In case anybody cares, Benedict Cumberbatch has confirmed that ‘Avengers 5’ is supposed to be shooting in early 2025. This means Doctor Strange will be part of that film. I’m guessing we’ll also be getting Captain Marvel, Thor, Shang-Chi and Spider-Man.
Last November, Destin Daniel Cretton exited as director of ‘Avengers 5.’ Cretton said he left the project to fully concentrate on his ‘Shang-Chi’ sequel, but I’m thinking there might be more to this story.
Six months later, Marvel found Cretton’s replacement. Deadline reported that “Deadpool & Wolverine” helmer Shawn Levy, who hasn’t made a good film in his life, was the top choice and in early talks to direct ‘Avengers 5.’
Levy was handed the latest script, penned by Michael Waldron, though Deadline’s sources do emphasize that he has not given an answer on whether he will accept Marvel’s offer. He’s currently heavily involved in the final season of “Stranger Things,” and is also supposed to direct a ‘Star Wars’ movie.
These next two ‘Avengers’ instalments have been described as "a giant five-hour movie” with a year-long intermission. It currently has a 2027 release date, with the strikes having resulted in it being pushed back from its original 2026 date.
I’m sure some of our readers cannot wait for ‘Avengers 5’, but I’m honestly asking, why? The last half dozen MCU movies were not good and there’s a sense that, finally, people are coming out of the superhero brainwash of these last 10 or so years.
After 2019’s “Avengers: Endgame” happened, there have been far less “iconic” superheroes for Marvel boss Kevin Feige to install into the MCU. Also, audiences started noticing the flaws in these movies — the cheap storytelling was a lot more apparent. The public, finally realizing that each of these movies were basically carbon copies, rebelled.
In case it hasn’t been any more apparent, Marvel movies represent a very specific manifestation of capitalist commercialization. It’s purely and simply a vulgarization of art as part of the endless pursuit of profitable franchise creation (and maintenance). Within this “bottom line” mentality, there is no doubt that Marvel/Disney do want to make good movies, but the stench of corporate greed cannot be escaped anymore.
Here's a small scoop for Sunday night. Nothing too exciting, since it concerns the once-promising Ben Wheatley, a filmmaker who broke out with the cult-horror gut-punch of "Kill List" and "A Field in England.”