Latest news with #pre-MCU
Geek Tyrant
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Geek Tyrant
Kevin Feige Confirms Sacha Baron Cohen's Mephisto Has a Big Future in the MCU — GeekTyrant
Marvel Studios chief Kevin Feige has officially confirmed what many fans have been hoping for, Sacha Baron Cohen's Mephisto isn't a one-and-done villain. After making his debut in Ironheart , the iconic Marvel Comics character is here to stay. At a recent press event attended by GamesRadar+, Feige set the record straight on a long-standing fan theory that Mephisto was meant to appear in WandaVision . "He was never part of WandaVision. We've talked about that. Matt's talked about that. Jack Schaefer's talk about that. He was never part of WandaVision. But the enthusiasm with which he was theorised on that was certainly cool and fun to watch. ' And he's another character that, pre-MCU, would have been hard to do. He's a devil. How do you do that character? But he's a formative character. He was a big part of Thanos' storyline in the comics. So again, now that he's here, the potential is clear." When pressed on whether Marvel plans to feature more of Mephisto going forward, Feige kept it short and sweet: "Yes." First appearing in The Silver Surfer #3 back in 1968, Mephisto has always been one of Marvel's most sinister villains. Originally a nemesis for Silver Surfer and Ghost Rider, he later tangled with Spider-Man and even played a major role in Vision and Scarlet Witch's comic storylines. That history is why so many fans were convinced he had something to do with WandaVision , but we now know that was never the case. Instead, Mephisto finally made his MCU debut in Ironheart , with Cohen stepping into the role in the series' finale. The storyline saw Riri Williams (Dominique Thorne) strike a deal with the devil himself, a move that sets up some fascinating possibilities for the future. Interestingly, Thorne admitted she didn't even know Cohen's character while filming, suggesting Marvel wanted to keep the reveal under wraps. With Ironheart closing out Phase 5 and The Fantastic Four: First Steps set to launch Phase 6, the MCU is entering a new era, and Mephisto could play a major role in shaping it. But, we'll just ahve to wait and see. Now that Mephisto is officially part of the MCU, the door is wide open for him to stir up chaos across multiple storylines.
Otago Daily Times
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Otago Daily Times
The comic book Superman returns
Photo: Jessica Miglio/Warner Bros. Pictures/TNS Director: James Gunn Cast: David Corenswet, Rachel Brosnahan, Nicholas Hoult, Edi Gathegi, Anthony Carrigan, Nathan Fillion, Isabela Merced Rating: (M) ★★★★ REVIEWED BY AMASIO JUTEL The Gunn didn't jam on the first entry to his brand-new DC Universe. The colourful flair of Superman (Rialto, Reading) is undoubtedly a positive indicator of the direction director-turned-chief executive of DC Studios, James Gunn, will take his new comic book sandbox. Donning the blue and red tights, prominently featuring the iconic red boxer briefs, Clark Kent teams up with journalism, justice and his juvenile super-pup, Krypto, to take to the skies and bring down Luthor Corp and its bloodthirsty international ally. As with any totemic media character, the central focus has been on whose face will be rendered in the Kryptonian armour. I can happily report that David Corenswet's punk-rocker Kal-El is the injection of himbo earnestness severely lacking from the character's previous keeper. Corenswet is a stark departure from the dark and moody Man of Steel, last portrayed by Henry Cavill, bringing a kindness and naivety, off which Gunn bounces his comic sensibilities. His chemistry with Brosnahan's Lane is electric, and paired off against Hoult's raging Lex Luthor, the central trio is cast to perfection. From the film's opening frame, Gunn subverts the franchise template. Superman effectively leapfrogs the "origin story" component of the caped crusader's tale, trusting that viewers will recognise the sensibilities of comic book storytelling that pre-MCU era comic readers grew up on. The film itself plays like a feature-length Saturday morning cartoon, much like Sam Raimi's 2000s Spider-Man trilogy: a close analogue in style. Gunn's universe feels real in its own cartoon logic — a world where Superman swoops in to save a single squirrel during a full-blown Kaiju attack. The film doesn't shy away from balancing G-rated elements with allegories for real-world violence and geopolitical conflict, nor from Deer Hunter-level traumatic violence. In the plot, a xenophobic smear campaign from Luthor's army of online trolls inconveniences our do-gooder protagonist, who is caught up in media turmoil for acting against the fictional Boravia's war crimes. From the newsroom with Lois and Jimmy to the Jarhanpur/Boravia border to a "pocket universe", Superman, the movie, delivers on the "woke" grievances voiced by right-wing commentators. Boravia's US-backed military has been mobilised against the unarmed civilian population of Jarhanpur, and Superman has been under fire for preventing civilian casualties. The film's most effective non-action scene plays between Lois and Clark (as Superman), her interviewing him on the authority he had as an American to interfere with the affairs of other nations. To Superman, the answer is plain: stopping a war. Subtextually, Gunn eloquently echoes the critiques of media outlets for their quote-unquote "objective reporting", instead of reflecting the human rights issues of the conflict. And, although the nuances of the conflict escape the plot, the final action scene directly mirrors the 2018 Gaza border protests, in which 189 Palestinians were killed. While Luthor has Superman subdued in Metropolis and the Boravian troops raise their weapons to fire on an unarmed boy, Green Lantern disperses the IDF-analogue with a wave of massive green middle fingers.
