Kevin Feige Wants A More Diverse Cast; Teases Unexpected Team-Ups

President of Marvel Studios, Kevin Feige discussed with Vulture about the evolution of the marvel cinematic universe as we near phase 4 of the franchise which will begin to diversify the line-up of characters featured in the MCU starting with the upcoming Spider-Man: Homecoming.

Our filmmaker [Jon Watts] came in and had pictures of real high schools, and they are as diverse as you could imagine…That was something that was important to us, to set it apart from other Spidey films that have been made — to carve that niche — and to have it represent the world today.

As a white person, I find myself totally taken out of most films which feature an all white cast. We need our art to reflect the way in which the world looks. While Hollywood is beginning to make some progress with diversity, most notably productions that fall under the mouse house Disney, there is still a long way to go. I can only imagine how other races must feel watching nothing but white superheroes kick ass in these films. I would feel incredibly alienated.

I also think we need to see more ordinary looking people represented in a film today. It’s hard to identify with characters when everyone who playing them is so stunningly attractive. We can sit back and admire them, but many of these blockbuster films — especially Marvel movies — exist so far outside of us that as much as we can enjoy them, it prevents us from having a transformative film going experience. I find myself consistently gravitating back to 70’s, 80’s and 90’s cinema not because I grew up with motion pictures shot on celluloid, but because of the more ordinary and somewhat disheveled leads of the past, I find I’m able to establish a deeper connection with the characters.

Feige also teased unexpected team-ups in future Marvel films, encouraging fans to be a bit more imaginative when speculating about which characters could share scenes in phase 4.

Particularly in Infinity War and the movie after that, there are … unexpected team-ups

Who would you like to see team-up in a future Marvel film? Personally, I am all for Spider-Man and Ant-Man as I think they would make for a hilarious duo on screen. They both have that natural charm that I think would bounce well off of each other. I can’t really imagine how their powers would combination in action which is exactly why I would love to see it.

SOURCE: VULTURE

‘Doctor Strange’: Mads Mikkelson Discusses the Villain’s Path

Mads Mikkelson is an actor that casts a brilliant light upon each and every role he assumes – though most if not all of these roles have encompassed the archetype of the villain. He was utterly bone-chilling as the character of Hannibal in the NBC drama by Executive Producer, Steve Lightfoot who is also helming the upcoming Marvel Netflix series The Punisher, which will debut in 2017.

In a recent interview with Screenrant, Mikkelson touched upon inhabiting the mystical minon of Dormammu, Kaecilius.

“Obviously, he’s trying to make the world a better place, where there’s no suffering and there’s eternal life, which is a valid point. 

There was also something to be said about the impressive collection of antagonists in the Marvel MCU. The hero’s journey wouldn’t be quite complete without some opposition along the way.

“I think they’re all serving their purpose of having a mirror reflection of our hero. There’s something that our hero recognizes in the villain, and that is something he hates. And that’s his internal fight, and journey. So I think they have more in common than they have that separates them.”

For the full interview, head on over to Screenrant but keep in mind, it contains spoilers for the end of Doctor Strange!

SOURCE: SCREENRANT

‘Infinity War’: Benedict Cumberbatch Speaks About Strange Role

In recent interviews, it comes as no surprise that Doctor Strange star Benedict Cumberbatch has expressed how whole-heartedly ecstatic he is to be playing the role of the astral projecting protector Stephen Strange from the pages of the Marvel comic books.

Speaking at length with Screenrant, the actor happily discussed his experience on that project, and his upcoming appearance in Avengers:Infinity War slated to be released on May 4th, 2018. Cumberbatch has his own ideas about the man dubbed ‘Strange’ by artist and Marvel legend Steve Ditko.

“I was intrigued by this man. He was complex, he was supremely arrogant, to a point where I was like, ‘okay yeah, I get it, I get it.’ …I wanna see him fail, I wanna see the humor of someone struggling to understand this ludicrous, extraordinary world that he’s been asked to accept. And also, you know, the real drama of a man whose every inch of his life, every aspect of his life is through what he’s capable of with his hands, and losing that, and what would result is a breakdown physically and mentally from that. So all of those flavors were just mixed in with the great comics of old.”

The transition from eager audience member to polished participant behind the cameras was a journey as well, as the character of Doctor Strange will be putting the ‘can’ in ‘incantation’ alongside the Avengers.

“I’m gonna be in the Avengers films, which is a phenomenally exciting thing for me. I mean, I came to comics through the film, so I’ve been buying my ticket for the last eight years, and now I’m on the other side of the screen. It’s very, very exciting. And I can’t wait to see who I get to jam with. It’s gonna be great.”

With Cumberbatch on board for at least one more Doctor Strange film via his contract, the actor seems on point with connecting to the arrogant yet open-minded neurosurgeon as he metamorphoses through the motions.

“…The possibilities are endless. It’s not just what he brings to the universe, it’s also what he gets to do in it.”

Doctor Strange hits theaters November 4th, 2016

SOURCE: SCREENRANT

‘Doctor Strange’: Director and Cast Talk Pushing the Boundaries of Superhero Films

In a recent press junket, Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige, the director of Doctor Strange Scott Derrickson and the film’s stars, Benedict Cumberbatch and Mads Mikkelson discussed Doctor Strange’s impact on the MCU at large. The spark that Feige speaks about the character’s unique mystical experience with is truly refreshing, given the movie’s more etherial nature.

We always say we have to push the boundaries, we have to keep surprising people, and we have to keep making them unique and different, and certainly, this movie and this character fits all of that. And also, tapping into other dimensions and tapping into that supernatural realm of the Marvel Comic Universe is going to come in handy, as we move forward throughout the Cinematic Universe. So, the timing was perfect.

Derrickson marvels on the attention lore of the material at hand as well.

“I remember, in some of my early meetings, saying that my goal was for every set piece in the movie to be the weirdest set piece in any other movie, but each one of them would be uniquely odd and unusual and refreshing. And that comes out of movie fandom, more than anything else, because that’s what I want to see. I want to see event movies that use visual effects and visual effect sequences for more than just mass destruction.”

The leading men of the project also have a little bit of starshine in their eyes regarding their otherworldly roles.

Cumberbatch muses excitedly over donning the garb of Doctor Strange for the first time:

“I was giddy, like a child at Halloween. When I saw it, for the first time, Alex Byrne, our brilliant costume designer, who’s done a few of these films went, ‘Oh, you’re having as superhero moment, aren’t you?’ And I went, “Yeah, I think I am.”

Mikkelson remembers his journey from fanboy to zen flyboy:

“Basically, for half of my life, I was reading comic books, and the other half, I was watching Bruce Lee. So, when Scott was pitching this story to me, 10 minutes into the pitch, he said, ‘There’s a lot of Kung Fu and flying stuff.’ And I said, ‘Whoa, rewind to the Kung Fu bit. I’m on!’ It’s a childhood dream coming through. It’s just amazing that at the age of 108, I get the chance to fly around.”

To enjoy the full interview, head on over to Collider.

 

Doctor Strange hits theaters November 4th, 2016

SOURCE: COLLIDER

‘Doctor Strange 2’: Sequel in the Wings

The impossibilities are still endless awaiting the rapidly approaching release of ‘Doctor Strange,’ and director Scott Derrickson is already envisioning the future.

Derrickson told Den of Geek recently that should he have the opportunity to make the sequel, that he has plans to lean towards a darker lining regarding the dramatic personæ:

“What made The Dark Knight so great was that the origin story of Batman had been well-told, and then it was time to bring in a villain where you really got to go deep. And not just the Joker, also Two-Face. It was a more visceral experience, I’d love to be able to do that for Doctor Strange.”

I have no doubt that Doctor Strange as a first outing will be a visual stunner. Hopefully, the film will also establish Stephen Strange as Benedict Cumberbatch sinks fully into the role. The Dark Knight was not only a visceral experience but a writing tour de force by screenplay writer/director Christopher Nolan. As a writer, I can only dream, visualize, and hone myself in pursuit of such mastery presenting a sequel (or any movie) of that caliber.

It’s a healthy thing, and great practice to open up your visions of a character’s future when putting ‘pen to paper’ to any project to get a taste of potential outcomes today’s story may birth. I’m comfortable calling these musings ‘illusions’ and not ‘delusions of grandeur’ for the time being.

Doctor Strange hits theaters on November 4th, 2016

SOURCES: DEN OF GEEK, CBR

‘Avengers: Infinity War’ Adds Benedict Wong

Marvel is adding some more magic to the upcoming Avengers: Infinity War. The production is set to get underway next month in Atlanta for a May 2018 release. The film is already going to be jam packed with superheroes galore but that isn’t stopping Marvel from putting more into the mix.

In an interview with Comicbook.com, actor Benedict Wong — who plays Doctor Strange’s faithful aid, Wong — revealed that he will indeed be appearing in Infinity War.

I’m thrilled I’m going to be in Infinity War. I’m looking forward to, I’ll tell you that one first.

It is already known that Doctor Strange will be appearing alongside the Avengers as they are set to take on Thanos in his quest to find the Infinity Gems. It’s exciting to see a new Avengers team starting to take shape with the addition of Strange, Wong and Captain Marvel — who will also be introduced in the film as well. The addition of magic along with the powers Captain Marvel possesses will no doubt up the ante in the battle against Thanos.

To see the full interview head on over to Comicbook.com.

Avengers: Infinity War hits theaters May 4, 2018.

SOURCE: COMICBOOK.COM

Kevin Feige on ‘Captain Marvel’ Director; Strongest Superhero Yet

Marvel is still taking its time finding a director for its first female lead superhero film, Captain Marvel. After the studio announced Brie Larson in the title role at Comic-Con, several sources confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter that the studio had it zeroed in on three female directors —  Niki Caro (Whale Rider),  Lorene Scafaria (Seeking a Friend for the End of the World) and Lesi Linka Glatter (Homeland). As of today, the studio has still not made its decision, however. Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige has promised they will have made their choice by the end of the year.

In an interview with Vulture, Feige was asked what the holdup was. His response:

I expect to have a director by the end of the year. We’ve been meeting amazing filmmakers, but often the way we work, as was the case on Doctor Strangeand most of our movies, is that we have a … I don’t want to say a ‘road map,’ but we have a general view of what the movie is and then we meet with filmmakers and share that with them and then they pitch it back to us in a better fashion.

The movie won’t release until March 8, 2019, so the studio still has a while before cameras roll, however. It is expected that we will get our introduction to the character a year prior in Avengers Infinity War. 

Feige also expressed why Larson was it was so important to have Larson in the role.

It’s very important to us that all of our heroes do not become silhouette-perfect cutout icons. All of the Marvel characters have flaws to them, all of them have a deep humanity to them. With Captain Marvel, she is as powerful a character as we’ve ever put in a movie. Her powers are off the charts, and when she’s introduced, she will be by far the strongest character we’ve ever had. It’s important, then, to counterbalance that with someone who feels real. She needs to have a humanity to tap into, and Brie can do that.

I hate to draw comparisons to D.C., but while I was totally captivated by Gal Gadot’s performance (in the brief screen time we got of her in BvS), she didn’t do much besides save the day and kick Doomsday’s ass. It’s good to know that Marvel is looking for someone who can do more than just look good while in action. Larson will no doubt bring an emotional depth that could help the film transcend the superhero genre (even as fantastical as the character is — flying around blasting energy from her hands as she defends the earth from alien threats) and make the film as the first female lead Marvel feature stand out as something more than just another comic book movie.

Captain Marvel is slated to hit theaters March 8, 2019.

SOURCES: VULTURE, THR

Tilda Swinton Talks ‘Doctor Strange’ Whitewashing; Ancient One Prequel

Last night at the world premiere for Doctor Strange in Hollywood, actress Tilda Swinton who plays the Ancient One (a Tibetan man in the comics) weighed in on the controversy surrounding the whitewashing of her role.

They need to see the film to understand why Scott Derrickson and Kevin Feige decided to reimagine the Ancient One as a woman. People shouting loud and proud about needing more diversity in Hollywood cinema have got us right behind them.

You heard her people, keep shouting. But as important as the need for diversity is in Hollywood we have to remind ourselves that it’s also important to cast whomever the right person is in the role, regardless of race. Director Scott Derrickson  has already stated that the role of The Ancient One was reimagined with Swinton in the part for the film and that if Swinton did not take the role, the character would have been rewritten from the ground up.

Screencrush also dropped a tidbit from an upcoming interview with Swinton that will come out sooner to the release of Doctor Strange where Swinton expressed her interest in a solo film featuring the mystic mentor and sorcerer.

Swinton:

I’m pretty confidently dropping hints in Kevin Feige’s ear about a prequel, I’m constantly harassing him about that. I don’t know if it’ll get anywhere.

Doctor Strange hits theaters November 4, 2016.

SOURCES: VARIETY, SCREENCRUSH, THR

‘Doctor Strange’: Sanctum Battle Clip

Doctor Strange is set to take the Marvel Cinematic Universe to the next level as it introduces mysticism and alternate universes into the franchise. In a new clip released by Marvel, we get our first taste of how magic will help elevate fight sequences to new heights and deliver action never before seen in a superhero film along with some trippy psychedelic visuals to boot as Doctor Strange has his first duel with Kaecilius and his Zealots in the Sanctum Santorum.

Check out the clip below. (via Comicbook.com)

Doctor Strange hits theaters November 4, 2016.

Marvel’s Doctor Strange follows the story of the talented neurosurgeon Doctor Stephen Strange who, after a tragic car accident, must put ego aside and learn the secrets of a hidden world of mysticism and alternate dimensions. Based in New York City’s Greenwich Village, Doctor Strange must act as an intermediary between the real world and what lies beyond, utilizing a vast array of metaphysical abilities and artifacts to protect the Marvel cinematic universe.

Kevin Feige on The Defenders Appearing in the MCU

At the recent press junket for Doctor Strange, Collider’s Steve Weintraub A.K.A. Frosty spoke with Kevin Feige about what it would take for one Marvel’s Netflix heroes to appear alongside the heroes in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

KEVIN FEIGE: I think it’s extremely impressive what Netflix has done and it will be the same answer I always give, which is, “It all depends on timing.” It all depends on how to do it because I don’t think what anybody wants to do is have such important characters show up for one second. Black Panther and Spider-Man to me are the high bar in Civil War of how you can bring in new characters into something. Vision and Ultron, Wanda and Pietro in Ultron. And it takes a lot of screentime, and it takes a lot of work. Infinity War has a lot of people in it already. So it just depends on how we could figure it out.

While I would love to see any of The Defenders — or one of the villains for that matter —   in a Marvel movie (cough cough, Kingpin), my concern is that there would be a tonal clash. It’s not that I don’t think they could work in a movie, it’s that the Netflix corner of the MCU would obviously earn itself an R-rating — or in this case a TV-MA rating if it were to air on Network television. For it to work Marvel would need to strike a balance between the dark, moody, and violent tone of the Netflix shows with the shiny coke and popcorn flavor of the MCU. I also think it would work better if The Defenders were to crossover with a solo Captain America, or Spider-Man film — not with The Avengers. It would end up being exactly what Feige is saying he doesn’t want to be. The Defenders would need to play a key role and serve a crucial purpose for it to feel organic.

If it were to happen — and for it to work, Marvel would need the right director, or possibly directors. But I think they already have the right guys in the mix. If anyone could do it, it would be The Russo Brothers. I think it’s evident in the tone of the scene when (spoiler alert) Winter Solider kills Tony Stark’s parents. It had the same dark mood that is consistent with all of Marvel’s Netflix series.

What do you guys think? If you could hand pick a director to cross The Defenders over with the MCU, who would it be and why?

SOURCE: COLLIDER