Marvel's Future Plans: "Black Panther 3" and a New "X-Men" Cast to ‘Keep the Cost Down'; "Blade" and "Deadpool 4" Are Less Priorities
Could have been worse, but could have been better — that's the collective takeaway on Marvel Studios' latest venture, 'The Fantastic Four: First Steps,' that has pulled in $218 million globally following its July 25 bow.
But as with 'Superman' two weeks prior, the superhero movie's overseas haul — $100 million, including an anemic $4.5 million from China — offers a stark reminder of how much things have changed since pre-coronavirus days and where the tripwires lie for the Disney-owned studio, which has ambitious plans for two 'Avengers' movies in 2026 and 2027, followed by an 'X-Men' reboot further out on the horizon. By contrast, 'Avengers: Endgame' nabbed $614 million from the Middle Kingdom alone in 2019.
'There's a reset of what a hit is, and I don't see them consistently hitting $1 billion as before — without China, with Disney+ exposure, post-COVID, without megastars,' says one top agent who represents several clients in the Marvel universe. 'China used Marvel, Disney and the U.S. film industry to seed their own.'
Adds an insider of the lost China windfall: 'We are never going to have those days again.'
That reality has changed the calculus at Marvel, led by Kevin Feige, when it comes to making a movie like 'X-Men.' 'Thunderbolts' helmer Jake Schreier is set to direct the tentpole, with the studio fine-tuning Michael Lesslie's script.
Casting will begin soon, and the field is wide open. But Marvel is looking for younger talent, rather than A-listers, to 'keep the cost down,' says another agent.
Feige also indicated he is looking to focus on the next-gen aspects of 'X-Men' during a recent conversation with the press.
Marvel is holding July 23, 2027, on the release calendar for an unnamed film, but sources say it won't be filled by 'X-Men.'
While Matt Shakman's 'Fantastic Four' features a bona fide TV star in Pedro Pascal, who has made his mark on the small screen in everything from 'The Mandalorian' to 'The Last of Us,' he hasn't yet scaled the same big-screen heights as the 'Endgame' ensemble. And that helped keep the 'Fantastic Four' budget manageable.
Disney hasn't given a precise figure on the film's budget, only pegging it at somewhere north of $200 million.
'Avengers: Doomsday' will feature at least one mega-payday for Robert Downey Jr., who is returning to the Marvel fold as villain Doctor Doom.
Sources say Downey Jr. has earned between $500 million and $600 million throughout seven Marvel movies and three cameos and won't be working at a discount on 'Doomsday'; neither will Chris Hemsworth, who's returning as Thor.
As for who will be the star of the film, sources say Pascal is not the centerpiece, but does have an integral role. Regardless, the tentpole is on schedule to open December 18, 2026.
Wall Street is keeping close tabs on Marvel as elements of its expanded portfolio fall into place, including the integration of 20th Century Fox assets like 'Fantastic Four,' 'X-Men' and last year's runaway hit 'Deadpool & Wolverine,' which earned $1.34 billion worldwide.
'Marvel is a critical piece to Disney's overall premium IP. And the stronger Marvel is, the better it is for the overall company,' says Wall Street analyst Robert Fishman at MoffettNathanson. 'The recent studio momentum has allowed Disney to help drive subscriber growth at Disney+ and see the overall Disney flywheel start to accelerate again.'
There won't be much to analyze for the next year. The next Marvel movie to hit theaters is 'Spider-Man: Brand New Day' on July 31, followed by 'Doomsday' in December and 'Avengers: Secret Wars' in December 2027.
Amid an industrywide pullback on superheroes, the Marvel brain trust is feeling no sense of urgency on the long-gestating 'Blade' reboot or even a new 'Deadpool' outing, sources say.
However, ideas are percolating on a Ryan Coogler-helmed 'Black Panther 3,' creating excitement internally.
Ultimately, Marvel is thrilled that it has brought 'Fantastic Four' — a tricky property that proved vexing in the past — back from the grave: Fans have embraced the effort, giving the film an A- CinemaScore.
The two previous incarnations found a tepid response from audiences, with diminishing returns. Tim Story's 2005 version earned $334 million, while the drama-plagued 2015 version took home $168 million amid a public bashing from director Josh Trank, who complained of studio interference from Fox. (Actor Toby Kebbell corroborated Trank's version of events.)
This time around, the only minor blip came via a behind-the-scenes battle over screenwriting credits, with the WGA stepping in to make a determination.
The union awarded final screenwriting credit to Josh Friedman, Eric Pearson, Jeff Kaplan, Ian Springer and Kat Wood.
For superhero watchers, good is the new great, as the genre finds its footing after a cold streak that included recent Marvel misfires — 'Thunderbolts' and 'The Marvels' — as well as a batch of duds from DC that predated the James Gunn-Peter Safran regime.
Says analyst Shawn Robbins of Box Office Theory: 'I think as an industry we've become very obsessed with opening-weekend results, in particular with both ['Superman' and 'Fantastic Four']. Because word of mouth is so strong for both, I think the story is not fully obvious yet. Yes, 'Fantastic Four' is good enough in terms of it exceeded what Disney expected. So that's a positive. And it's tough to compare it to any other Marvel films because we simply live in a different time now for the superhero releases.'
read more
New Tourism Route To Launch in Old Cairo
Ahmed El Sakka-Led Play 'Sayidati Al Jamila' to Be Staged in KSA on Dec. 6
Mandy Moore Joins Season 2 of "Dr. Death" Anthology Series
Don't Miss These Movies at 44th Cairo Int'l Film Festival Today
Amr Diab to Headline KSA's MDLBEAST Soundstorm 2022 Festival
Arts & Culture
Mai Omar Stuns in Latest Instagram Photos
Arts & Culture
"The Flash" to End with Season 9
Arts & Culture
Ministry of Culture Organizes four day Children's Film Festival
Arts & Culture
Canadian PM wishes Muslims Eid-al-Adha
News
Israeli-Linked Hadassah Clinic in Moscow Treats Wounded Iranian IRGC Fighters
Arts & Culture
"Jurassic World Rebirth" Gets Streaming Date
News
China Launches Largest Ever Aircraft Carrier
News
Ayat Khaddoura's Final Video Captures Bombardment of Beit Lahia
Videos & Features
Tragedy Overshadows MC Alger Championship Celebration: One Fan Dead, 11 Injured After Stadium Fall
Business
Egyptian Pound Undervalued by 30%, Says Goldman Sachs
Lifestyle
Get to Know 2025 Eid Al Adha Prayer Times in Egypt
Arts & Culture
South Korean Actress Kang Seo-ha Dies at 31 after Cancer Battle
Arts & Culture
Lebanese Media: Fayrouz Collapses after Death of Ziad Rahbani
Sports
Get to Know 2025 WWE Evolution Results
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Al-Ahram Weekly
2 hours ago
- Al-Ahram Weekly
A sneak peek at Mohamed Ramadan's new film Assad - Screens - Arts & Culture
Egyptian actor Mohamed Ramadan shared a few photos from the shooting location of his highly anticipated film Assad (Lion), set for release this year, on his Instagram account. Over the past weeks, Ramadan has also released other photos and videos presenting different scenes from the film. In Assad, Ramadan portrays Ali ibn Muhammad, who led the Zanj Rebellion, a major revolt against the Abbasid Caliphate (from 869 to 883). The film is directed and co-written by Mohamed Diab, a filmmaker also known for writing and directing 678 (2010), Eshtebak (Clash, 2016), among other works. Diab also directed episodes one, three, five, and six of Marvel Studios' TV mini-series Moon Knight and was the co-executive producer of the whole series. Although the date of the film's release has not been announced yet, the audience expected cinemas to show it during Eid Al-Adha in June. However, it was postponed, with some media sources pointing to December this year. The film creators clarified that the grand production requires extensive work to ensure the best results in terms of picture, sound, music, locations, visual effects, and other factors. The film features 70 actors, including 12 major stars and special guests from Egypt, Palestine, Lebanon, and Sudan. It also includes 50 supporting actors — some in single yet pivotal scenes. Besides Ramadan, the main cast includes Razane Jammal, Kamel El-Basha, Aly Kassem, Maged El-Kedwany, Rakeen Saad, and Islam Mubarak. Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
See - Sada Elbalad
a day ago
- See - Sada Elbalad
Tom Holland Addresses James Bond Casting Speculation
Yara Sameh Tom Holland is having one busy year with Christopher Nolan's 'The Odyssey' and the Marvel tentpole 'Spider-Man: Brand New Day' essentially filming back to back. The movies are Holland's first features since 2022's 'Uncharted,' and their theatrical releases next year will be the first time fans get to see him on screen since his Apple TV+ limited series 'The Crowded Room' in 2023. 'I feel really blessed to be at a point in my career where I can take time off, reset, and come back ready to go,' Holland recently told GQ UK magazine amid an intentional slow-down in his acting output. 'You can't be in every movie, and you can't do your best work when you're burnt out.' 'What I've learnt is that it's important to set boundaries – to be mindful about overworking,' he added. 'I've got a slightly busy year next year, and then I'll probably take a bit more time off in 2027. We'll see.' Holland is back in busy mode, and he might get even busier if rumors about him being eyed to play the new James Bond turn out to be true. Denis Villeneuve is directing the next Bond movie for Amazon MGM with a script by 'Peaky Blinders' creator Steven Knight. Holland's name is often cited when it comes to speculation over who will take over 007 from Daniel Craig, which has only been heightened by reports of Amazon wanting a younger Bond actor this go-around. The new 007 movie is also being co-produced by Amy Pascal, who works closely with Holland on the 'Spider-Man' movies. 'Listen, there's speculation at the moment. We'll keep it to a minimum for now. We'll get there one day,' Holland recently told Gordon Ramsay , who then asked if Holland would 'love the opportunity' to play 007. 'Dude, I mean every young British actor, it's the pinnacle of working in our industry,' Holland said. 'I already consider myself to be the luckiest kid alive you know, I could not have dreamed to have the career that I have.' Holland spoke openly in summer 2023 amid the release of 'The Crowded Room' about how he needed to take nearly a year off acting after filming the drama series because it took such an emotional toll on him. The series starred Holland as Danny Sullivan, who is arrested in summer 1979 due to his involvement in a shooting at Rockefeller Center. Holland was open about 'The Crowded Room' being tough to film and said 'that show did break me.' During his acting hiatus, the actor stayed busy by doing work with his charity The Holland Foundation and by launching the nonalcoholic beer brand Bero. He is back in full swing as an actor this year and even told GQ UK that he's eyeing an acting pivot in the future to a new genre. 'I think I'd love to do a straight-up comedy,' Holland added. 'That genre's really taken a hit over the last few years. We're seeing fewer and fewer of them. I'd love to do something where the question isn't, 'How do we bring emotion into this story?' but 'How do we make people laugh as much as possible?' That idea of coming to set every day with that mission sounds amazing to me.' Holland will have a busy summer 2026 when 'The Odyssey' opens in theaters July 17, 2026, followed by 'Spider-Man: No Way Home' on July 31, 2026. read more New Tourism Route To Launch in Old Cairo Ahmed El Sakka-Led Play 'Sayidati Al Jamila' to Be Staged in KSA on Dec. 6 Mandy Moore Joins Season 2 of "Dr. Death" Anthology Series Don't Miss These Movies at 44th Cairo Int'l Film Festival Today Amr Diab to Headline KSA's MDLBEAST Soundstorm 2022 Festival Arts & Culture Mai Omar Stuns in Latest Instagram Photos Arts & Culture "The Flash" to End with Season 9 Arts & Culture Ministry of Culture Organizes four day Children's Film Festival Arts & Culture Canadian PM wishes Muslims Eid-al-Adha News Israeli-Linked Hadassah Clinic in Moscow Treats Wounded Iranian IRGC Fighters Arts & Culture "Jurassic World Rebirth" Gets Streaming Date News China Launches Largest Ever Aircraft Carrier News Ayat Khaddoura's Final Video Captures Bombardment of Beit Lahia Business Egyptian Pound Undervalued by 30%, Says Goldman Sachs Videos & Features Tragedy Overshadows MC Alger Championship Celebration: One Fan Dead, 11 Injured After Stadium Fall Lifestyle Get to Know 2025 Eid Al Adha Prayer Times in Egypt Arts & Culture South Korean Actress Kang Seo-ha Dies at 31 after Cancer Battle Arts & Culture Lebanese Media: Fayrouz Collapses after Death of Ziad Rahbani Sports Get to Know 2025 WWE Evolution Results
See - Sada Elbalad
a day ago
- See - Sada Elbalad
Here's Our First Look at "Spider-Man: Brand New Day"
Yara Sameh Tom Holland's new Spider-Man suit received the briefest teaser in a short video for Marvel and Sony's upcoming 'Spider-Man: Brand New Day.' A nine-second video shows a close-up of Holland's Spidey suit with the caption 'something brand new is coming.' It was posted on August 1, which happens to be National Spider-Man Day. At the end of 'Spider-Man: No Way Home,' there's a quick shot of Holland swinging through New York City in a new suit that resembles the classic, bright red-and-blue costume from the comics. At first glance, the 'Brand New Day' teaser seems like it's similar to that costume, with its sharper colors and raised black edges. There is also a faint, black spider webbing design that's a nod to the original Marvel comics. Marvel fans will have to wait a year for 'Spider-Man: Brand New Day,' which is the next entry in the MCU. Holland will suit up and swing back into theaters on July 31, 2026. The fourth 'Spider-Man' film is directed by Destin Daniel Cretton from a screenplay by Chris McKenna and Erik Sommers. Cretton previously collaborated with MCU on 2021's 'Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings.' That Marvel film was praised for its crazy kung-fu action sequences and story, which seems like a great fit for Holland's wall-crawling superhero. 'Spider-Man: Brand New Day' will see the return of fellow franchise stars like Zendaya, who plays Peter Parker's girlfriend M.J. Jones-Watson, and Jacob Batalon, who's his best friend Ned Leeds. There are some major additions to the cast as well, like Jon Bernthal, who plays the violent Punisher. He was last seen in Season 1 of 'Daredevil: Born Again' and is expected to return for Season 2, along with a TV special. Bernthal's 'The Bear' co-star Liza Colón-Zayas is also joining 'Spider-Man: Brand New Day,' as is 'Stranger Things' standout Sadie Sink. Their roles remain mysteries, but fans have theorized Sink could be playing the red-haired 'X-Men' character Jean Grey, who's a powerful telepath. The last time Holland suited up as Spidey was in 2021's 'No Way Home,' which saw past Spider-Men Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield cross over into the MCU. After the heroes defeated several multiversal villains, Benedict Cumberbatch's Doctor Strange casted a spell that made everyone in the world forget that Peter Parker is Spider-Man. read more New Tourism Route To Launch in Old Cairo Ahmed El Sakka-Led Play 'Sayidati Al Jamila' to Be Staged in KSA on Dec. 6 Mandy Moore Joins Season 2 of "Dr. Death" Anthology Series Don't Miss These Movies at 44th Cairo Int'l Film Festival Today Amr Diab to Headline KSA's MDLBEAST Soundstorm 2022 Festival Arts & Culture Mai Omar Stuns in Latest Instagram Photos Arts & Culture "The Flash" to End with Season 9 Arts & Culture Ministry of Culture Organizes four day Children's Film Festival Arts & Culture Canadian PM wishes Muslims Eid-al-Adha News Israeli-Linked Hadassah Clinic in Moscow Treats Wounded Iranian IRGC Fighters Arts & Culture "Jurassic World Rebirth" Gets Streaming Date News China Launches Largest Ever Aircraft Carrier News Ayat Khaddoura's Final Video Captures Bombardment of Beit Lahia Business Egyptian Pound Undervalued by 30%, Says Goldman Sachs Videos & Features Tragedy Overshadows MC Alger Championship Celebration: One Fan Dead, 11 Injured After Stadium Fall Lifestyle Get to Know 2025 Eid Al Adha Prayer Times in Egypt Arts & Culture South Korean Actress Kang Seo-ha Dies at 31 after Cancer Battle Arts & Culture Lebanese Media: Fayrouz Collapses after Death of Ziad Rahbani Sports Get to Know 2025 WWE Evolution Results
