Chris Hardwick's Blog, page 231

New DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE Deleted Scene References Two Other MCU Films

Months after its release, Deadpool & Wolverine is still making waves. This time for a recently released deleted scene to hype up the digital and physical release of the film. The new scene features the fan-favorite Wade Wilson making quips at familiar MCU titles.

Marvel Studios

To promote the upcoming digital release of Deadpool & Wolverine, Marvel Studios released one of many deleted scenes that will be present as bonus content in the physical releases. The physical release will also come with featurettes like director’s commentary and gag reels. Physical releases will be in 4K UHD Blu-ray and come in two special edition Steelbooks. One is a Deadpool version, and the other is a Wolverine version.

20th Century Studios/Marvel20th Century Studios/Marvel

In the deleted scene below, Paradox, played by Matthew Macfadyen, brings Ryan Reynolds’ character to the Time Variance Authority. Wilson has just awoken and is walking into the elevator.

Paradox tells Wilson, “This may come as a shock to a narcissistic, blathering bag of meat like yourself, but your universe is not the only one in existence,” evidently referencing the multiverse.

A deleted scene from ‘DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE’ has been released

“Please, you don’t think I’ve seen ‘Doctor Hand and The Quantumverse of Madness’” pic.twitter.com/PFSqoCcnav

— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) September 26, 2024

Wilson wittily hits back with, “Oh please, you think I haven’t seen Doctor Ant and the Quantumverse of Madness?” The deleted scene ends with Paradox giving Wilson more information on the multiverse and the ever so ominous Sacred Timeline.

Obviously, this remark plays with the MCU movie titles of Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness and Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania. Both films heavily involve the multiverse concept and have been integral to beginning and pushing forth the multiverse saga. Deadpool & Wolverine actually mention these films during other moments. For example, when Deadpool uses Doctor Strange’s Sling Rings in the film or when Ant-Man’s skeleton is seen in the Void.

Deadpool & Wolverine will be available to purchase on digital platforms like Prime Video, Fandango, and Apple TV on Oct. 1. The physical release of the film is slated for later in the month on Oct. 22.

The post New DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE Deleted Scene References Two Other MCU Films appeared first on Nerdist.

DC Studios Reportedly Developing a Joint BANE and DEATHSTROKE Movie

Each and every announcement of projects or casting for the nascent DCU under James Gunn and Peter Safran has been cause for excitement. Granted nothing has even come out yet, but we couldn’t be more jazzed. The most recent bit of news, which comes to us from The Hollywood Reporter, definitely has us intrigued. Also slightly confused. We’re not even close to the announced Batman: The Brave and the Bold movie, presumably the first appearance of the Caped Crusaders in the DCU, but the studio already has a Bat-villain team-up in the works? Specifically, a movie starring both Bane and Deathstroke.

The THR piece explains the movie doesn’t have a title or a director attached. What it does have is a script from Matthew Orton, one of the writers on Captain America: Brave New World in development.

DC Comics

The combination of characters is what makes it especially intriguing. Deathstroke first appeared as a master assassin and main antagonist during Marv Wolfman and George Perez’s seminal The New Teen Titans run in 1980. Issue #2 in fact. The character has fought Batman and other Justice League members over the years, steadily growing in prominence. His real name is Slade Wilson, and yes, Deadpool is modeled after him. Originally, Deathstroke was going to be the villain of The Batman, back when it was going to be a mainline DCEU movie with Ben Affleck. Joe Manganiello played the character briefly in the post-credits of Justice League in 2017 to set up that ill-fated full appearance.

Warner Bros

Bane is much more well known to the average moviegoer, thanks to appearing as the main antagonist of Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight Rises. With a Tom Hardy performance that out-there, how could he not stick with you? Bane first appeared in 1993’s Batman: Vengeance of Bane #1. He later gained notoriety for breaking Bruce Wayne’s back in the Knightfall event. He too is a mercenary and assassin for hire. Difference, of course, is that while Deathstroke has skill and armor, Bane uses the venom toxin to gain superhuman size and strength. And he dresses like a Luchador because why not.

Warner Bros.

While it’s easy to assume this could be a more comedic take, a-la Deadpool & Wolverine, neither character is particularly jocular. What seems more likely to me is that it could be an espionage-style mission movie. Or even both men after the same target, like Batman. Both have been members of villainous teams like the Suicide Squad, the Secret Six, and the Society of Super Villains. In any case, this team-up in a feature film was not on my DCU bingo card.

So far the DCU’s roster contains several heavy hitters like Superman, Supergirl, and Swamp Thing. The biggest outlier on the feature side of things has been The Authority. Knowing the Gunn and Safran company are encouraging this kind of exploration from writers continues to give us hope for what’s to come.

Kyle Anderson is the Senior Editor for Nerdist. He hosts the weekly pop culture deep-dive podcast Laser Focus. You can find his film and TV reviews here. Follow him on Instagram and Letterboxd.

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Robert Aramayo Talks THAT Elrond Kiss, Celebrían on THE RINGS OF POWER, and the Culture of Elven Kissing

In The Rings of Power season two, episode seven, a confusing kiss entered stage right. This mysterious kiss had been teased for quite some time, but no one could have predicted who would share it. Yes, in The Rings of Power season two’s penultimate episode, Elrond kissed Galadriel. “What?!,” Said viewers everywhere. Even if you don’t know that The Lord of the Rings lore dictates that Elrond will marry Galadriel’s daughter Celebrían, Elrond and Galadriel’s relationship never seemed particularly romantic. Well, to clear up what was going on with THAT The Rings of Power kiss, we went straight to the source. Nerdist chatted with Robert Aramayo, who assured us that the kiss between Elrond and Galadriel was not romantic but perhaps more of an elvish cultural thing. Aramayo also spoke to us about Celebrían, Elrond’s destined romance, and whether she would be appearing on The Rings of Power any time soon.

Prime Video

Nerdist: Let’s start with the kiss heard around Middle Earth. What do you think moveded Elrond to kiss Galadriel?

Robert Aramayo: It’s the last thing I’d expect, and I think if you were in that room, I think it’s the last thing you’d expect as well. And it’s a pretty dangerous room. So, whilst it’s a sort of bizarre tactic, I think it’s certainly shocking and achieves his goal of slipping off the way to get free.

You think the kiss between Galadriel and Elrond was free of all romantic motivation?

Aramayo: Oh, a hundred percent. Yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Although I think that that act in this world is slightly different in the way it’s perceived. I think when you see a kiss walking down the street, you instantly make certain conclusions about what’s going on. But in the elven world, I think that’s slightly different. And Miv (Morfydd Clark) spoke a lot about that, about how she looked at it differently and stuff. I was honestly against it for quite a while. But I think it’s good when you get those moments because then you talk about it and you sort of flesh out the world a little bit, when you have those conversations.

Prime Video

Do you think elves kiss one another more freely than we do?

Aramayo: I think potentially. Yeah. That’s the interesting thing about creating a fantasy world, isn’t it? That you get to ask questions like that in these heightened worlds? You get to think, well, how do they communicate and what does that mean? I think, though, that what I’ll run with is Elrond was trying to slip her the keys to get free.

Perfect. The keys not the tongue. We love it.

Prime Video

That, of course, brings me to the fact that Elrond marries Celebrían, who is Galdriel’s daughter in The Lord of the Rings‘ lore. Have you discussed how that romance might surface at all? And When?

Aramayo: No. Unfortunately not. I think it’s something that would be cool to happen, and I really would love it for him because, again, it’s something that I really like thinking about, Elrond falling in love—that would be such an interesting thing to explore. Especially because Token has these amazing romances, obviously Beren and Lúthien being perhaps the strongest, but the romance that he has written into his lore is stunning. And Thingol and Melian, and they’re sort of like, don’t they just stare at each other in the woods for 200 years or something like that? He write this epic love. It’s stunning. And Elrond and Celebrían is no different, I don’t think. Especially what she goes through and all of that stuff. So yeah, it’s a really interesting story.

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power is streaming now on Prime Video.

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THE PENGUIN Showrunner on Setting Up THE BATMAN Part II and Why You Shouldn’t Like Oz

Recently, Nerdist attended the NYC premiere of The Penguin. There, we had a chance to catch up with The Penguin‘s showrunner, Lauren LeFranc, and take a deep dive into the series. LeFranc knows every minute of the series by heart, so there’s no better person to guide us into the world. But there’s one big thing she wants you to remember: you shouldn’t like Oz Cobb. In addition to chatting about The Penguin‘s street-level story and complex main character, LeFranc also teased how the show sets up The Batman – Part II.

You can check out our full interview below.

HBO

Nerdist: The thing I love most about this show is that over and over, Oz makes you really want to root for him, and then over and over, he makes the wrong choice. How hard is it to balance those two factors of like he’s making the wrong decision, but you still want him to be likable or endearing?

Lauren LeFranc: I mean, I hope he’s not totally likable, to be honest, but I know that Colin [Farrell] brings with him so much charm and charisma, and I knew that going in. But I also wanted you to want to watch him, and I want him to be magnetic, but ultimately, I don’t feel like he should be particularly likable from the beginning of the show. I want you to lean in, and I understand why you would empathize with him.

He’s endearing, definitely. And empathy is so important for you to have for a guy like this. By the end, I don’t know if people will feel differently. It’s sort of up to them.

What are some of the most important takeaways you think you want fans to leave with after The Penguin?

LeFranc: I mean, I do view our show as a tragedy in a way, and I think it’s just a really deep examination of a man like Oz Cobb, who really represents a lot of people right now who are in leadership positions in our world, from CEOs to politics and everything else. So I think it’s really important to examine a personality like that. I mean, Oz is his own particular guy based on other mobsters in the world, but I think that’s worthy of examination.

Warner Bros.

Oz kind of undergoes this big journey in The Penguin. Were you setting him up for a future in the movies at all, or were you really just focused on this is his show?

LeFranc: I really wanted to make sure that we examined him as a character in an interesting enough way that you could just watch this show and you don’t need to do more. But we are meant to be the bridge between the first film The Batman movie and The Batman Part II.

Is there anything fans should watch out for in the series that might hint at what’s sort of coming in the next movie?

LeFranc: There’s little Easter eggs. I mean, we definitely end with Oz in a position that we wanted to establish a moment for the second The Batman film.

HBO

What was your favorite moment in The Penguin’s world?

LeFranc: I don’t have one personal favorite moment. I honestly don’t. I know every frame of this show, and I’m just so proud of our cast and our crew. I genuinely am and I’m excited for people to see it.

The Penguin is really one of the best sort of street-level shows that I’ve ever seen. How hard was it to bring that feeling to life and really just stay in that lens?

LeFranc: It really took our incredible production group, honestly. Our production designer, Kalina Ivanov, established Gotham City. That was really spectacular and it’s just a team effort and to make sure that you have the goal and the tone that you want to be.

The Penguin is airing now on HBO and Max.

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Who Is THE PENGUIN’S Sofia Falcone? Her DC Comics History, Explained

Sofia Falcone, later Falcone-Gigante, also known as the Hangman, isn’t one of Batman’s most famous villains. This is mainly because she only makes a prominent appearance in two different comics. But as it so happens, both of those comics remain among the best Batman comics ever published—Batman: The Long Halloween, and Batman: Dark Victory. Yet despite these few appearances, she appeared in the TV series Gotham, the animated Long Halloween adaptation, and now, on HBO’s The Penguin, played by the incredible Cristin Milioti. This relatively minor player has gone on to have a long shelf life outside comics.

HBO/DC ComicsBatman: The Long Halloween Introduced Sofia Falcone

Written by Jeph Loeb and illustrated by the late Tim Sale, Batman: The Long Halloween was an epic 13-issue crime mystery series that came out back in 1997. It dealt with a serial killer who murders only on the corresponding holiday of every month. However, it was also a thematic bridge between the Godfather-like crime world of Frank Miller’s Batman: Year One, and the carnival of freaks that populate most Batman stories taking place later in his career. The Long Halloween explains what ultimately became of Carmine Falcone’s crime family from Year One, before the clowns and assorted weirdos ruled Gotham City.

DC Comics

Jeph Loeb introduces Sofia Falcone into the story when her father Carmine pulls strings and gets his daughter out of prison early. Once free, her father gives her the job of discovering the identity of the mysterious Holiday Killer, and bringing him down. Yet she ultimately can’t track him down. Eventually, the Holiday Killer (apparently) murders Sofia’s brother, Alberto Falcone. Eventually, they reveal that Alberto faked his own death, and was himself the Holiday Killer. Alberto goes to Arkham Asylum, but in the chaos that follows, Two-Face kills Carmine Falcone, and Sofia finds herself paralyzed in a battle with Selina Kyle, a.k.a. Catwoman.

In Batman: Dark Victory, Sofia Falcone Becomes The HangmanDC Comics

In the sequel Dark Victory, Sofia Falcone takes over her father’s criminal empire. But not long after, a second serial killer emerges in Gotham, one targeting police officers. Particularly, cops with connections to Harvey Dent/Two-Face. This serial killer would always leave a noose behind, and Hangman puzzles as clues. Because of that, the Gotham press quickly labeled this killer as The Hangman. Batman believes that Two-Face is the Hangman, but it wasn’t actually Dent. It was Sofia Falcone herself who was the Hangman, hiding her crimes behind her disability. She murders her brother Alberto, thinking of him as a weakling and not worthy of the Falcone name. Eventually, Two-Face kills Sofia just as he did her father, and the Falcone crime family empire crumbles.

Sofia Falcone in Gotham, and the Animated Long Halloween FilmWarner Bros. Animation/Warner Bros. Television

Despite her limited comic book exposure, Sofia Falcone has crossed over into other media a few times. The TV series Gotham introduced Sofia in season 4, portrayed by actress Crystal Reed. In the series, Sofia is a crime boss who takes down the Penguin’s own criminal empire. She’s much more conventionally attractive than her comic book counterpart, and was James Gordon’s former lover. (But who wasn’t on that show?) Sofia also appears in the animated Long Halloween adaptation, voiced by Laila Berzins. However, it is her current role on The Penguin, where she’s played by Cristin Milioti, that we think is really going to elevate Sofia into A-list Gotham baddie status.

The Penguin Gives Us the Ultimate Version of Sofia FalconeHBO

The Penguin has changed Sofia Falcone’s backstory significantly from the comics, as well as from Gotham. In the HBO series, she went to Arkham Asylum ten years prior, after she was accused of serial murders as the Hangman. However, in this version, the Hangman killed several women, not cops. Suffering horrific abuse in Arkham, Sofia finally gets out after her father’s death in The Batman. After this decade-long incarceration, she’s clearly a broken woman, shattered by her experiences. What does sustained trauma like that do to someone? In Batman’s world, it tends to make you one dangerous villain. We think Oz Cobb is about to discover just how dangerous.

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Watch Season 1 and 2 of THE LEGEND OF VOX MACHINA Free on YouTube for a Limited Time

An episode of a show for free? A season of a show free? Two entire seasons of a show for free!? Yes, you read that right: in anticipation of The Legend of Vox Machina‘s season three release, Prime Video put seasons 1 and 2 on YouTube for FREE!

Prime Video recently put all the full-length episodes of seasons one and two of The Legend of Vox Machina on their YouTube channel. However, this will be for a limited time only, as this promotion is to celebrate the launch of season three on Oct. 3 . After season three’s release, the episodes will not be available to stream.

After you have finished binging the first and second seasons of the show, you can watch the premiere of the third with Nerdist. In partnership with Prime Video, Nerdist is having a FREE screening for the first three episodes of The Legend of Vox Machina Season 3 on Wednesday, Oct. 2. We encourage fans should wear their best show-inspired attire. The event will include fun giveaways and more!

Prime Video

The adult animated series The Legend of Vox Machina is based on the first campaign of the Dungeons & Dragons web series Critical Role. The first season had twelve episodes, the first ten being made possible by crowdfunding through the online platform Kickstarter. The show released its first season in 2022 and its second season in 2023.

The show stars Laura Bailey as Vex’ahlia “Vex” Vessar, a half-elf ranger. Bailey gained recognition as a voice actress for her work in shows like Dragon Ball Z and Fullmetal Alchemist. Matthew Mercer also stars in the show as Trinket, a bear that is Vex’s companion. Mercer is best known for voicing the English dub of Levi Ackerman from the critically acclaimed anime Attack on Titan.

Amazon Studios, Titmouse, and Metapigeon produce the series. Animation studio Titmouse has also made other shows like Scavengers Reign and The Boys Presents: Diabolical. Metapigeon is a subsidiary of Critical Role Productions, which the creators of Critical Role primarily run. Prime Video will release the third season of The Legend of Vox Machina on Oct. 3.

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Aaron Pierre & Stephan James In Running to Star in DC’s LANTERNS HBO Series as John Stewart

In a real “didn’t we already know this?” piece of news, HBO has officially greenlit the DCU drama series Lanterns based on the Green Lantern comics. This was one of the titles James Gunn mentioned in his now infamous DCU slate video in early 2023. That certainly made it seem like it was a sure thing. However, given how fickle Warner Bros. is these days, I suppose it wasn’t. At any rate, HBO has given an eight-episode, direct-to-series order to Lanterns. Emmy-nominee Chris Mundy (True Detective: Night Country; Ozark) will serve as showrunner.

Syfy/DC Comics/Prime Video

The latest reports about the DCU Lanterns series indicate that the search for actors to play Green Lantern John Stewart has narrowed. Deadline reveals that Aaron Pierre (The Underground Railroad) and Stephan James (Homecoming) are in the running for the role. However, no offer has been made and HBO has given no official comment.

NBC/DC Comics

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Josh Brolin will not star as Hal Jordan in Lanterns. He was eyed for the role but decided to pass on the role. It is not clear why at this time but perhaps he will speak on it in the near future. Meanwhile, new reports indicate that Kyle Chandler could instead take on the mantle of Hal Jordan in Lanterns. He could be a good choice, for sure. There has been no official confirmation yet, but he certainly looks the part.

DC Studios

The synopsis of the series says it follows “new recruit John Stewart and Lantern legend Hal Jordan, two intergalactic cops drawn into a dark, earth-based mystery as they investigate a murder in the American heartland.” Pretty interesting concept for a Green Lantern series. Intergalactic cops solving an mystery on Earth. Definitely has True Detective vibes.

Joining Mundy in the writing of the show are none other than heavy hitters Damon Lindelof (Watchmen, The Leftovers) and comic writer Tom King (Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow). James Gunn and Peter Safran said of the announcement: “We’re thrilled to bring this seminal DC title to HBO with Chris, Damon and Tom at the helm. John Stewart and Hal Jordan are two of DC’s most compelling characters, and Lanterns brings them to life in an original detective story that is a foundational part of the unified DCU we’re launching next summer with Superman.”

No word yet on when the series will debut. We will, of course, keep you up to date on any casting news as it develops.

Originally published on June 25, 2024.

Kyle Anderson is the Senior Editor for Nerdist. He hosts the weekly pop culture deep-dive podcast Laser Focus. You can find his film and TV reviews here. Follow him on Instagram and Letterboxd.

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ONE PIECE-Inspired Collection Debuts at New York Fashion Week

A collection inspired by One Piece hit the runway at New York Fashion Week earlier this month. Dim Mak, a lifestyle brand created by renowned DJ Steve Aoki, partnered with Toei Animation to create the collaboration for the series’ 25th anniversary. DIM MAK x ONE PIECE includes a variety of clothing and some accessories.

Kohl Murdock/Toei Animation

The collection premiered through an immersive runway show at Artechhouse on Sep. 9. A combination of images and elements from the series invoked the immersive experience, transporting guests into the acclaimed anime.

Clothing pieces transform Eiichiro Oda’s One Piece world by incorporating themes and references from the series’ recent Egghead arc. It strays away from the traditional anime clothing collaborations that only have graphic t-shirts. Instead, the DIM MAK x ONE PIECE collaboration is creative, pulling away from the limitations of traditional anime-inspired clothing.

Kohl Murdock/Toei Animation

I have a great relationship with them..I approached with a couple ideas…they are absolutley hand on and approving every single step of the way, but I wanted to step it up, you know,” said founder of Dim Mak Steve Aoki when asked about how much Toei Animation was involved with the creative direction of the collection.

Kohl Murdock/Toei Animation

Key pieces of the collection included a bomber jacket, which was a part of many character-inspired looks, including Zoro Lilith and GEAR5. Another is a graphic printer athletic mesh jersey, which appeared in looks inspired by many characters like Bonney, Franky, York, etc. Another impressive piece was a tapestry-inspired embroidered jacket, as seen above. The collection’s color palette mirrored the aura of Vegapunk Island. The collection also had many accessories, including embroidered six-panel caps, satin trucker hats, faux fur-lined quilted satin trapper hats, and molded silicone boots.

Dim Mak previously did a One Piece collection last year. Aoki confirmed that the line will be available for purchase sometime next year and will definitely include the fan-favorite boots.

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New California Law Tackles Removal of Digitally Purchased Content

Remember last year? When PlayStation tried to sneakily take away the content that users had already paid for? Or even in 2020, when Destiny 2 removed hoards of what was once paid content. These may sound unfounded, but it’s becoming increasingly the norm in a world shifting away from physical media. To combat this, California is introducing a new law to protect consumers.

Sony Interactive Entertainment

Today, most people buy media through some sort of digital means, leaving the consumer at the mercy of the distributor. Years ago, when you purchased a DVD, you owned it. Obviously. But with digital media, it’s completely different. No one can stop a DVD from functioning after you’ve already bought it. However, PlayStation tried to do just that with digital content from Discovery purchased via the PlayStation Store. The cherry on top? They did it entirely without refunds. After an outcry, Sony rolled back this decision.

PlayStation

In response to situations like this, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed a new law to make the terms of digital purchases more transparent. Digital stores that sell media like films, games, and music will have to disclose to consumers that their purchase does not equate to owning the product. Instead, it is akin to getting a license for it. Digital stores can’t use terms like “buy” or “purchase” unless they inform customers they don’t fully own the product.

If the rule is broken, it could invoke a fine for false advertising, as already existing laws state that it’s “unlawful for any person doing business in California and advertising to consumers in California to make any false or misleading advertising claim.” The law will go into effect next year.

Irwin’s press release states that the legislation is in direct response to PlayStation’s situation but also came about as Ubisoft revoked licenses for the video game The Crew, as shown below. Therefore, it takes customers’ access away from a previously purchased game. California is the first state to recognize the false claims proposed to customers when trying to advertise digital licenses, according to Aaron Perzanowski, a law professor at the University of Michigan.

We have an update to share about The Crew 1 and its future: https://t.co/EI9NGueKJf pic.twitter.com/hEwmA8aPKy

— The Crew Motorfest (@TheCrewGame) December 14, 2023

 “As retailers continue to pivot away from selling physical media, the need for consumer protections on the purchase of digital media has become increasingly more important,” said Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin, who authored the original bill. “AB 2426 will ensure the false and deceptive advertising from sellers of digital media incorrectly telling consumers they own their purchases becomes a thing of the past.”

As we shift to digital content and away from physical media, it’s imperative consumers understand the terms of their purchase. Even though it does not stop stores from removing digital content, California’s law is a good starting place. Hopefully, other states will follow suit to empower customers to have agency over their monetary funds.

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What Mephisto’s MCU Future Could Bring Based on His Marvel Comics History

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After years of supposed Easter eggs that weren’t really Easter eggs and rampant fan speculation, the third episode of Agatha All Along confirmed that the demon lord Mephisto exists in the MCU. Sure, it was just a casual name drop by the witch Jennifer Kale, but it’s confirmation nevertheless. But what does this mean for the future of the MCU? Rumors persist that Mephisto is a presence in Ironheart, although that is not confirmed by Marvel Studios. If one looks to the comics, however, the introduction of Mephisto could mean quite a lot. The existence of Mephisto could change the story trajectory of many, many characters going forward.

Marvel ComicsWho Is Mephisto in the Marvel Comics Universe?

Created by Stan Lee and John Buscema in 1968’s Silver Surfer #3, Mephisto is essentially a stand-in for Satan/Lucifer in the Marvel Universe. His name is a shortening of the name Mephistopheles, the demon of Germanic folklore. Although, the comics have gone out of their way to let readers know Satan and Mephisto are actually separate entities. Regardless, Mephisto looks just like the traditional Judeo/Christian depiction of the Devil. He often fulfills the Devil’s role we often see in fiction, tempting good people with deals and “selling their souls” to him. And he has beef with nearly every major hero in the pages of Marvel Comics.

Doctor StrangeMarvel Comics

The Master of the Mystic Arts has fought Mephisto on several occasions, as one of the only Marvel heroes who can outwit him. Strange usually finds ways to defeat Mephisto via trickery, or magical loopholes discovered in ancient tomes. Doctor Strange discovered that the demon Satanissh was once a part of Mephisto, and tricked them into fusing into one being again. Mephisto has hated Strange ever since. This animosity could manifest in a third Doctor Strange film. In their most famous encounter, Stephen Strange journeys to Mephisto’s realm to help one of his most lethal enemies. That leads us to our next Marvel character who has a real animosity with the demon lord—Doctor Doom.

Doctor DoomMarvel Comics

In the comics, the mother of Doctor Doom, Cynthia von Doom, was a Romani witch who died at Mephisto’s hand. This all happened when Victor was a young boy. She traded her soul to Mephisto for power to defeat Latveria’s dictator, the Baron. Forever obsessed with retrieving his mother’s soul from Mephisto’s realm, he sought mastery over science and magic for this purpose. Eventually, in the 1989 graphic novel Doctor Strange and Doctor Doom: Triumph and Torment, Doom and Strange go to Mephisto’s hellish dimension. There, Doom confronts Mephisto at last, allowing his mother to ascend to heaven. With Robert Downey Jr. coming back to the MCU as Doom, we could see Mephisto factor into Doom’s arc.

Scarlet Witch and WiccanMarvel Comics

When Wanda and Vision had their twins, Billy and Tommy, in the pages of the comics, it was eventually revealed that they were not real. Both children were illusions created by the Scarlet Witch’s magic. However, Marvel eventually retconned that, by saying the boys were actually shards of Mephisto’s soul. These shards received new life as the Maximoff twins. (Reed and Sue Richards’ son, Franklin, split Mephisto’s soul into several shards). Later, they became the flesh and blood Young Avengers, Wiccan and Speed. Yes, that means that Wiccan and Speed are related, in a way, to both Magneto and Mephisto. What a family tree they’ve got there. If “Teen” on Agatha All Along is indeed Wiccan as we suspect, that means part of Mephisto might be on screen already.

Spider-ManMarvel Comics

The biggest Mephisto connection to Spider-Man from the comics has already been done in the MCU, in No Way Home. And it happened without Mephisto involved. In the comics, when Peter Parker’s secret identity as Spider-Man is revealed to the public, his life is nearly destroyed as a result. So he makes a deal with Mephisto to erase all knowledge of his secret identity from everyone’s mind. In the comics, the price of this bargain is his marriage to Mary Jane Watson. In the MCU, Doctor Strange administered the spell, not Mephisto. It’s unlikely Marvel Studios ever retreads that story. However, they did reveal Mephisto as the mastermind behind Norman and Harry Osborn’s descent into madness in the comics, and eventually, their becoming the Green Goblin. That’s a Spidey/Mephisto story the MCU could certainly still tell.

Ghost RiderMarvel Comics

We have yet to meet either the Johnny Blaze or Danny Ketch versions of Ghost Rider in the MCU (and it’s up for debate if the Agents of SHIELD version counts as MCU). However, Marvel Television’s Brad Winderbaum recently said he really wants to bring the motorcycle-riding supernatural hero to the MCU as a series. Preferably, the Danny Ketch version. And where there’s a Spirit of Vengeance, there’s Mephisto not far behind. In the comics, the “deal with the Devil” that Johnny Blaze made that transformed him into the Ghost Rider was with Mephisto, not Satan, as he once thought. Mephisto, and his son Blackheart, continued to plague the subsequent Ghost Rider, Johnny’s brother, Danny Ketch, on a regular basis. There are few Marvel heroes with as much of a history with Mephisto as the Ghost Rider, so he’ll have to play a part in his eventual MCU incarnation.

The Silver SurferMarvel Comics

Mephisto was first introduced as a villain for the Silver Surfer in the ‘sixties’60s. He was a demonic figure always meant to tempt Norrin Radd into giving up his virtuous existence. Stan Lee thought of the Surfer as a Jesus allegory. Lee wanted Mephisto to function in the role of the Serpent tempting Christ in the desert, as he envisioned the Surfer as a totally pure soul. With a new Silver Surfer introduced in The Fantastic Four: First Steps, maybe a future spin-off will focus on her battles with Mephisto. Mephisto did start off as a Silver Surfer villain after all. The MCU might make Mephisto the “Big Bad” for both the Surfer and Ghost Rider in the future.

Mephisto has encountered and fought almost every major Marvel hero over the years. Everyone from Thor and the Avengers, to the X-Men, to the Fantastic Four took a crack. Even the grounded hero Daredevil has come face to face with this literal Devil before. But, we’d be shocked if any of these heroes were to fight Mephisto in the MCU. He just hasn’t appeared in enough of their most prominent comic book stories. But who knows? Maybe in the future, Mephisto takes on every MCU hero we know.

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