The Eternals — The Nine Realms — Snipes n Snarfblatts

Marvel Studios dropped its upcoming lineup for not only film, but also Disney+ at SDCC's Hall H. With a couple little tidbits, actors, dates, & online big surprise to me in a certain half-vampire vampire slayer. Here's what they’re coming with:

First & foremost the one we probably have heard the most about, Marvel Studios' THE ETERNALS with Angelina Jolie, Richard Madden, Kumai Nanjiani, Lauren Ridloff, Brian Tyree Henry, Salma Hayek, Lia McHugh and Don Lee. Directed by Chlo Zhao, we now have a date of November 6, 2020. This might be the one I'm the most curious about. It has the potential to really set up the next phase of Marvel.

Next up, Shang-Chi & the Legend of the Ten Rings. With Simu Liu as Shang-Li, Awkwafina in an undisclosed role, & Tony Leung as the real Mandarin. Directed by Destin Daniel Cretton with a date of February 12th, 2021. I was excited for this just as a kung-fu film. Now with this real Mandarin news I can’t wait for this one.

Scarlett Johansson will reprise her role of Natasha Romanoff. Cate Shortland directs the film, which also features David Harbour as Alexei, aka The Red Guardian; Florence Pugh as Yelena; O-T Fagbenle as Mason; and Rachel Weisz as Melina. It has a date of May 1st, 2020, & my big question is if this is a prequel, what effect will it have on the current state of the MCU?

On November 5th 2021, we've got a new God of Thunder coming, or should I say Goddess. Natalie Portman joined director Taika Waititi, Chris Hemsworth, and Tessa Thompson on stage, wielding Thor’s hammer as it was revealed that her character, Jane Foster, will become the Mighty Thor in the next installment in the Thor franchise. Straight out of the comics, I'm not sure what to think of this one. The run with Jane as Thor was great, & if they can capture that it could be real special. I’m expecting some fallout with this announcement.

Doctor Strange will be returning May 7th 2021, & even more. This time around he will be joined by Wanda Maximoff/Scarlet Witch. Elizabeth Olsen revealed that Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness will have a direct connection to the Disney+ series WandaVision, which we'll mention later. Benedict Cumberbatch stars once again as Doctor Stephen Strange and Scott Derrickson returns to direct. Doctor Strange was a big surprise for me. I wasn't expecting to love it as much as I did. Knowing everyone is coming back plus some, has me highly anticipating this one.

No date for this one, but it has me super pumped. The first Blade is one of my all time favorite films. This time around Mahershala Ali will star as the title character, who in Marvel comics is a half-human/half-vampire who protects mortals from the undead. Loved & have been watching Ali since Luke Cage. Where I said he basically played Wesley Snipes' Nino Brown from New Jack City. Now we get to see him fall into an actual Snipes role with Blade.

Next up was the Disney+ lineup. With Marvel confirming some titles for the upcoming streaming service. Fall 2020 sees The Falcon & the Winter Soldier. Where we’ll see Sam Wilson (The Falcon) and Bucky Barnes (The Winter Soldier) embark on a new chapter, post Endgame. Anthony Mackie (The Falcon) and Sebastian Stan (The Winter Soldier) will be joined by Daniel Brühl returning as Civil War villain Baron Zemo. Spring 2021 will bring us Wandavision. Here we follow fan-favorites Wanda Maximoff/Scarlet Witch and Vision, played by Elizabeth Olsen and Paul Bettany. However it was revealed in Hall H they'll be joined by an adult Monica Rambeau. Who, if you're keeping score is the daughter of Maria Rambeau from Captain Marvel, played by MCU newcomer Teyonah Parris. This was the lowest thing on my list, but now knowing it has some effect on the second installment of Doctor Strange, it's moved itself higher. Loki will join us Spring 2021. Tom Hiddleston will reprise the role, & hopefully we find put what happened when he stole back the space stone in the past as seen in Endgame. Talk about perfect set up. Jeremy Renner was on hand to reveal the Fall 2021 series’ title, & let us know, a popular Marvel comics character will be an integral part of the series. Can’t wait to see who will be joining Clint & daughter Kate? I’m a big fan of Renner in this role. Very curious where this one's going. Last but certainly not least we have a series I'm highly anticipating, What If?. Summer 2021 we get to visit alternate realities with Jeffrey Wright voicing The Watcher. Marvel Studios is assembling a stellar voice cast from across the Marvel Cinematic Universe to reprise their roles as voice talent. This was one of my favorite comic titles as a kid. All in all, these are some amazing announcements, plagued by the fact that we had already heard murmurs of just about all of them. The Blade thing's probably the only real surprise of this whole announcement. Other than giving us a lineup. According to Screen Rant, quickly at the end of the panel Feige also confirmed Black Panther 2, Guardians of the Galaxy 3, Captain Marvel 2, & The Fantastic Four. Stating that there wasn't enough time to talk mutants. No time lines makes me think those are outside the 2 yr marks of all this stuff we just got dates for though. I was thinking there was going to he a few more surprises, but I've got this feeling there's a reason they’re playing a shorter game. Only giving us 2 years out. I am really intrigued with what I'm hearing. I'm figuring there will be a overarching storyline to weave all these starting to develop. I can tell it's something they’re not trying to give an inkling on. What about y'all? What are y'all's thoughts? Put ‘em in the comments, like, & share.

In a THR report via Collider, Matthew and Ryan Firpo, whose spec script Ruin was featured at the top of the 2017 Black List, has been hired by Marvel to adapt The Eternals. The story beginning millions of years ago when Celestials genetically experimented on humans, creating the super-powered and near immortal beings the Eternals, and their monstrous counterparts the Deviants. This was originally Jack Kirby's invention, which I'm only vaguely familiar with. It was retold later by Neil Gaiman. That happens to be the iteration I own in Graphic form. It's an amazing story, dig into the roots of the whole Marvel universe. That said, this is gonna be hard to pull off. If Guardians of the Galaxy was a hard sell, this is way more out there than that. If anything was going to try to raise the stakes higher than Infinity War or what's to come next, Eternals definitely raises the bar. I can't wait to see how this one all unfolds. Writers are a big first step. What do y'all think? Familiar with Eternals ? Put it in the comments, like, & share.

Jun 18, 2019

Michelle Rejwan Now Senior VP Live Action Development And Production For Lucasfilm

Hollywood Reporter reports Michelle Rejwan is now the Senior VP of Live Action Development & Production. She will oversee new feature films as well Disney+ series while still producing with president Kathleen Kennedy. That seems like a hefty responsibility to drop on someone who's previous credits at Lucasfilm are producing The Force Awakens & The Rise of Skywalker. Kennedy really sees something in her though, having “seen first-hand her skills collaborating with writers and directors, and I've been incredibly impressed with her creative skills and her ability to manage the complexity surrounding these massive projects.” Can she be the Feige of Star Wars? Time will tell. After the hate Kennedy got from the last installment, which I loved by the way, one could think this is just to give her a scapegoat if things don't go as well over the next few projects. Curious to see how much influence this winds up having as a whole. What do y'all think? Trust in Kennedy? Or do you think maybe a more vetted choice would have been better? Put it in the comments, like, & share.

May 21, 2019

Disney Reveals Name of Tokyo DisneySea's 8th Port

After breaking ground in what is to become Tokyo DisneySea's 8th port, we now have its official name. Fantasy Springs will be the title, but that's not all Dismey released on the subject. They also released some beautiful day & night concept art depicting the look of the new lands. Oriental land is investing 250 Billion Yen on this project that will feature lands themed to Frozen, Tangled, & Peter Pan. Frozen's land of post film Arendelle will feature an attraction that tells the story of Elsa and her beloved sister, Anna. Sounding like the familiar Epcot ride, suests will board boats and experience the sisters’ heartfelt journey, enjoying songs from the film, and encountering surprising thrills. There will also be a restaurant set inside the beautiful Arendelle Castle. Tangled's land will naturally feature Rapunzel’s tower rising above the forest. It will also include an boat attraction where guests will board gondolas for a romantic boat tour of Rapunzel’s “Best Day Ever” as she journeys with Flynn to the lantern festival. Flickering lanterns illuminate the attraction’s climactic scene while Rapunzel and Flynn sing an iconic song from the film. The pand will also feature a restaurant, inspired by the hideout of the band of thugs who appeared in the film in the "I've Got A Dream" sequence. Neverland will also be home to two attractions and a restaurant. Featuring landmarks including verdant mountains, Captain Hook’s pirate ship and Skull Rock. One attraction will fly over the jungles of Neverland into a battle with Captain Hook and his crew of pirates to rescue Wendy’s younger brother, John, who has been kidnapped by Captain Hook and his pirates. You'll board boats and follow the Lost Boys down a river until Tinker Bell sprinkles the boats with pixie dust, & you take off flying through Neverland on an adventure that featuring iconic music and dynamic 3D imagery of the characters from the film. The second attraction immerses us in the oversized world of Pixie Hollow, while the restaurant is inspired by the Lost Boys and their hideout. There will also be a new Disney Hllyel in the park. Themed to Disney fantasy, it will rise above and around the magical springs that serve as the core of the new themed port’s story. Offering 475 deluxe-type and luxury-type guest rooms, this park facing hotel will also feature a merchandise shop that helps share the story of the magical springs. One day I'll make it out here to see all the amazingly beautiful things TokyoSea has to offer. Luckily, I have one more reason to postpone that adventure until this amazing new addition is done.