Chris Hardwick's Blog, page 267

Is the MCU Doomed?

Marvel took the San Diego Comic-Con stage by storm with a reveal that is sure to send a shockwave through the MCU. Dan dives into the multiverse to prepare for the Doomsday in today’s Nerdist News!

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Abraham Popoola Joins Nicolas Cage’s Live-Action SPIDER-MAN NOIR Series

The Spider-Verse is about to get even bigger via the small screen. It is also about to get a lot darker, mysterious, and funny. And, let’s be honest, a lot weirder. Prime Video has officially done what Spidey fans have been waiting to hear. The studio has formally ordered a new live-action series starring Nicolas Cage as Spider-Man Noir, the character he originally voiced in Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. Deadline reports that Abraham Popoola (Andor, Atlas) will join the series portraying “a World War I veteran who is looking for an opportunity to get ahead.”   

Marvel Comics

Also joining Cage in the series, as previously announced by Deadline, is Fargo and New Girl star Lamorne Morris.

Amazon used its inaugural upfront presentation in New York City to announce it has finally ordered Noir to series. The Spider-Man Noir show will see Nicolas Cage playing the live-action version of his character from Sony’s animated 2018 Oscar winner. Morris has been cast as Robbie Robertson, the nice editor of The Daily Bugle who traditionally works under the surly publisher J. Jonah Jameson. Variety also reported The Banshees of Inisherin star Brendan Gleeson has been cast as well, though in an undisclosed role. The series, based on the Marvel comic Spider-Man Noir, will air on Prime Video and MGM+.

Also announced to appear as a series regular is Wu Assassins star Li Jun Li. According to Deadline, Li will play a “singer at the premier nightclub in New York.”

Harry Bradbeer (Fleabag, Killing Eve) will direct and executive produce the Spider-Man Noir‘s first two episodes. Oren Uziel (22 Jump Street) and Steve Lightfoot (Marvel’s The Punisher, Shantaram) will serve as co-showrunners and executive producers. They developed the show with the Spider-Verse‘s Phil Lord, Christopher Miller, and Amy Pascal. All three are also on board as executive producers.

For those who have (for some absurd reason) not yet seen Into the Spider-Verse or are unfamiliar with the character’s comic history, Amazon also shared a brief synopsis for the Spider-Man Noir series.

Noir tells the story of an aging and down on his luck private investigator (Cage) in 1930s New York, who is forced to grapple with his past life as the city’s one and only superhero.

GQ

Vernon Sanders, head of television, Amazon MGM Studios, explained why the studio wants to make this series in a release. (As though we need an explanation.) “Expanding the Marvel universe with Noir is a uniquely special opportunity, and we are honored to bring this series to our global Prime Video customers,” he said. “The extremely talented Nicolas Cage is an ideal choice for our new superhero, and the accomplished producing team with Phil Lord, Christopher Miller, Amy Pascal, and the incredible team at Sony is dedicated to expanding this franchise in the most authentic way.” 

We’re ready to dedicate our time to watching when it debuts. The Spider-Verse is an infinite place of possibilities and heroes. But we very much want to spend more time with this version of the character. And obviously, more time with Nicolas Cage.

Originally Published May 14, 2024

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Was Tony Stark the MCU’s ‘Anchor Being’?

Deadpool & Wolverine introduced an all-new concept to the multiverse. Logan‘s Wolverine was an “anchor being” whose heroic sacrifice sent his entire timeline on a path of natural annihilation. Wade Wilson and “the best” Wolverine managed to reverse Earth-10005’s destruction and save it, but no one at the TVA knows exactly how they managed to do that. They better figure it out soon, though. Otherwise the entire multiverse might collapse. The movie raised an obvious question with potentially huge ramifications for the franchise’s prime universe, Earth-616: Was Tony Stark the MCU’s anchor being?

Marvel Studios

One of the best things about Deadpool & Wolverine is that it didn’t worry about canon, timelines, or even internal logic. But Marvel Studios certainly does care about all of those things, and the MCU will need to make sense of the movie’s most intriguing-yet-illogical concepts if they come up again. And none of Deadpool & Wolverine‘s ideas are as important as anchor beings. None are as inherently confusing, either.

Matthew Macfayden’s rogue TVA agent Paradox told Wade Wilson that an anchor being “is an entity of such vital importance that when they die their whole world slowly withers out of existence.” In Earth-10005’s universe Logan was that entity. His death put the entire universe on a path of self-destruction. That would have taken roughly 2,000 years, a fate Paradox planned to speed up with a time ripper.

Marvel Studios

The existence of anchor beings worked just fine for Deadpool & Wolverine‘s purposes, but they raise issues for the MCU at large. The most obvious is that Wolverine was never immortal. He was always going to die at some point, which would means his universe was always doomed. Plus, if every anchor being’s death leads to their world’s death, every single timeline is always destined for self-destruction. (Unless it has an immortal anchor being.)

That’s if you accept an anchor being’s death should even matter at all. As the TVA has shown, universes exist on a time loop. Essentially those entities are both always alive and always dead. Why should it matter “when” they die?

The only way to explain any of that is by focusing on the nature of Logan’s death and what we learned about the nature of the Sacred Timeline from Loki.

20th Century Studios

Paradox described the self-sacrifice of Earth-10005’s Wolverine’s as “so epic that it sent shivers down the timeline.” Logan’s death was apparently so heroic and so powerful his timeline couldn’t handle the aftershock of what he’d done. It responded by slowly imploding on itself. That’s exactly why how he died is what matters, not merely that he died.

The TVA never discussed any of this previously, but the agency has gone deep on an equivalent calamity. We’ve witnessed universes exploding via chaotic branching that threatened the entire Sacred Timeline. That happens because a special Variant in that universe causes a Nexus Event.

Why do some Variants cause Nexus Events while others don’t? The TVA has never explained this (and possibly doesn’t even understand itself). Sylvie spent her whole life not knowing why the Time Variance Authority wanted to send her to the Void. All we know—and all that has ever mattered—is that a Nexus-causing Variant’s very existence is an existential threat to their universe. Same as an anchor being’s death.

Marvel Studios

Those are two different sides of the same coin. A specific life can causes a universe to explode and a specific death can cause a universe to implode. But only if that death is so powerful it acts as a reverse Nexus event.

You know, the exact kind of death Tony Stark had on Earth-616. The central universe on the Sacred Timeline, the one that holds the entire multiverse together, was only saved when Iron Man, a father, husband, friend, and hero, gave up his life. And just like Wolverine was “the X-Man” in Fox’s cinematic universe, Tony Stark was “the Avenger” in his, where he launched the entire franchise.

Marvel Studios

If anyone is/was/will prove to be Earth-616’s anchor being, it’s the late Tony Stark. And if he was, that means the universe he gave his life to protect is now slowly dying because of his sacrifice. And it will die unless Hunter B-15 and the rest of the TVA can figure out how Deadpool and Wolverine saved Earth-10005. Until they do that most sacred universe is also vulnerable to other threats, just as Deadpool’s was to Paradox’s schemes.

So was Tony Stark the MCU’s anchor being? Marvel Studios head honcho Kevin Feige is glad fans are already asking that question. Why wouldn’t he be? Deadpool & Wolverine didn’t care about the logic of anchor beings, but the rest of franchise will. And with Robert Downey Jr. set to return to the MCU as Victor Von Doom, the death of Tony Stark has never been more important to the future of the entire multiverse.

Mikey Walsh is a staff writer at Nerdist happy to be on summer break from MCU homework. You can follow him on Twitter and Bluesky at @burgermike. And also anywhere someone is ranking the Targaryen kings.

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ALIEN: ROMULUS’ New SDCC Footage Brings Xenomorphs Galore, Haunting Horror, and Vicious Beauty

At San Diego Comic-Con (SDCC), those who attended the Hall H panel for Alien: Romulus were treated to quite a number of scenes from the movie. Of course, director Fede Álvarez warned that the sneak peek scenes were cut in different ways than they would appear in the movie. And, often, they had their best parts removed. And for us, this is incredibly hard to believe because the scenes shown were, dare we say it, exquisite. We don’t say this just because they were well-shot and dynamic, but the Alien: Romulus sneak peeks shown at San Diego Comic-Con were downright scary.

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It’s hard oftentimes to create a good scare, even when one has a whole movie to achieve this goal. So it was absolutely awe-inspiring that just snippets of moments, shown in the middle of a huge convention, were as terrifying as they were. I gasped and yelped and jumped out of my seat literally every 30 seconds. If that’s the power of just a few scenes out of situ, I can’t wait to watch the whole movie in full. In total, three clips from Alien: Romulus were shown to the hall at SDCC.

Walt Disney Studios

First up was an Alien: Romulus SDCC clip showing Rain Carradine (Cailee Spaeny) investigating a xenomorph incubator in a room filled with water. She’s with Navarro (Aileen Wu), Synthetic Andy (David Jonsson), Tyler (Archie Renaux) and Bjorn (Spike Fearn). There’s something wrong with Synthetic Andy so he has to reboot, but as he’s coming back to the crew, a xenomorph escapes into the room and starts attacking everyone in sight. Andy snaps back into focus with just enough time to stop a deadly attack on Tyler, but more and more xenomorphs hatch and begin to surge forward. The crew just barely escapes the onslaught, but they can’t stop the xenomorphs from leaving the room and heading out into the wider ship.

Isabela Merced loved seeing jaws drop after the clip was played. #AlienRomulus #SDCC2024 pic.twitter.com/L76Yo3vjYE

— Nerdist (@nerdist) July 27, 2024

Honestly, this Alien: Romulus SDCC scene has it all. There’s the sheer volume of facehuggers, what I might describe as a sea of facehuggers, that attack. There’s the fact the room is filled with water, which means you never know exactly where a xenomorph is hiding. There’s the intense bodily horror of a Synthetic rebooting, its head tossed back and its eyes unseeing, as all around it, the very mortal crew’s lives are being threatened. It’s a chilling sequence. But also so beautiful. Every moment in this Alien: Romulus footage was perfectly thought out. Each of them makes a micro-painting of horror all their own, with at least three kinds of terrors coming into play together at any given time. And the way they merge is divinely chilling. Phew!

Walt Disney Studios

The second new piece of Alien: Romulus SDCC footage focused on Navarro (Aileen Wu) and Kay (Isabela Merced). In the Romulus scene, the pair are on an escape pod, leaving behind the ostensibly xenomorph-infested ship. But as Navarro pilots the pod out to space, she suddenly begins to feel sick. Using an X-Ray torch, which allows the crew to see inside of bodies, she looks at her chest… And. Yep, it’s a chestburster sitting there between her ribs. “Please don’t let me die.” She begs Kay, as she falls into her arms. But we all know what happens next. An alien bursts out of her chest in a sea of viscera.

Seeing the outline of the chestburster inside of Navarro’s ribs is a type of horror that you just have to see to understand. But the chilling plea for life is equally as devastating. Fede Álvarez noted at SDCC that Alien: Romulus is different from other Alien movies because, this time, the crew are all people who care for one another, siblings and friends. And that’s what makes it the most devastating. It begs the question, would you leave your brother or sister to die? Would you run away or try to save them? And that makes the consequences of Alien: Romulus‘ deaths, of which Álvarez assures us, there are many, that much more intensely painful.

Twentieth Century Films

Finally, in the last piece of new SDCC Alien: Romulus footage, we see Rain and Bjorn fighting to escape. Bjorn uses a cattle prod to taze a facehugger, but it lashes back out at him. And then, with the air of slow creeping menace, the moment we’ve all been waiting for comes. A full-sized xenomorph emerges from its amniotic sac (or something like it). Sticky with fluids and membranes, the Alien: Romulus xenomorph slowly uncurls itself. And yeah, it looks good, viciously elegant in all its promise of death. We get the feeling this marks only the beginning of the movie’s true terror.

Just thinking back on these Alien: Romulus SDCC scenes catches the breath in our throats. We can’t wait to see the full movie when it releases on August 16, 2024.

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SCREAM 7 Will Begin Filming in December

Despite a slew of controversy over the past two years, the Scream franchise is moving forward with its seventh installment. The previous film left the Core Four and Gale Weathers (we assume, considering she didn’t die) in a relatively good place, with Sam finally moving towards healing and peace after killing Richie’s remaining family. (It’s wild but true.) The Scream VII storyline and cast is still mostly a mystery but things will start rolling very soon, according to Neve Campbell. In a recent IndieWire interview, Campbell confirmed that filming will start in December.

“We were supposed to start in September, but we’re going to start in December now because of some scheduling stuff with Kevin and myself and having that all aligned,” she shared. “And actually, I think it’s a good thing, because we’re going to be able to have the time to get it really right. So I’m very excited about it.”

Paramount Pictures

The next film will be interesting, to say the least. Who will don that infamous mask next? Here’s what we know about Scream 7. 

Paramount PicturesTitle

For now, we will call this film Scream 7. It’s likely this will be the title, which could be stylized as Scream VII. As seen on this script from Campbell’s Instagram post, the film does not have an official title yet. 

Scream 7’s Plot 

As stated above, Sam and Tara’s story came to a neat conclusion in Scream VI. And Sidney is living a happy life with her husband Mark and her daughters. It seems like there was no one else hiding in the shadows who would want to kill Sidney. Her story was complete and she found peace. So, the plot of Scream 7 is really up in the air. Maybe Sidney will swoop in to help some other unfortunate soul battle against a new Ghostface. There’s no confirmation she’s the definite lead for this film yet. Or, depending on this film’s release, someone from 30 years ago could decide to celebrate the events of Scream (1996) in a sinister way. We shall see. 

Behind-the-Scenes

Kevin Williamson, the writer of Scream (1996), will direct Scream 7. He is replacing Christopher Landon, who left the film after Melissa Barerra’s controversial (and very upsetting) firing and Jenna Ortega’s exit. Guy Busick and James Vanderbilt, who wrote the last two installments, will pen this sequel. The Radio Silence team will step back from directing duties to executive produce Scream 7. 

Scream 7’s Cast 

Right now, the only person we absolutely know will be in Scream 7 is Neve Campbell. Scream VI was the first film to not include Sidney Prescott due to actress Neve Campbell rightfully bowing out due to a salary dispute. Fans thought Sidney would finally get a happy ending but Ghostface just won’t leave our good sis alone. Variety reports that Courteney Cox is in talks to reprise her role in the next film. It remains to be seen if the Meeks-Martin twins, played by Jasmin Savoy Brown and Mason Gooding, will be in this film. We’d love to see more of them.

However, their return isn’t likely considering their characters’ stories being so closely intertwined with the Carpenter sisters. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Savoy Brown hasn’t received a call from the studio Spyglass Media Group as of January 2024. Gooding also affirmed he knew no solid details about the seventh Scream film. Sadness.

We assume Courteney Cox and Roger L. Jackson will return as Gale Weathers and the voice of Ghostface, respectively. Maybe we will see Patrick Dempsey reprise his role as Mark Kincaid, too. 

Scream 7 Release Date 

There is no release date for Scream 7 at this time. The script is at least partially in place, so perhaps we will see this film in late 2025 or maybe 2026 to celebrate Scream’s 30th anniversary.

Originally published on March 13, 2024.

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SKELETON CREW Sets Release Date, Promises Loads of STAR WARS Easter Eggs

Lucasfilm revealed a new live-action Star Wars television series at Star Wars Celebration Anaheim in spring 2022. The show from MCU Spider-Man trilogy director Jon Watts and writer Chris Ford sounds like a Goonies-style adventure set in a galaxy far, far away.

The Star Wars: Skeleton Crew has finally confirmed its release date. The series will arrive on Disney+ on December 3. And when it does, it promises to be an incredibly fun Star Wars time.

Star Jude Law revealed that Star Wars: Skeleton Crew would have loads of Easter eggs for Star Wars fans to find. He noted, “If you look carefully, [we] got some Star Wars tech that dates right back, I believe, to the original film… They do [easter eggs] so well. That’s one of the joys I think of this universe for those who know there are these little details always hidden away or Easter eggs that people can find and link up.”

Lucasfilm

Creator Watts adds that there are indeed “a lot of Easter eggs” to be found. Noting that, “even in the first episode, there’s a couple really, really great references that certain fans will immediately recognize.” And Ford adds that he and Watts had “the fun and the challenge of finding some deep cut [references].”

But of course, that’s all extra. “You don’t have to know everything about Star Wars to enjoy the show,” Watts reveals. “You can come into it completely fresh and enjoy the story. But if you do happen to be a Star Wars super fan, there’s a lot for you.”

Lucasfilm

Here’s what we know about Star Wars: Skeleton Crew.

Title

The title of the upcoming Star Wars live-action TV series is Star Wars: Skeleton Crew.

Star Wars: Skeleton Crew‘s PlotLucasfilm

We know a few details about the plot of Skeleton Crew. The story will take place in the New Republic era. That’s the same timeline as The Mandalorian and Ahsoka. It centers on a group of children lost in space. The Star Wars: Skeleton Crew series also takes inspiration from the Amblin movies of the ’80s.

A synopsis for the series shares:

“Skeleton Crew” follows the journey of four kids who make a mysterious discovery on their seemingly safe home planet, then get lost in a strange and dangerous galaxy. Finding their way home—and meeting unlikely allies and enemies—will be a greater adventure than they ever imagined. 

Behind the ScenesNerdist

Jon Watts directs Skeleton Crew and Chris Ford is writing on the series. The duo created the show. Dave Filoni and Jon Favreau provide producing support. Skeleton Crew was production since at least September 2022, as the creatives shared an image from the set at D23 Expo during that time. The series is now done with production.

Directors include Watts, Ford, David Lowery, the Daniels (Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert), Jake Schreier, Bryce Dallas Howard, and Lee Isaac Chung. 

Star Wars: Skeleton Crew‘s CastLucasfilm

The first cast member Lucasfilm confirmed for Skeleton Crew was Jude Law. Joining Law on the journey are Ravi Cabot-Conyers, Kyriana Kratter, Robert Timothy Smith, and Ryan Kiera Armstrong, Tunde Adebimpe, and Kerry Condon. 

Star Wars: Skeleton Crew‘s Release Date

Star Wars: Skeleton Crew will release on December 3, 2024.

Here's your first look at the upcoming Star Wars Original series, #SkeletonCrew, streaming December 3 on @DisneyPlus. pic.twitter.com/QkMxeE8Kn8

— Star Wars (@starwars) July 31, 2024

Originally published on September 22, 2022.

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First-Look Images From SKELETON CREW Are Here, Amblin-Inspired STAR WARS Series Also Sets Release Date

We just finished enjoying Star Wars: The Acolyte, but, already, it’s time to gear up for the next Star Wars original series coming to Disney+, Star Wars: Skeleton Crew. Star Wars: Skeleton Crew has officially set its release date for December 3, so that’s still a while away, but its first-look images have us very excited. We are already feeling the energy of the Amblin ’80s movies that serve as inspiration for this series. The Goonies, Gremlins, and E.T. are whispering to us through these Skeleton Crew first-look images, which we saw via People. They are saying, Star Wars meets Amblin, we love it.

Lucasfilm

You can take a look at all the Star Wars: Skeleton Crew first-look images below. The images reveal Jude Law, as well as child actors Ravi Cabot-Conyers (Wim), Kyriana Kratter (KB), Robert Timothy Smith (Neel), and Ryan Kiera Armstrong (Fern), who also star in the Skeleton Crew series.

When asked to describe the series, Law noted that the “first word that comes to my mind” is “joyful.” Additionally, he reveals, “It is a fun place to be, the universe of Star Wars… And there are great references to old films and recent episodes and series. There’s a lot of originality, and I hope that will bring the feeling of fun to those who watch it.” He shares that his own character, Jod, is “someone who uses quick thinking, charm, and conversation to get out of all sorts of scenarios.” You can see Jod in Skeleton Crew images below.

Additionally, creator Jon Watts describes a new droid that will join the Skeleton Crew series, SM 33. SM 33 will be voiced by Nick Frost. Watts shares, “He’s like a rusty old, cranky droid that sort of reluctantly helps the kids along the way… The other thing about him is that he’s the first mate of a mysterious ship.” It’s possible we get a glimpse of SM 33 in these first Star Wars: Skeleton Crew images.

Click To View Gallery Lucasfilm Lucasfilm Lucasfilm Lucasfilm

In addition to these first-look images for Star Wars: Skeleton Crew, here is the synopsis for the series:

Skeleton Crew” follows the journey of four kids who make a mysterious discovery on their seemingly safe home planet, then get lost in a strange and dangerous galaxy. Finding their way home—and meeting unlikely allies and enemies—will be a greater adventure than they ever imagined. 

Honestly, we can’t wait to see how this series develops. Galactic adventures, adorable alien, and Jude Law… what more could we want from a Star Wars show? As mentioned, Star Wars: Skeleton Crew‘s release date is December 3.

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TERMINATOR ZERO Wages War Against the Machines in Latest Trailer

Real artificial intelligence is a power-sucking, job-stealing drain on humanity that isn’t very fun. But the artificial intelligence of science fiction still makes for a compelling, terrifying enemy. Now one of pop culture’s most iconic A.I.s is back once again. Netflix’s upcoming anime Terminator Zero will take fans back in time for another showdown between humans and machines. And Terminator Zero‘s latest trailer shows that the fight survival was even bigger than we knew.

Terminator Zero takes place in the same universe as the films, but it features all new characters also hoping to change mankind’s dark future. The show will follow a scientist who tries to use artificial intelligence to stop Skynet so that he can save his family and every other human. Here’s the series’ official synopsis from Netflix:

2022: A future war has raged for decades between the few human survivors and an endless army of machines. 1997: The AI known as Skynet gained self-awareness and began its war against humanity.

Caught between the future and the past is a soldier sent back in time to change the fate of humanity. She arrives in 1997 to protect a scientist named Malcolm Lee who works to launch a new AI system designed to compete with Skynet’s impending attack on humanity. As Malcolm navigates the moral complexities of his creation, he is hunted by an unrelenting assassin from the future which forever alters the fate of his three children.

Netflix

Terminator Zero comes from writer-showrunner Mattson Tomlin (Project Power, The Batman II) and the animation studio Production IG. It’s English-language dub stars Timothy Olyphant as the Terminator, André Holland as Malcolm Lee, Rosario Dawson as Eiko, Ann Dowd as The Prophet, and Sonoya Mizuno as Kokoro.

The eight episode season arrives at Netflix around the globe on the most appropriate of days. It premiere one Judgment Day August 29th, 2024. At least it does if mankind’s future remains unchanged by evil machines. Considering the current state of real A.I. plan on tuning in that day.

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Who Is Marvel’s Galactus, the Fantastic Four’s Devourer of Worlds?

Galactus, the Devourer of Worlds, is one of the greatest antagonists in Marvel Comics history. We say antagonist and not villain, because Galactus is a character whose motivations hold no real malice. Stan Lee and Jack Kirby created Galactus in the pages of Fantastic Four, way back in 1966. And he has remained a fixture of the Marvel Universe ever since. He’s finally making his MCU debut in 2025’s The Fantastic Four: First Steps. This follows a previous appearance in live-action in 2007’s Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer left fans wanting (to put it mildly). In the case of Galactus, there is much comic book lore for Hollywood to pull from.

“The Galactus Trilogy,” the Character’s First Appearance in Marvel’s Fantastic Four Marvel Comics

In the ’60s, Fantastic Four, along with Amazing Spider-Man, were far and away Marvel Comics’ biggest-selling titles. Yes, once upon a time, the X-Men and Avengers did not rule the roost. Lee and Kirby were five years into their ten-year run on Fantastic Four in 1966, hitting their creative stride. This came to a head in issues #48-50 of Fantastic Four, now known as “The Galactus Trilogy.” These issues also introduced the Herald of Galactus, the Silver Surfer, a character who would become one of the publisher’s key characters.

“The Coming of Galactus”Marvel Comics

In Fantastic Four #48, the team were catching their breath after meeting the Inhumans. But soon they were faced with an even bigger problem. Much bigger. The Watcher, an entity sworn not to interfere with cosmic events, appeared to Reed Richards. He broke his oath and warned him that the Silver Surfer was on his way. The Surfer was looking for a living world for his master Galactus to consume. He explained Galactus as a cosmic entity above the concepts of good and evil, who needed to drain the living energy of worlds for sustenance. The Watcher tried to hide the Earth from the Silver Surfer but he found the planet regardless. It was then that Galactus arrived, in his 28-foot-tall glory.

“If This Be Doomsday”Marvel Comics

In Fantastic Four #49, “If This Be Doomsday,” the Watcher tries to plead to Galactus to spare the Earth and its billions of inhabitants. But Galactus did not listen. He begins to build the machine he would need to suck the life out of the Earth, leaving it an empty husk. The Watcher then took a gamble. He informed Johnny Storm that there was one weapon in the cosmos that could stop Galactus—the Ultimate Nullifier. He powered the Human Torch up to cosmic levels, allowing him to fly through space and find the Nullifier on Taa II, Galactus’ ship. Meanwhile, the Thing’s girlfriend Alicia Masters did everything she could to convince the Silver Surfer to turn against his master.

“The Startling Saga of the Silver Surfer”Marvel Comics

In the final chapter of the Galactus Trilogy, “The Startling Saga of the Silver Surfer,” the Herald turns against his master. This gives Mr. Fantastic enough time to prepare the Ultimate Nullifier to use against Galactus. It is only then that Galactus agrees to spare the Earth, in exchange for the weapon. However, for his betrayal, Galactus banishes the Silver Surfer to Earth. Galactus departs to find another world to feast on. This would not be the last time that Galactus would pose a threat, however. Far from it. Although, he was used sparingly over the next several years in the pages of Fantastic Four.

Galactus’ Origin Revealed in the Pages of The Mighty ThorMarvel Comics

In 1969’s The Mighty Thor #168-169, Lee and Kirby revealed the origin of Galactus. Marvel would later tweak it and elaborate upon it, but the core story was there in those two Thor issues. We learn that Galactus was originally Galan of the planet Taa, a world which existed in the pre-Big Bang universe. As all life started to gradually die in that universe, Taa was one of the few remaining worlds. Galan and other survivors left Taa on a spacecraft, soon swallowed up in the Big Crunch. Galan did not die. He bonded with the Sentience of the Universe, and when our new universe was born in the Big Bang, he emerged as a new cosmic being called Galactus. As Galactus, he must eternally feed on the energy of living worlds to sustain his own immortal life. The first world that fell prey to his hunger was the planet Archeopia.

The Fantastic Four, Reed Richards, and “The Trial of Galactus”Marvel Comics

The origins of Galactus are further expanded on by Fantastic Four writer/artist John Byrne. After a story where Galactus returns to Earth and Reed Richards saves his life, 1982’s “The Trial of Galactus” story begins. This story is really about the trial of Reed Richards, despite the title. Several alien races gather to hold Mister Fantastic accountable for saving the life of Galactus. A decision that let the Devourer of Worlds destroy planet after planet. Among these worlds was the Skrull Empire’s Throneworld. Reed Richards is ultimately acquitted, and the cosmic entity Eternity explains how the universe needs Galactus. This is because he serves a cosmic function as part of the universal life cycle.

Marvel Comics

Since then, Galactus has tried to consume the Beyonder’s Battleworld during the original Secret Wars, and tried to rid himself of the cosmic hunger by consuming the Infinity Stones. In more recent years, Galactus transformed into a Lifebringer instead of a Devourer of Worlds. He used his power cosmic to recreate Archeopia, the first planet that he ever destroyed, billions of years ago. Sadly, this phase didn’t last long, and he was forcibly transformed back into a Devourer of Worlds by another cosmic being, Logos. Most recently, Thor Odinson killed Galactus, but as a cosmic entity older than time, he can’t really die. Galactus is truly eternal.

The Powers and Abilities of GalactusMarvel Comics

Galactus’ power levels are near infinite. As a being older than the universe itself, he truly is like a god. As the wielder of the Power Cosmic, Galactus has something called universal cosmic awareness, as well as unlimited telepathy and telekinesis. He can change the substance of matter and teleport by making interdimensional portals across space. He can even resurrect the dead and create life if he so chooses, even whole planets. However, it’s a power he rarely employs. Galactus is the smartest being in the universe, with an intellect that is beyond comprehension. He can extend a portion of his Power Cosmic to his Heralds, as he did for Norrin Radd of Zenn-La, who became the Silver Surfer.

The Many Heralds of GalactusMarvel Comics

The Silver Surfer is the most famous Herald of Galactus, a being whom he directed to scout the universe for worlds on which he can feed, but he was hardly the first. The first known Herald of Galactus was a being known as the Tyrant. The Fallen One came next. After the Surfer, there was the Air-Walker, Firelord, and Terrax the Tamer. With the Silver Surfer representing water (in a way), the following three Heralds represented the other elements. The Heralds that followed were Nova II (Frankie Raye, a human from Earth), Morg the Executioner, and Stardust. Then, there were the “temporary” Heralds, famous characters that worked for Galactus for one storyline. Among these were the mutant pop star Dazzler, Doctor Strange, Thor, and even Peter Parker’s Aunt May as “Golden Oldie.” Ok, Marvel relegated that story as just Peter Parker’s dream, but it kind of counts.

The Devourer of Worlds in Other MediaHanna-Barbera/Marvel Animation/Twentieth Century Studios

Galactus has appeared in other media, but rarely faithfully. The original 1967 Fantastic Four cartoon displayed him with green skin and armor. The 1994-1996 Fantastic Four animated series portrayed him more faithfully, in an adaptation of the original Galactus Trilogy. He also appeared in the 1998 Silver Surfer cartoon. Galactus made his big screen debut (in a manner of speaking) in 2007’s Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer. The film portrayed Galactus as a giant cosmic cloud, without a humanoid form. Although the digital effects crew did sneak in a fiery silhouette of comic book Galactus’ helmet, knowing it would please the comic book fans in the audience.

Galactus in Fantastic Four: First Steps and the Larger MCUMarvel Comics

A more comic book-accurate version of the villain will appear in the MCU in The Fantastic Four: First Steps. Based on early footage shown at San Diego Comic-Con, Galactus will appear as his giant sized incarnation from the comics, complete with his Jack Kirby-designed helmet. His Silver Surfer will not be Norrin Radd, but his lover, Shalla-Bal. We don’t know if the Devourer of Worlds will play a part in the MCU after First Steps, but the character did appear in the original Secret Wars. So the wielder of the Power Cosmic might have a future in the MCU beyond just this one film. We’ll have to wait until July 2025, when The Fantastic Four: First Steps hits theaters, to find out.

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Bucky Barnes’ Long Haircut Returns in MCU THUNDERBOLTS* Movie

The MCU suffered many losses after Avengers: Endgame. Tony Stark died saving the world. Black Widow also passed away tragically. Steve Rogers went back in time and vanished. But, one of the less discussed disappearances after that movie involved Bucky Barnes’ long hair. Yes, sadly, when Bucky Barnes (played by Sebastian Stan) reappeared in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, he had cut his hair short. Now, some might say that Bucky Barnes’ new haircut was a part of his recovery as he worked to separate himself from The Winter Soldier. But in the frame of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, perhaps it was too much of an overcorrection. In any case, we are very pleased to share that in an exclusive Thunderbolts* first-look at San Diego Comic-Con, Bucky Barnes’ long hair made its return to the MCU. (Cue much celebration among the land.)

Marvel Studios

We don’t yet have an actual look at Bucky Barnes’ Thunderbolts* haircut to show you. But we’d describe it as shorter than his Winter Soldier days but MUCH longer than his The Falcon and the Winter Soldier phase. Bucky Barnes’ Thunderbolts* haircut undoubtedly no longer qualifies as short and lands firmly in the long category. We’d say it reaches past his ears to mid-neck. Hey, we’ll take it.

Marvel Studios

Getting back to the long vs. short hair analysis, though, we’d say this haircut means that Bucky Barnes has squared with the idea that he’s no longer the Winter Soldier. But also come to terms with the fact that he’ll never be just James Buchanan Barnes again either. The return to his short haircut did feel too much like an attempt to recapture a person who no longer really existed. Meanwhile, the totally grown-out look wasn’t something Bucky chose for himself. This version of Bucky Barnes’ long haircut seems to say, I can have long hair if I want because I know who I am. And that person is neither fully who he was, nor fully who he was made to be. Even though Bucky Barnes’ hair was short in the initial Thunderbolts* marketing image, we’re glad to see this reversal of hair course.

In the meantime, we’re just happy to welcome long-haired Bucky Barnes back; we really did not like that haircut. We guess finding joy in the shades of grey is what this movie will be all about. Thunderbolts* will release in theaters on May 2, 2025.

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