Marvel Rumour Round-up

With the many developments happening in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, I’ve decided to start a news/rumours portion of this blog and our first huge rumour comes from Marvel.

Let’s start out with the obvious.

I have really been struggling with whether or not to do a post on this subject as I realise Marvel does not want these things leaked and it may ruin the Avengers Age of Ultron for many. But due to the overwhelming amount of people asking about these rumours, I have decided to give the people what they want. I have always been someone who didn’t mind spoilers and still enjoyed a film even if I knew everything that was going to happen as I am able to enjoy the execution of a twist as much as the twist itself. However, I realise this is not everyone’s view and if you are one who does not enjoy spoilers, I really think you shouldn’t read this. Or at least stop reading it after you get enough.

With Avengers Age of Ultron coming in May 2015 in America or possibly earlier for ‘international’ audiences, Marvel has been unusually secretive about the plans they have for the films after the second installment to the Avengers and this has led to a flurry of rumours, reports and gossips from the media. We know Marvel have plans for films to be released on:

May 2015- Avengers Age of Ultron

July 2015- Ant Man

May 2016- Captain America 3

July 2016- Dr Strange

May 2017

July 2017- Guardians of the Galaxy 2

Nov 2017

July 2018

Nov 2018

May 2019

There are at least 5 films in there that are a mystery and we can assume that Avengers 3 will be at the end of it. Fans were unhappy that Marvel only decided to announce the Guardians of the Galaxy sequel at the San Diego Comic Con. Now, we learn that they have been keeping these films a secret because it may give away a huge plotline in Avengers Age of Ultron. And it may be the craziest thing to ever happen in comic book movie history.

Now, before I move on, I must yet again emphasize. Huge spoilers ahead, not only for Avengers 2 and all previous Marvel films, but also for those mystery movies and even for Avengers 3! If you do not want this movie spoiled, click away.

Alright, you’ve been warned. Don’t hate the movie after knowing these spoilers. Let’s follow the timeline of rumours. In mid-September, a rumour started circulating that the Avengers 3 movie will be split into 2 parts, à la the last installments of Harry Potter and Twilight, one in 2018 and one in 2019. These rumours brought about confusion as stars like Robert Downey Jr (Iron Man) and Chris Evans (Captain America) had contracts which end on one movie, being Avengers 3. Now that it was split in 2, contracts will have to be renegotiated.

These w

Then another rumour started up. Avengers 3 will have a team with many new characters and a few old ones missing. Now, having read the Infinity Gauntlet storyline, it was easy for me to think something else happened to the older heroes involving a finger snap. But then another rumour came up. The idea that there will be a second Avengers team led by Captain America, maybe the West Coast Avengers, being formed before Avengers 3. This was when my spidey-senses (I know, he’s not in the Marvel Universe) started tingling. “Wait,” I said, “Another Avengers team led by Captain America?” It doesn’t take a comic book expert to figure it out. You’ve got one team led by Captain America and one team led by Iron Man. You’ve got the Civil War!

What’s that I hear you say? Not enough to go on? Let’s keep going then. Think back to one of the best Marvel movies to date, Captain America: The Winter Soldier. What were the directors trying to get across? Captain America was against the way SHIELD handled threats. He believed that SHIELD’s approach of subduing potential enemies before they could even act was not freedom, it was fear. And Captain America took the side of freedom. Where else does he fight against government for freedom over prevention due to fear?

Need I remind you of who
appeared together in the
Entertainment Weekly cover?

And then all in the timespan of a week, just last week in fact, rumours filled the news that only added to the possibility of Civil War. It started out with the rumour that part 1 of the Avengers 3 will focus mainly on Iron Man. Robert Downey Jr then announced he is negotiating on another film for Marvel. He has also now decided that he is not going to leave Marvel entirely (probably due to the bad performance of The Judge), but negotiate contracts as they come. Later on, it was confirmed that he has been casted as a character in Captain America 3 and not just a cameo. This latest confirmation is the strongest evidence for a civil war storyline as why else will Iron Man appear in a Captain America movie other than to cause trouble? He may essentially become the villain of the whole movie.

So here’s the roundup, a Civil War storyline looks very likely to occur during the films between Avengers Age of Ultron and Avengers 3. This would make sense as they cannot continue with the concept of a hero chasing an infinity gem in every Marvel movie. It would get stale. It also makes sense that Marvel would refuse to give out information on what the other mystery movies are as it may give away their Civil War idea. Also, sorry to say, but it also makes sense as Robert Downey Jr has always wanted the storyline to be focused on him, which is why the villain in Avengers 2 is Ultron and it will be Tony Stark who built Ultron. Another point is that after the success of Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Captain America has suddenly become the second favourite Avenger to most people. Captain America now being such a favourite will allow Marvel to use this popularity to their advantage with this storyline. And as for the remaining few who doesn’t like Captain America, they certainly will after the Civil War storyline.

Creating this idea is a stroke of genius by Marvel and really shows how far ahead they are of all other comic book studios like Sony, Fox and even Warner Bros. They know what the fans want and execute them perfectly, barring the small missteps with Iron Man 3. It has been exciting to watch them work. Obviously, this will not be the same exact story as the Civil War comic book storyline, but the main ideologies will be there. This whole storyline, I would hope, will continue to develop until part 1 when Thanos appears and the heroes decide to the end Civil War (don't worry, no spoilers for that story here).

[Warning: Even bigger spoilers]

Now, I realise that this is already a spoiler section but I must once again emphasize how big of a spoiler this next section is. Above has already talked about the main storyline and idea Marvel is having for phase 3 of their universe, but the next part is a spoiler that you may hate yourself for knowing. The next rumour is unnescessary for you to know now as it does not pertain to the story but more to the introduction of individual characters. I really advice against reading this if you want to feel the shock and awe similar to the one that you felt at the end of X-men: Days of Future Past.

This last rumour is unconfirmed and only in negotiation stages. This is even bigger news than the one before. It has been rumoured that Marvel is in negotiations to have Spider-Man appear in the Marvel Universe. Now, those who read the storyline will know how important of a role Spider-Man plays in the Civil War storyline. It is unconfirmed if this will actually happen but another rumour that happened just after that one strengthens it. It is being rumoured by very reliable sources that Sony is thinking about recasting Spider-Man in the new Sinister Six movie. Could this be under the instruction of Marvel? Perhaps they are in talks to work together in some way? We can only hope and pray that this rumour is true. But if so, Marvel is awesome.

There is one more rumour circulating the net which I do not want to get into as it will ruin the ending of Avengers Age of Ultron. I know I've spoiled a lot already but I will not have the integrity of that film be destroyed by this post. If you really are interested in finding out, you can look it up online. But I strongly advice against it, because when it happens, it will blow your mind. So don't go into the film having your mind pre-blown. Lastly, these are all rumours and speculations. I really think most of them will come true but in the end, we'll have to watch the movie to find out. Counting down every minute to it.