SHANG-LI AND THE LEGEND OF THE TEN RINGS resumes production.

In Sydney, Australia. Better late than never, hey? Supposedly this one is going to have the actual Mandarin, instead of the Mandarin from Iron Man 3 (I’m just going to flat-out admit that I liked Iron Man 3, okay*?).

Moe Lane

*Look, I’m not saying it was Arrival. But I wanted what it gave me, and I particularly enjoyed the decade-long pander that was the MCU. I’m not gonna get mad that a popcorn movie came in and did the job it was contracted to do.

THE FALCON AND THE WINTER SOLDIER likely delayed, dagnabbit.

Disappointing, but not unexpected: “Marvel’s The Falcon and The Winter Soldier was supposed to be released this August, which is next month. Disney never announced a release date change, but it doesn’t look like the highly anticipated show is coming in August.” I like Marvel superhero movies and TV series, you see. I was looking forward to this and THE NEW MUTANTS and BLACK WIDOW; but things have all gotten goofy because of this stupid pandemic.

Somebody remind me again why we decided as a society that we didn’t need drive-in theaters anymore? — Because right now that doesn’t sound like it was a smart decision, over the long term. It’s really easy to social distance without masks when you’re in your car.

Moe Lane

PS: Yeah, drive-ins wouldn’t have helped directly, in this case. I still wish we had them around in useful numbers, though. And with infrastructure.

Watched Age of Ultron with the kids.

I have to admit: I don’t understand the relative lack of love for the Avengers flicks. AGE OF ULTRON wasn’t masterful cinema, by any means; but it was fun! The kids had a good time (they’ve been playing Lego games, so they know who everybody is), although they were a little confused as to where Spider-Man was. …So were we, my children. So were we.

And I gotta say: the way that they put hooks in for later movies was a clever move. Not perfect, but it got the job done – and it was ambitious. Well, do the prep work, reap the reward.

BLACK WIDOW (perhaps) begins the transition to a primarily digital release.

At least, that’s my guess. BLACK WIDOW definitely won’t be released in theaters on May 1st, at least. And, contra GeekTyrant: I don’t think that they’re just going to delay theatrical release. There’s too much potential money on the table: this is the first MCU movie of the post-Endgame era. And it’s likely that Disney would like getting that money, too.

Continue reading BLACK WIDOW (perhaps) begins the transition to a primarily digital release.

The Turn of the Wheel: Sam Raimi in talks to direct DOCTOR STRANGE 2.

I’ll allow it.

Sam Raimi, who helped launch the modern superhero movie with 2002’s “Spider-Man,” is in talks to direct “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness” for Marvel Studios, Variety has learned.

Raimi replaces original director Scott Derrickson, who Variety reported on Jan. 9 had officially departed the project due to creative differences. Derrickson will remain as an executive producer. Raimi, meanwhile, will need to get up to speed before the film’s scheduled production start date in May.

Continue reading The Turn of the Wheel: Sam Raimi in talks to direct DOCTOR STRANGE 2.

Marvel TV taken over by Marvel Studios.

It was… inevitable.

Marvel Television has a new home.

The TV arm of Marvel Entertainment is being folded into the Marvel Studios group. Current development — Hulu’s slate of animated comedies and live-action drama Helstrom — will remain on course. However, no further development will come from the unit overseen by Jeph Loeb. The exec, who launched Marvel into live-action scripted TV originals as head of Marvel Television, will remain on board during the transition. It is unclear when Loeb’s last day will be. His departure from Marvel has been expected since late October.

Continue reading Marvel TV taken over by Marvel Studios.