last heroic act in the MCU, his utterance of “And I… am Iron Man” reminds of when Tony told the press that same thing at the end of the first Iron Man movie, setting the stage for a franchise unlike any ever seen before.

Tony Stark would stick around long enough to say goodbye to War Machine, Spider-Man and his wife, Pepper Potts, but that snap ended his story. All the major characters we’ve met in the MCU over the years attended his funeral, and while his daughter Morgan is only 5 right now, perhaps she’ll become an important player in this franchise later down the line, carrying on where her father left off.

But Avengers: Endgame didn’t close the book on Tony Stark’s story. It also capped off the tale of Steve Rogers, a.k.a. Captain America, who chose to stay in the past with Peggy Carter and passed on his vibranium shield to Sam Wilson, a.k.a. Falcon, as an elderly man. Natasha Romanoff, a.k.a. Black Widow, also died during Endgame, but because her solo movie is coming up, we’ll at least get to learn more about her pre-Avengers years.

Be sure to read CinemaBlend’s review of Avengers: Endgame and stay tuned to CinemaBlend for more updates on the future of the MCU. If you’re curious about what movies are already lined up, look through our handy guide.

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6 References To The Original Dumbo In The New Live Action Remake

6 References To The Original Dumbo In The New Live Action Remake

The following contains SPOILERS for the new live-action Dumbo.

While the new live-action Dumbo may technically be considered a remake, it is, in many ways, a re-imagining. The new film has several entirely new characters and plot threads that never appeared in the original 1941 animated classic, and it also eliminates characters and sequences that were there the first time along.

However, just because the new Dumbo is a very different thing doesn't mean it forgot its roots. There are several great easter eggs and references to the original Dumbo inside the new Tim Burton film. Here are the biggest ones.

Casey Jr.

One element that hasn't changed between the animated original and the brand new Dumbo is the method the circus uses to get from place to place. Casey Jr. is the name of the train. We see the name Casey Jr. on the side of the locomotive as the circus is getting underway at the beginning of the movie. The live action version even has a slightly discomforting face on the front of the locomotive, even more than the animated train does.

Of course, if the train is being used is the same, does it really count as a reference? Maybe not, but what absolutely does is the music. "Casey Junior" is actually one of the songs in the original Dumbo, and one of the better ones, in my opinion. You can hear some pieces of the original music in Danny Elfman's score for the new Dumbo's opening scene. In addition, Danny Devito's character, ringmaster Max Medici, breaks into a chorus of the song at a couple points. Why he came up with a song about his own train, I can't say.

Timothy Q. Mouse

The single biggest change to Dumbo between the two versions of the story concerns the characters that surround the title elephant. In the new movie, it's the family of Holt Ferrier and his two children. However, in the animated classic, Dumbo has no human caretakers. Instead he makes friends with a small mouse who comes to Dumbo's defense when the other elephants of the circus shut out the newborn.

Timothy Q. Mouse spends most of Dumbo in a circus ringmaster's costume. While he might not be a character this time around, we still see a mouse dressed as a ringmaster, as a homage to the character. He's one of the pet mice kept by Holt Ferrier's daughter, Milly.

The Stork

Both the original Dumbo and the new remake start by introducing us to Dumbo's mother, Mrs. Jumbo, before the flying elephant is actually born. Of course, the Disney animated movie isn't going to get into the whole question of where babies come from, so the film introduces us to a stork character who actually delivers little Dumbo to his mother.

While the new Dumbo doesn't dwell on where Dumbo came from exactly, Mrs. Jumbo is already pregnant when we meet her, and we assume she gave birth the old fashioned way. However, before she does, we see her looking out her window, where she spots a stork land just for just a moment before taking flight again and joining its flock. Maybe the stork delivered Dumbo in this movie after all.

The Magic Feather

In the original Dumbo, the elephant and his mouse friend find themselves up a tree after a night of accidental heavy drinking, where they meet a group of crows. While the less said about the crows, the better, they are important for the story because they're the ones who first give Dumbo a feather and claim it has the magic power to make him fly.

In the new Dumbo, there's no belief that the feather is actually magic, but there is a feeling that when Dumbo inhales a feather it grants him his ability to fly. In this movie as well, that turns out to not be true, but the connection is there. Also, the first feather that Dumbo inhales up his trunk which initially launches him into the air is a simple black feather, meant to remind viewers of the crow feather from the original movie.

Pink Elephants on Parade

One of the most famous sequences in the original Dumbo is one that probably gave you nightmares if you first saw it as a child. Dumbo inadvertently drinks some water that has been spiked with booze and the elephant gets drunk. He then blows a large bubble out of his trunk that becomes a group of pink elephants, which then begin to sing and dance and otherwise be terrifying. We have witnessed Dumbo's alcohol-induced hallucination.

In the new Dumbo, we get a similar pink elephant scene. Once again the elephants are created from bubbles. Only this time, the bubbles come from wands being waved by some of V.A. Vandevere's circus performers. Exactly how the bubbles then begin to dance is far from clear. But they do, all while the same music plays. It comes across a bit more as "somebody spiked the popcorn with LSD" than "I really need to quit drinking," but multiple people see the elephants, so it appears that they're quite real.

When I See An Elephant Fly

While Disney has gone ahead and made some live-action remakes like Beauty and the Beast full musicals, Dumbo is not one of those. However, as mentioned, some of those songs are referenced in the new film in other ways. The same crows that give Dumbo his magic feather sing a song in the film, which has a few lines borrowed in the new movie as part of an unexpected cameo.

Famed boxing ring announced Michael Buffer appears as the announcer for V.A. Vadevere's Coliseum, and as part of his build up, he makes references to unlikely things we've all seen fly, such as seeing a "dragon fly" a "horse fly" or a "house fly." These same lines are part of the intro of the song "When I See an Elephant Fly" from the original film. The crows are laughing at the idea of seeing an elephant fly, though they admit they've seen some strange things fly in their time.

In order to turn the brief story of Dumbo into a modern feature film, the story certainly needed work, so it makes sense that a lot of changes and additions were made. However, for the generations that grew up on the previous version, there are a few items to keep your eyes open for.

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How The Best Of Enemies Stands Out From All Other Civil Rights Biopics

How The Best Of Enemies Stands Out From All Other Civil Rights Biopics

When making a film that covers a part of history as cinematically saturated as the civil rights movement, it’s important to have a fresh angle for the audience to take in. It’s not an easy job, but when done correctly, it really makes the difference when trying to sell a film like this weekend’s The Best of Enemies. Based on the true story of the fight for school desegregation in Durham, North Carolina, this story’s unique perspective is a tried and true method that focuses more on the characters and their transformation, rather than the events themselves.

No one understands this better than the film’s stars, Taraji P. Henson and Sam Rockwell, and they said as much in their conversation with CinemaBlend, as we were on hand for The Best of Enemies’ recent press day. Sitting down with Henson and Rockwell, their feelings on just how this film stands out are pretty indicative of such an angle, as they provided the following thoughts when asked about that subject:

Henson: 'I think that what makes [The Best of Enemies] uniquely different is that you see a real transformation happen. Not that in other movies you don’t see the transformations of the characters, but I’ve never seen a film where a Ku Klux member denounces the KKK, and becomes a civil rights activist.'

Rockwell: 'And that’s true, he tore up his card. Spoiler alert for the movie. It spoils the ending.'

Respectively playing civil rights activist Ann Atwater and prominent regional leader of the Ku Klux Klan C.P. Ellis, Taraji P. Henson and Sam Rockwell are in agreement that the key detail that makes The Best of Enemies different from the various civil rights biopics that exist is the element of transformation.

While Ellis’ transformation from white supremacist to his eventual position as a labor crusader who denounces his Klan membership may be the more visible, and definitely more surprising one, there’s still a transformation that occurs on Atwater’s end. Seeing her go from a sworn enemy of C.P. Ellis to an actual friend and collaborator is the other half of the equation, which only makes the end result of The Best of Enemies all the sweeter. However, there’s another interesting discussion to be had thanks to this conversation.

Specifically, that second line of thought is in the debate over what counts as a spoiler when it comes to a movie like The Best of Enemies. As the film is an adaptation of a piece of history, rather than a whole cloth fabrication of fictional basis, but is also based on a story that’s not widely discussed, the line between spoiled or not spoiled can be somewhat blurry. This is especially true as not only is there a treasure trove of information available on this very subject in reference materials, there’s other adaptations that have told this story before the narrative film version was even in production.

Taking all of this into account, Sam Rockwell, a recent veteran of historical adaptation pictures thanks to his work on Vice and the upcoming FX series Fosse/Verdon, sounded like he was of the mind that revealing that detail about his character before people have been able to see The Best of Enemies was indeed a spoiler. However, Taraji P. Henson believes that the other side of the coin is true. She said as much during that very same conversation, as she laid out the following case for historical movies being somewhat spoiler proof:

It doesn’t, because the movie is already out there. It’s a play. If you know anything about this film, it’s not like the gig is up. It actually happened, and if anybody wants to google it, they’re gonna find out.

One could say that even with the historical evidence provided, knowing that C.P. Ellis tears up his Klan card at the end of The Best of Enemies is a spoiler because it’s crucial to the story that the film is telling. But no matter which side of the argument you land on, it’s easy to agree that The Best of Enemies’ usage of the personal transformation angle is what makes it a special case when it comes to a film approaching an often covered part of history. And so long as there are stories deeply rooted in how people reacted to events such as these, then there’s still room left to tell those stories in the world of cinema.

The Best of Enemies bridges the gap between history and cinema, on April 5. Stay tuned to CinemaBlend, as we’ll have more coverage on this film throughout the week. Though if you’re looking for more true to life stories headed to theaters this year, our 2019 release calendar is there to help you decide on which stories to follow.

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Robert De Niro Addresses Joker’s Connection To The King Of Comedy

Robert De Niro Addresses Joker’s Connection To The King Of Comedy

After yesterday’s big unveiling of the trailer for Todd Phillips’ Joker, there were many connections and references that sprang to mind as fans dissected every inch of the footage. As expected, one of the big ticket references baked in was our first look at Robert DeNiro’s talk show host, Murray Franklin; a character that has been pegged as a huge connective tissue between this DC experiment and Martin Scorsese’s dark comedy gem The King of Comedy. And in a recent discussion, DeNiro called it like he saw it, stating the following:

There’s a connection, obviously, with the whole thing. But it’s not as a direct connection as the character I’m playing being Rupert many years later as a host.

So Murray Franklin is, indeed, a character set to invoke the spirit of Robert DeNiro’s Rupert Pupkin-- if he was to have gotten that fame he’d always wanted by taking over Jerry Langford’s show. That’s one hell of a deep cut for film fans to cheer for, as well as something for newcomers to latch onto, in hopes that Joker could turn the younger comic film audience onto the works of its executive producer, Martin Scorsese.

The connection only seems to make The King of Comedy required viewing for Joker, as Joaquin Phoenix’s Arthur Fleck seems very much like a Pupkin-esque figure, waiting for one bad day to set him off on his path to become the clown prince of crime. He’s beat up and ridiculed by random folks in the neighborhood, leads a life of semi-quiet desperation, and ultimately want to become a standup comedian that’ll be featured on a late night TV show. So casting DeNiro as that late night host that Arthur is fixated on is definitely a connection, and bordering on turning Joker into an official sequel.

Though, as Robert DeNiro has pointed out in his interview with IndieWire, the idea of Joker officially continuing where The King of Comedy left off didn’t escape him. In that very same chat, DeNiro provided the following thoughts:

If they would’ve proposed that to me, I would’ve said, ‘That’s interesting, maybe we’ll try to do that.’ But by making this type of film, it is connected in a way, as you’ll see.

Deciding to pay homage to the 1983 film, rather than continuing its story in a direct capacity, was probably a better card for Joker to play out of its deck of winners. But thinking about how Rupert Pupkin could have not only returned, but also become the very thing he railed against, is something so subversive we would have totally been down to see it. But an homage can be just as effective as a direct lift. If it worked for Robert Redford in Captain America: The Winter Soldier, as he sent up various anti-authority characters he once played in the role of S.H.I.E.L.D. power player/traitor Alexander Pierce, then surely Robert DeNiro and Joker can pull it off as well.

Joker puts a smile on the face of the world on October 4th, though if you’re looking for a chuckle way before then, take a look at the 2019 release schedule and find some laughs.

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Arnold Schwarzenegger Looks Totally Badass In First Terminator: Dark Fate Image

Arnold Schwarzenegger Looks Totally Badass In First Terminator: Dark Fate Image

Science fiction is always been a tried and true genre in filmmaking, with an ability to enthrall and fascinate audiences. Chief among the biggest sci-fi franchise are the Terminator movies, starring a hulking Arnold Schwarzenegger as the robotic title character. Schwarzenegger has lead almost every film in the long running property, and will once again reprise his role for the upcoming Terminator: Dark Fate movie.

Dark Fate will reunite Arnold Schwarzenegger with James Cameron and OG Sarah Connor Linda Hamilton. The generations of Terminator fans are eager for any and all information regarding the highly anticipated sequel, and now we've got a glimpse at Arnold as The Terminator. And it looks awesome.

Does anyone else have chills? While we've seen Linda Hamilton looking like a certifiable badass as Sarah Connor, this is the best look we've gotten at Arnold Schwarzenegger's return as T-800.

This exciting image comes to us directly from the studio, as details are finally being revealed regarding Terminator: Dark Fate's contents. The movie is a direct sequel to Terminator 2, arguably the best installment in the beloved franchise. While the story is a complete mystery to the public, there's been a strong cast assembled. Sarah Connor was shown with some female companions during the sci-fi adventure, and John Connor will be another character (although not played by Edward Furlong). There's also a new Terminator debuting, played by Gabriel Luna.

Arnold Schwarzenegger is looking like a robotic badass in this image, including a few flesh wounds which expose his silver metallic skull. The Terminator movies always feature the title character taking some punishment, with his mechanical body damaged and his fake skin falling off. This Dark Fate image only teases this transformation, as T-800 looks to be in good shape (albeit aged a bit).

There's also a new image of Linda Hamilton's return as Sarah Connor in Dark Fate, and it's enough to get most self-respecting Terminator fans giddy with anticipation. Check it out.

Seriously, how cool is this? Linda Hamilton brought ferocity to this character, and soon moviegoers will get to see how the past few decades have crystallized the survivor. Sarah Connor is shown wearing body armor and packing some heat, as well as her signature sunglasses. She's also rocking a decidedly short haircut, and is rocking natural grey locks.

Smart money says Terminator: Dark Fate puts a ton of focus on Linda Hamilton's signature character. While Sarah Connor has had new life in a short lived TV show and Terminator: Genisys, the upcoming sequel will mark Hamilton's first time reprising her role since Terminator 2. She played Sarah with grit and hardness in that sequel, and smart money says that time hasn't been kind to the franchise favorite.

The Halloween franchise did a similar move last year, retconning the myriad sequels and doing a direct follow-up to the original classic. It gave the chance for franchise star Jamie Lee Curtis to shine as her signature character, and might even continue with another sequel. Linda Hamilton's Sarah Connor is another beloved character in cinema, so fans are eager to see her reunite with Arnold Schwarzenegger and cause some explosions.

Sarah Connor and T-800 are going to be facing off against a variety of enemies, although the most notable is the new version of The Terminator. This mysterious villain will be played by Gabriel Luna (Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.), and will presumably go head to head with Arnold Schwarzenegger's signature character. It should be interesting to see what capabilities Luna's version has, as each new model has different abilities. The villain in Terminator 2 was virtually invulnerable due to being able to liquify, while the villain in Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines could shape shift.

Gabriel Luna has dipped his toes in the sci-fi world before, and Terminator fans are eager to see what he does as a robotic character himself. Action movies are often only as good as their villains, so the pressure is on to deliver.

Another newcomer to the Terminator franchise is Mackenzie Davis, who playing the mysterious new character Grace. Not much as been reveled about Grace, but she's been described as a super-soldier. She looks like a total badass in the above image, wearing body armor and using a heavy chain as a weapon. Super soldier sounds about right, honestly.

Mackenzie Davis' appearance as Grace accompanied the first look at Linda Hamilton's Sarah Conor in Terminator: Dark Fate. It's good to see that Sarah won't be a loner in this new installment, and has friends that are neither her children or Arnold Schwarzenegger's Terminator. Although Grace is looking so capable that I wouldn't be surprised if she ended up being a robot, too.

There's also a pair of siblings involved in the plot of Terminator: Dark Fate. Natalie Reyes will play young Dani Ramos, as actor Diego Boneta (Rock of Ages) plays her brother Miguel. It's unclear how these two will function within the story of Dark Fate, although Dani was featured alongside Sarah and Grace in the first look at the movie. The brand new stills include a shot of Boneta as Miguel-- the first glimpse of that new character.

Miguel is seen behind the wheel in this Terminator: Dark Fate still, and he doesn't appear to be having a particularly good day. He's got a grimace that suits the beloved sci-fi franchise well, as the stake are usually extremely high. The heroes typically try to prevent an apocalypse at the hands of robots, so there isn't a ton of levity. But Dani Ramos will likely bring the naivety and childlike energy to Dark Fate, similar to how John Connor functioned in Terminator 2.

Speaking of John, it's unclear if an adult version of Sarah's son will be in the movie. While the character was confirmed for Dark Fate, it may just be through flashbacks. A child actor was brought on to play John's body, while Edward Furlong's 1991 appearance will be digitally added to his face. Did Sarah lose her son, who was meant to rise up and save humanity? Let's hope not.

Terminator: Dark Fate will arrive in theaters on November 1, 2019. In the meantime, check out our 2019 release list to plan your next trip to the movies.

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What's Happening With Every Marvel Hero After Avengers: Endgame

What's Happening With Every Marvel Hero After Avengers: Endgame

For Marvel fans, Avengers: Endgame marks the culmination of an era. It all started back in 2008 with Iron Man and a crazy amount of franchise-building ambition, and 11 years and 22 films later we’ve come to the conclusion of what has been dubbed the Infinity Saga. We’ve seen a lot happen in that time, and lots of characters come and go, and it’s entirely reasonable to say that the movies have effectively changed modern pop culture.

Of course, just because the Infinity Saga is over doesn’t mean that the Marvel Cinematic Universe is – and there’s a lot to digest now that we are preparing for the start of Phase 4 (which will follow the release of Spider-Man: Far From Home). Not only have we seen some important arcs come to an end, but we are also seeing some that are just beginning. It’s a complex web, which is why we’ve built this feature to help sort it all out.

On the hero side of things, there are 33 characters who find themselves in interesting places following the conclusion of Avengers: Endgame, and we’ve built this piece specifically to analyze where they all currently stand. Obviously that’s a lot to dig into, so let’s dive in…

Iron Man

It goes without saying that the Marvel Cinematic Universe wouldn’t be what it is today without Tony Stark a.k.a. Iron Man, but now his time on the big screen has come to an end. While he used to be a selfish asshole, he changed a lot over the course of nine movies, and he made the biggest sacrifice of all in Avengers: Endgame – losing his life after using the Nano Gauntlet to defeat Thanos and his army. We may never see Robert Downey Jr.’s Tony on the big screen again (and if we do it will be years and years from now), but there’s no doubt that he will live on through the memories of his fellow heroes.

Captain America

On the opposite end of the spectrum from Iron Man, Steve Rogers a.k.a. Captain America began his journey in the Marvel Cinematic Universe by sacrificing his life – purposefully crashing an aircraft full of explosives into the arctic – but following the events of Avengers: Endgame he managed to actually get his life back. The Avengers thought they were sending their leader on a quick trip back through time to return the Infinity Stones back to their proper places, but he instead decided to stay and live out a full life with his number one gal, Peggy Carter, in the wake of World War II. Steve is now an old man, his superhero days behind him, though that doesn’t mean that the world doesn’t have a Captain America (more on that later).

Thor

Thor’s journey has been quite rough in the last few years, what with losing his mother, his father, his brother, his best friend, his homeworld, half of the Asgardian population, his hammer, his eye, and more. But Avengers: Endgame surprisingly didn’t present him with an end to his journey; instead, he is ready for a new beginning. Previously he was a character with all of his loyalties wrapped up in the fate of Asgard, but he has now given up his crown and is ready to start a brand new life. He began a friendly relationship with the Guardians of the Galaxy during the events of Avengers: Infinity War, and now it looks like he’ll be joining that crew, but exactly what he’ll get up to in the future remains a big question mark waiting for confirmation.

Hulk

As teased by Mark Ruffalo a few years ago, Hulk has been on his own specific journey through the events of Thor: Ragnarok, Avengers: Infinity War, and Avengers: Endgame, and that journey has left him in a very interesting place going forward. While Bruce Banner used to be a man completely terrified of the monster living inside him, the two have now made peace, and Hulk and Banner are now one – commonly referred to by fans as Professor Hulk. It doesn’t seem like this status is going to change any time soon, though it’s worth noting that the events of Endgame did see him incur what’s been referred to as “permanent damage.” He’s still the strongest Avenger, but his right arm will apparently never be the same.

Black Widow

Avengers: Endgame didn’t feature the massive death toll that some fans were expecting, but there definitely were some key lives lost. We already discussed the passing of Tony Stark, but Natasha Romanoff a.k.a. Black Widow also gave her life so that the Avengers could succeed in their mission to defeat Thanos and return the world to some semblance of normalcy. Within the continuity, Black Widow died back in 2014, falling from a cliff on Vormir so that Hawkeye could retrieve the Soul Stone. This sacrifice definitely isn’t going to be reversed any time soon, but unlike the situation with Robert Downey Jr., fans will be able to see Scarlet Johansson return to the character soon in the character’s upcoming solo film (which will obviously take place in the past).

Hawkeye

Clint Barton a.k.a. Hawkeye experienced some rough years following The Decimation, becoming the vigilante known as Ronin and traveling around the world killing people, but he got a chance for some redemption at the end of Avengers: Endgame by helping the team get the Nano Gauntlet where it needed to be so that Thanos could be defeated. That being said, his superhero days seem to be over… though he apparently won’t be leaving his post without training someone to take his place. While it has yet to be confirmed, reports have said that Jeremy Renner will soon be playing the character once again in his very own Disney+ series, which will be an adaptation of Matt Fraction and David Aja’s beloved comic book run with the character and have him advising up-and-comer Kate Bishop.

War Machine

James Rhodes has been flying around in the War Machine suit ever since Iron Man 2, and while he’s experienced some pretty devastating personal setbacks (most notably being paralyzed from the waist down during the events of Captain America: Civil War) he has continued to fight the good fight. That being said, following Avengers: Endgame it’s not entirely clear where he stands. He’s obviously still alive, but he also lost his best friend – who also happened to be the person to inspire him to suit up in the first place. Don Cheadle’s future with Marvel Studios is not entirely clear at present, and he doesn’t have any confirmed upcoming projects, but the door is wide open for him to appear in future films or television shows.

Scarlet Witch

Scarlet Witch missed out on five years of her life after being turned to dust by Thanos’ snap at the end of Avengers: Infinity War, but in Avengers: Endgame she not only returned, but is perhaps now stronger than she’s ever been. She’s still in mourning because of the death of her love (we’ll get more into that in a second), but that emotional pain may take her to some interesting places. She is confirmed to next appear in the Disney+ series WandaVision, and there are rumors that the show may be partially inspired by the House of M storyline from the comics, which saw the hero exhibiting powers more extreme than we’ve seen thus far in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Vision

Thanos left many bodies in his wake during his attempt to capture all six of the Infinity Stones, and while many characters returned to life following Hulk’s snap with the Nano Gauntlet, Vision wasn’t one of them. There was an attempt made by Shuri in Avengers: Infinity War to rewire the android so that he could exist without the Mind Stone, but that attempt proved unsuccessful, and he was killed by the Mad Titan when the stone was plucked from his head. Like Scarlet Witch, the character will be back in action for the Disney+ series WandaVision, but exactly how his resurrection will go down remains one of the most significant mysteries in the on-going franchise.

Falcon

There has been speculation for a long time regarding the possibility of Sam Wilson a.k.a. Falcon taking on the mantle of Captain America in the Marvel Cinematic Universe – specifically ever since that actually happened in Marvel Comics in 2015 – and now that concept has become a reality. Steve Rogers gives Sam his shield at the end of Avengers: Endgame, and it’s a passing of the torch that we expect will affect the franchise for many years to come. Like many of the other characters mentioned on this list so far, the first place where we will be seeing the aftershocks will be on Disney+, as the character has been confirmed to star in the developing Falcon & Winter Soldier (potential title change pending). Speaking of which…

Winter Soldier

To borrow a quote from Black Widow in The Avengers, Bucky Barnes a.k.a. The Winter Soldier a.k.a. White Wolf still has quite a bit of red in his ledger, as it’s doubtful that he will ever be fully recovered from his dark history as a brainwashed Hydra assassin. That being said, he’s still trying to ultimately leave a positive mark on the world, and as noted above he will continue to operate as a heroic vigilante opposite Captain America in the upcoming Disney+ series Falcon & Winter Soldier. Of course, as shown in Captain America: Civil War, the two heroes don’t exactly have the best relationship ever, so it should be a show filled with funny conflict in addition to real danger.

Spider-Man

A huge thing that made the Marvel Cinematic Universe version of Peter Parker a.k.a. Spider-Man distinct from all previous big screen iterations of the character was his relationship with Tony Stark – but obviously that’s changing in a major way following Avengers: Endgame. Peter’s mentor has died, and while he still has access to the Stark Industries-designed technology that he was given, the loss is most definitely going to have an emotional effect on him (as seen in the most recent trailer for Spider-Man: Far From Home). The good news, one could argue, is that the rest of his life should be at least somewhat normal, as it would appear that most of his close friends also turned to dust during The Decimation, meaning that he’s not five years behind his classmates.

Ant-Man

Scott Lang a.k.a. Ant-Man was dealt one of the most significant emotional blows in Avengers: Endgame, given that he was trapped in the Quantum Realm for five years – though not from his perspective – and missed out on some key time in the life of his young daughter, Cassie (a situation only made worse when you think about how much of her life he missed when he was in prison). Fortunately he’s left alive and healthy at the end of the film with his girl and his girlfriend/partner, and one can imagine him not taking a single second of his life for granted going forward. Right now we don’t specifically know what the future holds for the character, but it’s all but guaranteed that he will get another opportunity to shine in a trilogy capper for his big screen solo features.

The Wasp

Of course, the “girlfriend/partner” I’m referring to in the Ant-Man section above is Hope van Dyne a.k.a. The Wasp, who is one of the many characters who returns to life in Avengers: Endgame following the first Nano Gauntlet snap. She winds up having a significant role to play in the battle at the end of the film, but beyond those events she also has an interesting future in store given that she will surely feel even more passionately about spending time with her once long-lost mother, Janet van Dyne, in the aforementioned Ant-Man And The Wasp sequel. We see them briefly together during the funeral at the end of the film, but hopefully we’ll also get to see the two generations of Wasps together on an adventure soon.

Black Panther

Fans were pretty devastated to see T’Challa a.k.a. Black Panther turn to dust at the end of Avengers: Infinity War, but he makes one hell of a triumphant return in Avengers: Endgame, and also has a seriously significant future ahead of him going into Phase 4 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Not only is he going to have the opportunity to settle into his role as king of Wakanda (something he didn’t really have the chance to do prior to now), but within that role he’s also going to take on some seriously important diplomatic missions because of the new open border policies he enacted at the end of his first solo movie. It’s exciting stuff, and we can’t wait to see director Ryan Coogler dig into it all with the developing Black Panther 2.

Shuri

Like her brother, Shuri also makes one hell of an entrance in Avengers: Endgame, and will also have a key role to play in the future of the franchise. We know she’s the smartest person on Earth, but before now the benefits of her intelligence were exclusively available to the people of Wakanda. Now that the country has opened its borders, Shuri can start changing lives on a global scale – and it’s incredibly exciting to think about the potential that exists there. Letitia Wright was a wonderful standout in the first Black Panther movie, and we can’t wait to see what’s going to happen with her in the sequel.

Okoye

We didn’t get to see much of it in Avengers: Endgame, but with both Black Panther and Shuri dusted because of the Decimation, Okoye was surely put in a very powerful position in Wakanda during the five years that followed. Now, however, things are back to normal, and she will presumably return to her role as the leader of the Dora Milaje – the group of elite female warriors who are sworn to protect their king with every fiber of their being. The precise significance of that won’t really be known until we get to see Black Panther 2, but with Wakanda opening itself up to the world, and T’Challa becoming a figure on the global stage, her job will likely be more important than ever.

Captain Marvel

Carol Danvers a.k.a. Captain Marvel has been away from Earth for a long time, but in the last few years of the Marvel Cinematic Universe canon she has made vital appearances when needed. First she showed up to join the Avengers in killing post-snap Thanos, and then she appeared to destroy Sanctuary II single-handedly during Avengers: Endgame’s final battle. She stayed long enough on the planet to go to the funeral at the end of the movie, but what’s not known right now is if she’ll actually stick around. She is a character who has responsibilities both on Terra and in the cosmos, so we’ll just have to wait and see what kind of adventure Captain Marvel 2 has in store for her.

Doctor Strange

In Avengers: Infinity War, Dr. Stephen Strange made what appeared to be a terrible trade when he gave up the Time Stone in exchange for the life of Tony Stark, but in Avengers: Endgame we finally learned why it was necessary: there was only one path to victory against Thanos, and it was a path that required Tony to sacrifice himself. While it was clearly the right thing to do, that knowledge may still weigh on him for some time to come, and we may see it reflected in his personality and character when we get to see the upcoming Doctor Strange 2. And, of course, being potentially the most powerful sorcerer on Earth, he will continue to have some major responsibilities protecting the planet from fantastical threats.

Wong

In the years following The Decimation, Wong likely had to take on a very important role by becoming the guardian of the New York Sanctum Sanctorum. Of course, he was also very ready to be called into action when the Hulk snap brought him back, and he was one of the key sorcerers battling Thanos during Avengers: Endgame’s massive third act fight. We expect that the next time we see him will be in Doctor Strange 2, and it’s probably fair to assume that he’ll be a key source of support for Doctor Strange in his battle against Karl Mordo (whose villainous turn was teased at the end of the first solo feature).

Valkyrie

As mentioned earlier, Thor will no longer be the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s king of Asgard (now located in Tønsberg, Norway), but he didn’t leave the post without finding a proper replacement. That job and all of the responsibility that comes with it now belongs to Valkyrie, who accepts the crown at the end of Avengers: Endgame before the God of Thunder heads off with the Guardians of the Galaxy. Right now there isn’t officially a Thor 4 in the works, so we can’t say for certain when we’ll next see the character, but it seems totally unlikely that we’ve seen the last of her (and her kickass Pegasus).

Korg

Thor fell into a terrible depression following the events of Avengers: Infinity War and the titular team’s first major loss, but part of the reason he was able to get through it is because he had the support of some close friends. Korg, who met the God of Thunder during the events of Thor: Ragnarok did what he could to try and keep his Asgardian pal in a somewhat stable mental state… albeit while arguably enabling some bad habits. We didn’t see him leave with Thor at the end of Avengers: Endgame, so he’s probably still hanging out in New Asgard – but that probably just means that he’ll now have the chance to become Valkyrie’s best friend.

Miek

Of course, Korg wasn’t alone in his efforts being emotional support for Thor, as he also had the assistance of his buddy Miek from Sakaar. Once feared to be dead due to an accidental squishing, Miek managed to escape the Sanctuary II attack on the Asgardian escape vessel – along with Valkyrie and Korg – at the start of Avengers: Infinity War, and has spent the last few years of his life living in New Asgard. While we don’t actually see him at the end of Avengers: Endgame, he is presumably still there when Thor takes off into space with the Guardians, so we’ll just have to wait and see what his next adventure is.

Star-Lord

Peter Quill a.k.a. Star-Lord may have royally screwed up during the battle against Thanos in Avengers: Infinity War, but hopefully fans will be able to forgive him as he moves into the future of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. After all, post-dusting he did help out in a big way during the big battle in Avengers: Endgame, so at the end of the day one could argue that his slate is clean. He’s now back together with his family, best known as the Guardians of the Galaxy, though he is in an interesting position now given that Thor is a new member of his crew. Will he be able to keep the respect of his cohorts now the venerable God of Thunder is on board? Time will tell.

Gamora

Interestingly, Gamora isn’t really the Gamora we know by the time Avengers: Endgame comes to a close. The original Gamora died similarly to Black Widow on Vormir, and the one that currently exists in the Marvel Cinematic Universe is from an alternate timeline. That’s a big deal, because not only is she nine years younger than she otherwise would have been, but doesn’t have the same kind of relationship with the Guardians of the Galaxy that was established over many years. That being said, her family – and particularly Peter Quill – certainly wants her back, and that will almost certainly have a significant impact on the plot of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.

Drax

In Avengers: Endgame, Drax sadly didn’t get to accomplish his mission of vengeance and kill Thanos, but that doesn’t mean that he didn’t still get a happy ending. Following the final battle, he is back together with the Guardians (most of whom, like him, existed as dust particles for five years), and he seems to still be his fun-loving self. As mentioned earlier, there will perhaps be a question of where his loyalties lie in the future, as he is most definitely an admirer of Thor, but what’s important above all is that he’s happy and healthy.

Rocket

Rocket has actually changed a lot as a character over the years, as he no longer seems to be the asshole intent on pushing away everyone who cares about him. Even when he lost his entire Guardians family he still remained a team player, helping the Avengers maintain order the best that they could following The Decimation. That being said, one has to wonder what he will be like going forward, specifically going into Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. Clearly he still has some of his trademark edge/cynicism, but he may wind up being so happy that he has his friends back that he actually treats them a bit nicer than before (though that’s admittedly a pretty low bar).

Groot

Because of his temporary status as dust, Groot missed out on some important development time during the five years he was gone, so he still has a lot of growing to do. He’s no longer a baby, but he does remain an adolescent and still has a few stages to go through before becoming a full-fledged adult. Right now we can’t say how old he will be when we catch up with him again in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, but hopefully James Gunn has some fun stuff planned with the character (especially within his relationship with a much more mature Rocket).

Nebula

Few characters in pop culture history can say that they shot and killed themselves, and then lived to tell the tale, but that’s the current story of Nebula in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. She has probably undergone a bigger emotional change than any other member of the Guardians of the Galaxy, and it will be interesting to see how that continues when we see her next. Following the events of Avengers: Endgame she is presumably exploring the cosmos with her sister, Gamora, and at some point she’ll have to deal with Peter Quill & Co., as they will presumably want the two of them to join them once again on their misadventures.

Mantis

Like the other Guardians with the exception of Rocket, Mantis was turned to dust following what went down in Avengers: Infinity War, but now she’s back, and having helped save the universe once again she is ready for more cosmic quests. Past her introduction to the Guardians of the Galaxy in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, we weirdly haven’t seen much of how she generally works alongside the rest of the team, so that will certainly be an interesting aspect of the character to explore going forward. One thing is for certain: she definitely seems to be a big fan of Thor.

Nick Fury

Nick Fury had a very small part to play in Avengers: Endgame, making a dialogue-less appearance during the funeral at the end, but there’s a very good chance that he will be quite active going forward into the future of the franchise. Not only do we know for a fact that he will be playing a significant role in Spider-Man: Far From Home, but it’s worth noting that we haven’t yet seen his very special reunion with Carol Danvers. Could he play as big a role in Captain Marvel 2 as he did in the first solo movie? We’ll have to wait and find out.

Maria Hill

Like Nick Fury, Maria Hill didn’t exactly have a huge impact on Avengers: Endgame, and didn’t give us a proper sense of where she is emotionally following her resurrection – but it won’t be long until we find out. She may have left S.H.I.E.L.D. years ago (taking a job at Stark Industries after the Hydra takeover), but she is still working alongside the former director, and will next be seen kicking ass and taking names in Spider-Man: Far From Home.

Pepper Potts

Pepper Potts dedicated many years of her life to her relationship with Tony Stark, starting as his assistant before eventually becoming his wife and the mother of his only daughter, but that era of her life is now over following his sacrifice at the end of Avengers: Endgame. With that in mind, it’s unknown exactly what the future will hold for her. She has her own specially-designed Iron Man suit, which she utilized quite well during the battle against Thanos, but now that she’s a single parent she may not necessarily pursue the superhero life, and instead may just continue running one of the biggest companies in the world.

Which character are you most excited to see in the future of the Marvel Cinematic Universe? Hit the comments section below with all of your thoughts, feelings, and opinions, and stay tuned for all of the latest franchise news here on CinemaBlend.

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Annabelle Comes Home Is Aiming To Mess With Your Expectations

Annabelle Comes Home Is Aiming To Mess With Your Expectations

Gary Dauberman is extremely well versed when it comes to The Conjuring Universe. After all, the filmmaker has written three of the five features within the franchise so far, and has had a massive hand in establishing both the brand of storytelling and the specific aesthetic that has defined the beloved horror world. He’ll soon be taking that involvement to the next level, as he is making his directorial debut helming the upcoming Annabelle Comes Home – and with that job he definitely has big plans when it comes to subverting audience expectations.

After visiting the set of the new movie late last year, I recently had the opportunity to catch up with Gary Dauberman later in the development of Annabelle Comes Home, joining a small group of journalists a couple months ago to visit the film’s edit bay and sit down with the writer/director for a conversation about the project. Of the subjects discussed, one was about the way in which he plans on mixing things up and letting the audience feel like they know everything that’s going to happen from scene to scene. Said Dauberman,

That's something I love to play around with, are the expectations. Let's lead them in this direction. I'm a huge fan of magic, and it's all about misdirect, right? So I tried to apply that in a lot of ways to scares. And I learned that from James [Wan] too. He's always trying to push the... like, 'I did this last time, so I'm going to give them that up to this, and then I'm going to go right when they thought I was going to go left.'

As noted, Gary Dauberman has worked with some great filmmakers within the Conjuring Universe so far, with the biggest name being James Wan – who served as a producer on Annabelle, Annabelle: Creation, and The Nun (all of which Dauberman wrote) in addition to directing the first two Conjuring titles. So while stepping into a directorial debut can be a daunting task, he’s had the opportunity to see how it’s properly done by a master.

Continuing, the writer/director explained that he’s making a concentrated effort with Annabelle Comes Home to change up the scares and perpetually keep audiences on their toes. So, for example, if a character is approaching a dark corner, your brain might tell you that there is definitely going to be something lurking around the bend, but Dauberman suggests that won’t always be the case. Said the filmmaker,

I really tried to do that with a bunch of the scares here. And also not just go for the jump scares all the time, like when you think something's going to happen, and then it doesn't, or maybe there's a sequence where it feels a little bit more Twilight Zone-y than a traditional sort of 'Approaching the corner, and is there a monster behind it?' So we tried to vary it up on that level.

This is honestly a great thing to hear, as this kind of approach can really do wonders for a movie’s atmosphere. Consistently bluffing in this fashion can not only keep ratchetting up the tension, but it can also have the effect of making the audience start to feel a little too comfortable. And right when movie-goers are beginning to feel relaxed, a well-timed scare can effectively throw them from their seat.

It’s an experience for which we’re tremendously excited, and it won’t be long until we will have the chance to have it. Annabelle Comes Home is now just a few weeks away from release, and will be arriving in theaters everywhere on June 26th. In the meantime, be sure to keep checking back here on CinemaBlend, as we’ll have plenty more awesome coverage coming your way!

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The Avengers: Endgame Cameo That Gave The Russo Brothers A ‘Panic Attack’

The Avengers: Endgame Cameo That Gave The Russo Brothers A ‘Panic Attack’

The following story contains spoilers for Avengers: Endgame.

The 22nd official movie in the MCU had virtually every single character who appeared on screen before, from “Thunderbolt” Ross (William Hurt) and Alexander Pierce (Robert Redford) to heroes like Captain Marvel (Brie Larson). Most of them showed up for one of the final scenes – Tony Stark’s funeral, which was an all-star event. But there was one face at the funeral that was a bit of a head-scratcher for a lot of audience members, mainly because the actor playing the character had aged significantly since audiences last saw him.

Ty Simpkins (Jurassic World) was standing near the back of the gathered crowd at Tony Stark’s funeral. If you don’t recall that Simpkins played Harley Keener, the young inventor, in Shane Black’s Iron Man 3, don’t worry… you weren’t alone in being confused. And that confusion, shared by several early test screeners, was giving the Russo brothers anxiety. During a spoiler-filled conversation with our ReelBlend podcast, the siblings shared a very funny story about filming that scene, where the stars of the MCU weren’t even sure who Simpkins was. They told us:

Joe Russo: Every time we screened it, people would ask us [who that kid was].

Anthony Russo: Literally, every time. [Laughs] I don’t know if there has ever been a single person who has recognized him!

Joe: He’s three times taller than he was. So I think he has grown up so much that, you know, it’s a deep Easter egg. But I feel like that's what's compelling about the Marvel universe. By the way, there are quite a few Easter eggs in the movie people still haven’t identified.

As if you needed another reason to go back and see Avengers: Endgame. Now you have to hunt for Easter eggs that haven’t been identified yet by fans.

As Joe and Anthony Russo elaborated in the set up of that jaw-dropping scene – a one-shot that traces over almost every facet of the MCU, in character form – Anthony elaborated on the sheer panic that the directors were feeling because as they were mapping it out, none of the famous actors on set understood who Ty Simpkins was supposed to represent. Anthony tells ReelBlend:

You guys will appreciate this. In order to do that shot, to amass that cast, we rehearsed that shot like crazy. We set up the camera moves with stand-ins. … Because they were all going to be in that shot, we spent days setting that shot up. Days! Okay? So we had everybody. We had the entire camera move figured out specifically. We had the time of day. We had everything perfect, right? So we get there on the day, we finally put the actors in the shot for the first time, right? [laughs] And we have this moment on set where he and I go into a panic attack over Ty, because we're having this [question] over Ty.

At the end of the day, the Russo realize that Easter eggs are a common occurrence in MCU movies, and fans would have something cool to discuss during what is one of the most heartfelt moments in all of Avengers: Endgame.

The Ty Simpkins story is just one of many gems included in this bonus episode of ReelBlend, which is all spoilers with Joe and Anthony Russo, so press play and dive in.

Avengers: Endgame is in theaters as we speak, and based on the box office numbers, a good number of you have headed to theaters to check it out. What did you think? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

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Looks Like The Wachowskis Are Working On The Matrix 4

Looks Like The Wachowskis Are Working On The Matrix 4

Update: Yeah, that was too good to be true, wasn't it? Slashfilm is now reporting that a representative for director Chad Stahelski's told them the comments about the Wachowski's being involved isn't true. Apparentl,y the director responded to a question about the pair hypothetically being involved only. Our original story follows below.

It's been a couple of years since we've heard much of anything about a fourth Matrix movie that was in development. The details we had about the project were scarce, but one of the things we thought we knew was that the Wachowskis, the siblings who created the original trilogy, would not be involved. It turns out, that's not actually the case.

Chad Stahelski was Keanu Reeves' stunt double in the Matrix films and, while he's now busy directing the man in the John Wick franchise, he recently revealed that not only are the Wachowskis involved in the new Matrix project, they're not the only ones who might return. According to Stahelski...

Yeah. And if they wanted help, I would absolutely put down whatever I was doing to help them.

This simple comment from Chad Stahelski is news because the last thing we heard, while a new Matrix movie was in development, the original creators who wrote and directed the trilogy were not involved. It seems that that has changed over the last two years.

While the Wachowski's are apparently part of the new film, Stahelski says he's not sure of what the overall picture looks like, so exactly how they're involved isn't clear.

Frequently, when franchise builders let other people take over a franchise, they stay on as producers, so it's possible that could be what the Wachowski's have in mind, being involved at the top level without having their hands directly on the new film. Though certainly one assumes if one or both were interested in directing, the job is probably theirs.

While details on the potential new Matrix movie were slim even when it was first revealed, Ready Player One scribe Zak Penn was apparently working on a script, and Michael B. Jordan's was a name being mentioned as a potential star.

The only thing we knew for sure was that the movie wasn't planned to be a reboot. Instead the idea was to look at the potential of building a cinematic universe concept out of the Matrix, as there could potentially be multiple stories to tell within the code. Although, one rumor suggested the movie could be a prequel focused on Laurence Fishburne's character Morpheus.

Needless to say, fans will be excited to learn that not only is this project still active, but the Wachowski's are involved. Chad Stahleski tells Yahoo that he is too. He's even willing to go back to his old job if they ask him to..

I’m super happy that the Wachowskis are not just doing a Matrix, but they’re expanding what we all loved. And if it’s anywhere near the level of what they’ve already done, it wouldn’t take more than a call to go, ‘Hey, we want you to be a stunt guy’ and I would probably go and get hit by a car.

The fact that the Wachowskis are involved in the new Matrix film certainly increases my confidence in the entire project. I have no problem with more Matrix movies as long as they're well thought out and worth making. Of course, considering this project has gone pretty quiet, we have little idea just how likely it is that we'll ever see it.

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Marvel's 2020 Movie Schedule Will Be A Little Different Than What We're Used To

Marvel's 2020 Movie Schedule Will Be A Little Different Than What We're Used To

While some in the industry have regularly warned about "superhero fatigue," Marvel Studios has spent the last few years proving that it's basically just a myth. After all, since 2017 they have been releasing three movies per year, and in that time they have produced four billion dollar hits. It's basically become the standard release plan for the company, but according to a new release schedule from Walt Disney Studios that will be changing a bit in 2020.

Per an official release from Disney, next year will mark the first time since 2016 that Marvel Studios will only be releasing two movies instead of the standard three. While it was initially said that we would get new blockbusters in May, July, and November, the middle title in that schedule has now been erased. We're still not actually entirely sure what either title is going to be, but it's an interesting shake-up nonetheless.

Furthermore, it would appear that it's not exactly the permanent plan going forward. In addition to revealing their plans for 2020, Disney has also laid out their slates for 2021 and 2022, and both still include three different Marvel Studios releases (which we previously knew about). So rather than being the new normal, next year will be a bit of an anomaly for what is arguably the most powerful subsidiary currently operating in Hollywood.

So why the change? Disney hasn't officially given a reason, but it's pretty easy to deduce what has caused this shift. There were plans for months to have Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 come out at some point in 2020, but then things got a bit messed up last summer when writer/director James Gunn was fired by the studio. Production, which was supposed to start earlier this year, was put on hold, and while the gears are now turning again thanks to Gunn's reinstatement, the larger plans for the release schedule surely had to change as a result. Hence we are getting two features next year instead of the standard three.

Related: Marvel's Kevin Feige Confirms Shang-Chi Is Coming In Phase Four

Unfortunately we still don't know exactly what the two titles are going to be, as Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige has said that Phase Four projects for the Marvel Cinematic Universe won't be announced until after the release of Spider-Man: Far From Home later this year. At the same time, there are definitely films that are clearly further along in the development process than others - including Cate Shortland's Black Widow, and Chloe Zhao's The Eternals. Neither project has announced a start of production just yet, but as of right now those two features are the safest bets for release in 2020.

This is obviously a development that we are keeping a very close eye on, so be sure to stay tuned on CinemaBlend for all of the latest updates. And to get the full rundown on what's happening in the future of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, be sure to check out our Upcoming Marvel guide.

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James Gunn Had A Really Good Time Writing The Suicide Squad

James Gunn Had A Really Good Time Writing The Suicide Squad

Within the span of eight months, James Gunn was fired from Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 and then rehired onto the threeequel. During that span of time, he was selected by Warner Bros to write and direct The Suicide Squad, and even now that he’s back on Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, Gun will still be overseeing Task Force X’s next cinematic adventure.

While we’re still a ways from seeing James Gunn’s take on the Suicide Squad in the DC Extended Universe, apparently he didn’t suffer from writer’s block when penning the story, calling it one of his best writing experiences in a while. In Gunn’s words:

The Suicide Squad, it just instantly started flowing. I don’t think I’ve had as much fun writing a script since maybe Dawn of the Dead. That’s what this whole movie has been like.

Just so we’re all on the same page, the Dawn of the Dead remake came out in 2004, and James Gunn wrote the script the year prior. So The Suicide Squad marks the most fun he’s had writing a script in over a decade and a half! That ideally bodes well for The Suicide Squad’s quality, though understandably, Gunn did not provide any specifics on what to expect from the movie while speaking with Deadline.

While 2016’s Suicide Squad, which was written and directed by Fury’s David Ayer, was unquestionably a commercial success, making nearly $747 million worldwide, it didn’t fare well on the critical side of the spectrum. With Ayer initially stepping away from directing Suicide Squad 2 to helm Gotham City Sirens (he’s since kept busy with Bright, its upcoming sequel and The Tax Collector), that opened the door for a new creative mind to put their own stamp on the Suicide Squad mythology, a doorway which James Gunn stepped through once his time at Marvel Studios looked like it was done for good.

Although it was initially described as a g The Suicide Squad will have ties to its predecessor, as evidenced by the return of Margot Robbie as Harley Quinn, Jai Courtney as Captain Boomerang and Viola Davis as Amanda Waller. That said, rather than being a traditional sequel, The Suicide Squad is being framed as more of a ‘relaunch,’ which undoubtedly allowed James Gunn more creative freedom.

One of the ways The Suicide Squad will distinguish itself is by featuring a lot of new faces. Idris Elba will play someone who’s not Deadshot, David Dastamalchian will play Polka-Dot Man and Daniela Melchior will play Ratcatcher, while John Cena is in talks to play Peacemaker. King Shark will also reportedly be a member of this new Suicide Squad, although Michael Rooker has denied that he will voice the character.

The Suicide Squad charges into theaters on August 5, 2021, and production is slated to begin this fall. Stay tuned to CinemaBlend for updates on its progression, and don’t forget to look through our DC movies guide to learn what else the DCEU has coming up.

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Arnold Schwarzenegger Explains The Delay In New Conan The Barbarian Sequel

Arnold Schwarzenegger Explains The Delay In New Conan The Barbarian Sequel

A third Conan movie starring Arnold Schwarzenegger was teased at the end of Conan the Destroyer way back in 1984, but we never saw it. In recent years, Arnold and others have made it clear that they still want to revisit the world of Conan, but while other Arnold franchises have returned to the screen, the Conan movie has remained little more than an idea. Now, Schwarzenegger himself has explained why the Conan movie has remained dormant all this time, it seems the people trying to make the film don't actually have the rights. According to Conan the Barbarian himself...

When it comes to the movie, the sad stuff about all of this is when there’s an estate like this, The Robert E. Howard estate…when someone buys these rights, those people now own the rights and they have their own vision of what they want to do and the guy that has the rights is some young guy and he’s trying to figure out how to get his way through Hollywood and this is not easy to do. So there are people that say to him, 'why don’t you start with a TV series and then he negotiates for a TV series and that falls apart. And then he goes maybe to Netflix and that falls apart. Then he decides to make a movie maybe…but in the meantime, we have been trying to convince him for years now that the way to go is to come back and hire a really great director and to do another Conan movie and have me play King Conan, when Conan is like 70 years old and he's disgusted by sitting on the throne and being the king and then something happens after that. It’s really not that far from creating a finished script. The only one who really has to pull the trigger there is the people who own the Conan rights to do a movie. Let’s go to Netflix or whoever it is, let’s hire a director who’s very creative and can elevate the project to make it a winning project. I hope it will be done very soon because I think it’s a great idea.

Far too often the thing that stands in the way of people getting to make the the movies or TV that they want has nothing to do with creativity, but is simply a pesky thing like legal rights. Sometimes that can lead to additional creativity, such as when George Lucas couldn't get the rights to make Flash Gordon, and so made Star Wars instead, but when you're trying to make a sequel to a specific movie, that option doesn't really exist.

Conan was created by Robert E. Howard in the 1930s and the character has been popular ever since. He's been turned into a movie and TV hero more than once, but we haven't seen much from the character since an attempt at a film reboot in 2011 failed to find an audience.

Arnold has made no secret of his desire to resurrect his version of the hero, and while it has seemed like the project was permanently stalled, there have been some hints of life. Clearly, some of those involved are not ready to let this one go.

As Arnold Schwarzenegger mentions to TheArnoldFans.com, most recently there was an attempt at turning Conan into a series, but according to him, that project is now also dead.

Certainly, without the rights there will be no opportunity for this project to go anywhere. And it has to be said, the apparent plan for the film is an intriguing one. Comparisons are frequently made to Clint Eastwood's Unforgiven, which means the project isn't simply a return to the character, but one that could only be done now, with an older Conan having lived a long life. It certainly has potential.

The odds of ever seeing this one may be long, but it looks like if a deal for the rights can ever be made, Arnold Schwarzenegger is ready to return.

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Jurassic Park's Laura Dern Is Clueless About The Shirtless Goldblum Memes

Jurassic Park's Laura Dern Is Clueless About The Shirtless Goldblum Memes

It’s pretty fascinating how the internet obsesses over certain movies and scenes, giving films second lives by repurposing them for all manner of content, from memes to gifs to videos. Sometimes this occurs with cult classics like Office Space and sometimes it happens to beloved blockbusters like Jurassic Park. In addition to still having major pop culture relevance, Steven Spielberg’s seminal 1993 film has provided the internet with plenty of meme fodder thanks to Jeff Goldblum’s Ian Malcolm.

In a scene in Jurassic Park, while recovering from the T-Rex attack, Ian Malcolm is laying with his shirt open in a seductive pose. This scene has become so iconic that it has received its own Funko Pop figurine and last year got a giant statue in London. Despite this pop culture prevalence, Jeff Goldblum’s Jurassic Park co-star Laura Dern is clueless about the memes. When told about the statue and the conversation around the shirtless scene, she said:

I think that’s hilarious! It speaks to a very successful narrative that is now a franchise, but gosh. Is he flattered, or is he defensive?

How Laura Dern has managed to go this long without coming across Jeff Goldblum shirtless memes is a mystery. Perhaps that’s what happens when you are busy starring in Star Wars: The Last Jedi and HBO’s Big Little Lies instead of browsing Twitter and Reddit. Even more wild is that no one asked her about it prior to Uproxx’s conversation with her. But now that she knows, the actress is clearly amused and surprised by it.

Upon finding out about all the internet love for a scene from one of her biggest movies, Laura Dern seems to have been legitimately curious about how Jeff Goldblum has responded to it all. It’s a caring impulse on her part, wondering whether Jeff Goldblum is flattered or feels self-conscious about all the discussion about his shirtless scene. She doesn't have to worry though, because as you might expect from the actor, he seems to enjoy the fandom over the scene.

I wonder if her curiosity compelled the actress to google all this after her Uproxx conversation and found her going down the internet rabbit hole of Jeff Goldblum memes.

Laura Dern also spoke about how the fandom of the Ian Malcolm shirtless scene is a product of the success of Jurassic Park itself, a film which spawned a successful franchise that has found new life in recent years. Addressing that iconic film and working with Jeff Goldblum, Laura Dern also said:

Let me just say that he is one of the greatest improvisational actors ever, and he’s hysterical. So he does try everything, and Steven [Spielberg] enjoys this in actors, which is lucky in the confines of Jurassic Park, needless to say. All I know is that I felt privileged to be there, to be playing this kind-of radical feminist, paleobotanist badass, and [dissolves into laughter]. But I have no other opinion on the shirtlessness, I had no idea, that’s hilarious to me.

Jeff Goldblum’s improvisational hilarity is part of why he is so beloved and the shirtless scene may have been a product of that. The actor has spoken about the shirtless scene in the past and said that he doesn’t remember exactly and it may have been Steven Spielberg’s choice, but he thinks he opened his shirt because it was hot.

Whoever made the choice, it proved wise, as Jeff Goldblum is now immortalized with a shirtless pose that says 'paint me like one of your French girls.'

Laura Dern still sounds grateful to have been a part of Jurassic Park all these years later and to have played the kind of strong female character that many in the industry are trying to champion today. We haven’t seen that badass paleobotanist Ellie Sattler since Jurassic Park III but everyone wants to see her again and Laura Dern seems down to return, so maybe she will in Jurassic World 3.

Check out our 2019 release schedule for all the biggest movies headed to theaters this year, and stay tuned to CinemaBlend for all your movie news.

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