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DOCTOR WHO’s Rani Plans to Bring Back Another Classic Villain

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One of the hallmarks of the 1970s and ’80s in Doctor Who was the appearance of dozens and dozens of other Time Lords and Ladies. The planet Gallifrey and its denizens were frequent focal points of the Tom Baker years and beyond and with it we got several characters of varying states of exciting. Like, the Rani, for example, the villain of two eponymous stories from the mid-80s, “The Mark of the Rani” and “Time and the Rani.” The Rani, as we now know, is the current villain of the second Fifteenth Doctor season and in “Wish World,” she dropped the name of another, even more notorious Time Lord she wants to revive: Omega.

BBCWho Is Doctor Who‘s Omega?

In terms of on-screen appearances, Omega has a pretty small footprint. In the lore of the series, Omega is the first Time Lord. That, as we know from “The Timeless Children” is not exactly true. (The Doctor is, apparently, the source of regeneration energy.) But Omega was the Gallifreyan who harnessed and perfected time travel technology, the other pillar of Time Lord near-omnipotence. Various pieces of spinoff media have described Omega as a contemporary of Rassilon, another hugely important figure in Time Lord history.

Whilst harnessing a supernova to secure Time Lord time travel capabilities, Omega became lost and the Time Lords believed him dead. The truth, as we learn in the 10th anniversary serial “The Three Doctors,” his first appearance, is that he hadn’t died. Not really, anyway. The supernova had sent Omega into a pocket dimension, an anti-matter universe, which he was able to control and construct through sheer force of will. He blamed the Time Lords for abandoning him and remained alive specifically to return and seek revenge.

BBCWhen Did Omega Appear in Doctor Who?

As stated, Omega’s first appearance in Doctor Who was in “The Three Doctors.” Largely, the Second and Third Doctors, plus members of the Third Doctor’s UNIT family, squared off against Omega within the antimatter universe. During the course of that story, Omega finally got close to breaching his kingdom prison and returning to the pro-matter universe. (That is not what it’s called; calm down, astrophysicists.) However, the Doctors rightly sus out that Omega isn’t technically alive. Like the pocket universe itself, Omega only exists because his will power forces him to.

A full 10 years later, in the serial “Arc of Infinity,” which began Doctor Who‘s 20th season, Omega returned. Looking much stupider, the angry Time Lord made of antimatter attempts to gain reentry into the proper universe by fusing with the Doctor. Fearing that the collision of matter and antimatter would destroy reality, the Time Lords call the Doctor back to Gallifrey to execute him. Surviving that (obviously), it’s up to the Doctor to stop Omega once again.

BBCDid Omega Ever Turn Up Again?

Not on TV, though technically we see both him and Rassilon during the interminable flashbacks in “The Timeless Children.” Omega has appeared in several Big Finish audio dramas, novels, and comics, however, and will very possibly make his grand return in “The Reality War,” due to air on Disney+ May 31. The Two Ranis plus Omega? Our dear Doctor is really in for it this time!

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 Letterboxd.

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THE WHEEL OF TIME Canceled at Prime Video After Season 3

This one is a huge shocker, folks. We at Nerdist really enjoyed season three, now the final season, of The Wheel of Time. The show was full of strong women, exciting queer narratives, incredible fantasy and so much more. But Prime Video recently announced that it will not be renewing The Wheel of Time for a fourth season, cancelling it at season three. Prime Video canceling The Wheel of Time really goes to show you that no series is ever really safe. Given that Prime Video is the home of The Rings of Power and that The Wheel of Time is such a big-name franchise, it really felt like a shoo-in to go the distance. But little gets to end on its own terms these days, we guess. All we can really say is that we feel sad to hear that The Wheel of Time has been canceled.

The Wheel of Time is a TV adaptation of Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson’s iconic book series, helmed by showrunner Rafe Judkins and starring Rosamund Pike. By all accounts, the show was quite well watched and in 2021 was one of Prime Video’s top 5 series launches ever. Deadline reports that Prime Video and Sony TV will continue to back The Wheel of Time season three’s Emmy campaign, but this will likely come as small solace to fans after Prime Video’s announcement that it has canceled the series.

Prime Video

We admit, few cancellations surprise us these days… But The Wheel of Time getting canceled really did. At a time when queer narratives driven by women and other underrepresented populations are more necessary than ever, cancelling the series feels like a blow. For those who still wish to watch, all seasons of The Wheel of Time are now streaming on Prime Video.

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MIGHTY MORPHIN POWER RANGERS: RE-IGNITION Updates the Iconic ’90s Series to 4K

Red alert, all you Millennials out there. If you have any inclination to revisit your childhood Fox Kids favorites, now is the perfect time to give Mighty Morphin Power Rangers a rewatch. The folks at Hasbro have announced Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Re-Ignition, an enhanced version of the classic TV series. The first episode is available now on the Power Rangers Official YouTube Channel. Afterward, 2-3 episodes will drop weekly until October 7th. In addition to the English channel, Re-Ignition is also available on the French, German, and Spanish platforms. You can watch episode 1, “Day of the Dumpster,” right here:

According to Hasbro, Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Re-Ignition “Delivers the same legendary adventures of the original Rangers, as well as the classic series’ iconic villains, and unforgettable battles through sharper detail and richer visuals offered in a 4K experience.” Soon, longtime fans will also be able to buy Playmates Toys’ Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Re-Ignition action figures, accessories, role-play toys, and collectibles. These will all hit store shelves this fall. This sounds similar to Mattel’s Masters of the Universe: Origins line repackaging the retro-style action figures for nostalgic adult collectors.

Saban Entertainment

The original Mighty Morphin Power Rangers series ran for three seasons and a whopping 145 episodes. So, you can see why the 4K version of the whole series won’t be finished until October. Of course, other iterations of the Power Rangers followed on television and in theaters. But that original series, which lasted from 1993-1995, remains the most iconic to most fans. It even spun off its own theatrical movie in 1995. Now, if only Disney+ would take a cue from Hasbro, and remaster other iconic Fox Kids ’90s shows, like X-Men: The Animated Series, Spider-Man: The Animated Series, and Gargoyles, then all would be right with the world.

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KPOP DEMON HUNTERS Trailer Looks Delightfully Goofy

Female pop stars with secret lives as superheroes are not a new concept. We’ve had characters like Marvel’s Dazzler, and of course, Jem and the Holograms back in the ’80s. Now, we’re getting a 21st century version of that concept, with the upcoming animated Netflix movie KPop Demon Hunters. And yes, it looks to be exactly what the title suggests. A famous girl group of KPop singers in the Blackpink mode carry a secret battle with demonic forces. When they’re not packing stadiums full of rabid teenage fans, that is. You can check out the fierce first trailer for KPop Demon Hunters right here:

And here’s the official synopsis for KPop Demon Hunters from Netflix:

When they aren’t selling out stadiums, Kpop superstars Rumi, Mira and Zoey use their secret identities as badass demon hunters to protect their fans from an ever-present supernatural threat. Together, they must face their biggest enemy yet – an irresistible rival boy band of demons in disguise.

One of the fun wrinkles to this concept is that the demons appear in our world as KPop boy bands. That just makes all the sense, doesn’t it? We think many folks already suspected this to be true. There also seems to be a little bit of Buffy the Vampire Slayer influence in this movie, as a group of girly girls are secretly chosen to destroy supernatural monsters. With a dash of the Powerpuff Girls for good measure too. If the animation style for this movie looks familiar, it’s because Sony Animation Studios produced it, the same studio that brought us the two Spider-Verse films.

Netflix/Sony Animation

Directed by Maggie Change and Chris Appelhans, the film stars Arden Cho, Ahn Hyo-seop, May Hong, Ji-young Yoo, Yunjin Kim, Daniel Dae Kim, Ken Jeong, and Lee Byung-hun. KPop Demon Hunters officially arrives on Netflix on June 20.

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VISION QUEST Showrunner Talks About How He’s Tackling the WANDAVISION Spin-Off

It’s been four long years since the end of WandaVision. And after many stops and starts, Paul Bettany’s android Avenger character will finally continue on in the series Vision Quest. The Disney+ show is currently filming in the U.K. Terry Matalas, who delivered the brilliant final season of Star Trek: Picard, serves as the Vision Quest showrunner. Via Comic Book, we learned he was recently a guest on actress Katee Sackhoff’s podcast The Sackhoff Show. On that show, he gave a little bit of info on how he’s approaching the series. Here’s what he had to say about his creative process:

There was a kind of logline that was very specific. Kinda like ‘It’s this, this, and this.’ But there were a thousand ways to do exactly that. I’m trying to figure out how to vaguely respond to you, but it was an opportunity to be like, ‘Okay, if you want to do this, then you kinda also want to do this, this, and this.’ And it became this very collaborative experience that’s just been really wonderful. And it doesn’t have to be with the biggest, most successful studios of all time. It’s been a really wonderful creative experience, and I think we are making something really special.

Marvel Studios/Marvel Comics

We can’t help but wonder if the specific parameters Kevin Feige gave him for the series was to adapt the beloved 2015 Vision mini-series by Supergirl writer Tom King and artist Gabriel Hernandez Walta. In that story, the synthezoid hero attempts to discover his humanity by creating an android family for himself in suburbia. One of his children, Viv Vision, has gone on to be a fairly prominent Marvel character. Since “White Vision” now has the memories of the Vision that Wanda Maximoff created in her hex, he might want to try to attempt a slice of domestic life for himself. Of course, the parameters Marvel gave Terry Matalas might also be “find a way to bring back Ultron,” which the series is also doing. We’ll find out when Vision Quest hits Disney+ in 2026.

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Jimmy Kimmel Joins SMURFS Movie Cast

Among the recent swath of live-action and animation hybrid films is Smurfs. It boasts an all-star cast, including Rihanna as Smurfette and John Goodman as Papa Smurf. We can’t wait to see what adventures await these blue cuties as they come into the real world on a rescue mission. The latest actor to lend their voice to the Smurfs movie is Jimmy Kimmel. It seems like late-night talk show hosts are really getting into their acting bag. 

Conan O’Brien is even starring in Toy Story 5 as a character named Smarty Pants! That totally checks out for him. However, at this time, we don’t know who Kimmel will portray in the Smurfs movie. Although Variety says that he will join the voice cast, it’s not impossible for him to show up in the new world as himself for a cameo as well.

Jimmy Kimmel/Paramount Pictures

That could be fun but we’d kinda like to see him solely tackle being a blue-hued being. You can check out the film’s trailer below: 

Smurfs will hit theaters on July 18.

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DISNEY LORCANA’s REIGN OF JAFAR Set Forms a Bridge Between the Past and Present (Review)

Disney Lorcana is capping off its second year with Reign of Jafar. It’s a new set with extra products that play off of existing card types and archetypes. Instead of offering new mechanics for players to try, Reign of Jafar focuses on enhancing existing mechanics and deck types. The result is a set that won’t make any significant waves in current Lorcana play. But it should still help keep most popular decks viable as significant changes for the game approach.

With the first-ever Disney Lorcana World Championships quickly approaching, the new game is looking at some major shifts. Set rotation is coming, which will remove all cards released during the game’s first year from competitive play. However, the company is reprinting popular cards in upcoming sets. Reign of Jafar is the first set to have a small number of recycled cards. However, many of the design choices in Reign of Jafar provide either replacements or substitutes for some of the cards that will cycle out in a few months.

Ravensburger

Within the storyline of Lorcana, a Jafar glimmer has repaired the Hexwell Crown, an artifact of immense power. Jafar has used the crown to take over Archazia’s Island (the name of the previous set) and create his own mega-fortress on the island. It’s up to the Illumineers to steal back the Hexwell Crown and escape, thus robbing Jafar of his power. 

To support the climactic storyline, Disney Lorcana has released a new and improved Illumineer’s Quest product. This offers players a co-op challenge in which players face off against Jafar’s illusions. Palace Heist is a boxed set containing two pre-made decks alongside a special Jafar deck. To win the Palace Heist, players have to steal the Hexwell Crown by eliminating various Location cards and successfully reach 20 Lore per player. Jafar wins if he reaches 40 Lore. However, this is with the caveat that he cannot lose if he has the Hexwell Crown in his possession.

Jafar’s deck operates automatically, with pressure put on players to eliminate his glimmer cards before they collect too much lore per turn. The race component of Lorcana remains intact in Palace Heist, but Jafar’s deck serves as a solely defensive hurdle. There are a few cards that deal damage in Jafar’s deck. And his rules dictate that he collect lore whenever possible. This means that players will need to balance eliminating his glimmers while also collecting lore and finding openings to claim the Hexwell Crown.

Ravensburger

Palace Heist is a fun product and much better balanced than the Deep Trouble Illumineer’s Quest released last year. With upgraded components (a play board instead of a flimsy paper foldout and cardboard damage and Lore counters instead of punched-out paper pieces) and a stronger deck to play against, players should enjoy the challenge of trying to beat Jafar over the course of several scenarios.

The standard difficulty quest is challenging enough that I actually lost it on my first attempt. I had more success during a solo playthrough. That’s largely thanks to me remembering that I can use Illumineer actions (which cost Lore to utilize) to further manipulate Jafar’s cards. 

In addition to Palace Heist, the set also comes with two new Starter Decks. The Amber/Amethyst deck – A Harmonious Team – is built around the Madrigal family and singing. Meanwhile, the Ruby/Steel deck – Brave and Brazen – is built around Mulan and Stitch with a focus on Reckless attackers that can attack just about any target. 

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Of the two decks, A Harmonious Team is built towards my general Lorcana speed. There are multiple cards that solve Lorcana’s ever-present card draw problem, and the Amber cards do a generally decent job of helping characters get into play and stay in play. Honestly, this deck has much better construction than some other Lorcana decks. There are a few cards that can and should be swapped out with either additional Song cards or perhaps some Madrigal family cards from previous sets. But, A Harmonious Team does a fantastic job of teaching players about one of Lorcana’s most unique game mechanics – the act of singing. 

Brave and Brazen, meanwhile, is built around a continuous barrage of pressure on opponents. The deck contains multiple cards that add the Rush or Reckless keywords to other characters. This allows them to challenge opponents even on the turn they’re first played. The problem with this strategy is two-fold. The deck doesn’t contain the card draw effects needed to replenish a player’s hand with new cards to throw at enemies.

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There’s also a general lack of lore generators in the deck. This means that players will need to deviate from the deck’s playstyle when they want to collect crucial Lore for a victory. Still, Ruby/Steel decks are one of the more popular deck types out there right now. And this deck shows off its aggressiveness impressively.

As for the set as a whole, Reign of Jafar is decidedly less flashy than some previous sets. There’s no new mechanics or card types to fawn over. This is a card set for veteran Lorcana players. There are a smattering of cards that seem to fit into most existing deck types or try to raise up unheralded deck combinations to new heights. It’s hard to really tell which cards will make the most impact in competitive play. This is in part because the set’s design is to enhance. Plus, the cards’ relevance will shift greatly once set rotation kicks off later this summer. That will remove about half of the existing cards from use. 

Ravensburger

Some of my personal favorites include Mushu – Your Worst Nightmare, which is found in the Brave and Brazen deck. It adds the Rush, Reckless, and Evasive keywords to any character card on the first turn that they’re played. Down in New Orleans is a fun Sapphire card that allows players to pull out a 6-ink card from the top three cards in their deck and play it for free.

Lady – Family Dog is another card that should help Amber-focused decks a lot. Players can play a second cheap-cost Amber card for free when it’s put into play. I’m also a big fan of Mickey Mouse – Giant Mouse. It is a 10-cost Steel card with amazing stats that deals a ton of damage if an opponent actually takes it down. I don’t know if it will see much play. But I’m certainly optimistic that someone won’t be able to resist the draw of a massive mouse. 

Reign of Jafar is a solid end cap to Disney Lorcana’s second year. It’s not flashy or exciting. But it sets up the game solidly as it enters a pivotal third year and the game’s first-ever World Championships. My hope is that Reign of Jafar makes an immediate impact on Disney Lorcana. The game’s intrepid fanbase can find new ways to slot in these cards and make them extremely impactful on all kinds of fun decks.

Disney Lorcana’s Reign of Jafar set will be available for preorder on May 30, with general sale starting June 6.

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THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA Sequel Set for May 2026, Casting Details Still Unknown

The Devil Wears Prada is a certified classic that I simply must watch every time it is on TV. Everything from Andy’s transformation into a fashion IT girl to Miranda’s absolutely scathing lines are iconic. Now, nearly 20 years later, we will get a sequel to The Devil Wears Prada and possibly see the original stars, director, and producer all returning. In July 2024, Entertainment Weekly reported that Anne Hathaway, Meryl Streep, Emily Blunt, and Stanley Tucci are in talks to return for a new The Devil Wears Prada movie alongside director David Frankel. If we get Anne back as Andy and the Queen of Genovia, we will be winning.

Now, months later, the film is set for a May 1, 2026 release but there’s still no confirmation about its cast. According to Variety, The Devil Wears Prada 2 is supposedly about Priestly, who continues to navigate her career amid the decline of traditional magazine publishing. She will go up against Andy, who is now a high-powered executive for a luxury group with advertising dollars that Priestly desperately needs.

20th Century Fox

In addition to producer Wendy Finerman possibly coming on board, screenwriter Aline Brosh McKenna could pen the script. The Devil Wears Prada sequel is actually happening at Disney. For now, Disney is not confirming nor denying anything in regards to casting, so we will have to wait and see what actually happens. In the meantime, we can always head over to Max and enjoy the existing film.

Originally published July 10, 2024.

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FEAR STREET: PROM QUEEN Delivers Slasher Gore But Ranks Lowest in the Franchise (Review)

For many a ‘90s youth, R.L. Stine’s Goosebumps was their gateway to the creepy, the supernatural, and the things that go bump in the night. And, leading up to the graduation towards full-fledged adult horror, Stine’s Fear Street series was meant to bridge the gap for teenagers. The series didn’t have the global success of Goosebumps but it did garner a loyal fan following. A few years ago in 2021, a live-action franchise came to life with Netflix’s Fear Street trilogy, which gained commercial and critical acclaim. Now, the franchise is moving on with a fresh story in Fear Street: Prom Queen, a standalone fourth installment. It’s an 1980s-soaked teen slasher that, unfortunately, doesn’t quite live up to its source material nor its cinematic predecessors. 

In this installment, directed and written by Matt Palmer with Donald McLeary as its co-writer, we go back to Shadyside High School in May 1988. The prom is only two days away and the competition for prom queen is pretty darn stiff, especially for protagonist Lori Granger (India Fowler). She’s not the most popular girl in school for several reasons, most of which aren’t her fault.

Even worse, she’s up against her neighbor and lifelong tormenter Tiffany Falconer (Fina Strazza). She’s a quintessential mean girl with a trio of sheep… erm, I mean, friends called the Wolfpack, who are also inexplicably running for prom queen. That goes against high school hierarchy rules, but whatever. Rounding out the candidate lineup is Christy, who checks the “bad girl dating older dude with motorcycle” stereotype box. In the time leading up to prom and throughout that fateful night, the prom queens go missing until the grim truth unfolds. 

From an aesthetic and auditory viewpoint, Fear Street: Prom Queen is quite a treat thanks to great set design, cinematography, and a pretty catchy and synth-heavy soundtrack. (Did we need yet another film using Billy Idol’s “White Wedding” like it is THEE song of the 1980s? Probably not, but I will allow it.) We get a more fleshed out version of Shadyside with new locales and a deeper exploration of its high school in ways that perhaps hint at the town’s continuous rapid decline in the early 1990s. Sassy Magazine, wood-paneled walls, windbreakers, acid-washed jeans, Ramones sweatshirts, and more help to shape this world. However, Fear Street: Prom Queen misses its mark in the areas that matter the most.

Majority of the main and secondary characters, including Lori, fit into certain trope bubbles. But they are so underdeveloped that they never even fill that space to its potential. For example, the film’s resident horror nerd and Lori’s bestie Megan (Suzanna Son) briefly holds a Fangoria magazine and does a couple of ill-timed gory pranks. However, her dialogue nor train of thought never leans into her supposed breadth of knowledge. 

Netflix

Standout star Strazza gives it all she’s got as an irritating brat and holds the film on her shoulders, delivering the best scenes and drama that Fear Street: Prom Queen offers. When there are good scenes, they hit the tonal beats quite well. However, they are outweighed by conversations with stilted and at times awkward delivery that don’t really express any real depth nor move the narrative forward in any meaningful way.

There’s too much expositing versus emoting and too few moments of establishing the relationships and dynamics between characters. Unlike most Fear Street tales, both on screen and print, the adults are far more present. However, they feel more like place markers until they are shoehorned into vital aspects of the storyline. There’s no layering and threading connections that make the film’s revelations feel earned or truly satisfying in any way. Many scenes feel choppy and consistently disrupt its already uneven pacing. This is unfortunate considering this film’s lean runtime is only a little under 90 minutes.

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All of this feels glaringly obvious in comparison to the franchise’s relatively solid previous three films. Leigh Janiak directed and wrote all of those installments, and missing a woman’s touch is quite obvious here. Some could argue that the trilogy format gave the main timeline’s protagonists more time for proper fleshing out.

However, I’d argue that the first installment stands solidly on its own in terms of narrative, sharp and memorable dialogue, and character development. There’s the captain of the cheerleading squad who deals drugs and makes good grades in hopes of leaving her shitty hometown. Deena, the star of the series, is gritty, witty, and isn’t afraid to take action, even when she’s shivering in fear. Those kinds of characters elevate a film to something worth watching.

It’s fine that this 1988 event doesn’t play heavily into the previous lore, save for a final scene. But, again, there’s not enough seeding of important connections nor complexity of characters to make it compelling. There’s no morsels of duplicitousness, insecurity, intriguing mystery, or anything else to make the viewer want to finish the meal.

Netflix

Speaking of that meal, it culminates in a disappointingly predictable conclusion. Was I expecting “elevated horror” with deeper thematic underpinnings? No. But I was expecting a satisfying, suspenseful, and consistently entertaining story and compelling characters.

Fear Street: Prom Queen’s kills do lean into some rather campy and entertaining gore, even if they aren’t particularly inventive. I mean, you already earned an R-rating for language, sexually suggestive material, and such. You might as well throw some extra pizazz in there. And the killer figure? Well, let’s just say this antagonist looks fun and that’s about it.

All in all, Fear Street: Prom Queen is certainly not the worse horror movie in existence. But it does pale in comparison to its film and print foundations.

Fear Street: Prom Queen ⭐ (2.5 of 5)

Fear Street: Prom Queen hits Netflix on May 23.

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AVENGERS: DOOMSDAY Delayed Until December 2026, SECRET WARS to December, 2027

We’re going to have to wait a wee bit longer to hear the words “Avengers Assemble” again. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Disney and Marvel Studios have delayed Avengers: Doomsday seven months. It is now opening on December 18, 2026, with Avengers: Secret Wars opening a year later, on December 17, 2027. The original report says Doomsday and Secret Wars are two of the biggest titles Marvel has ever produced. So the date shifts are to help with the production schedules. Doomsday just began shooting a few weeks ago. The last mega-blockbuster under the Marvel Studios banner, Spider-Man: No Way Home, also opened in December.

Marvel Studios

There are, of course, other possible reasons for such a delay. Rumors continue that Marvel is still trying to get several actors on board, but aren’t able to within the tight, one-year production schedule for Doomsday. If certain actors like Tom Holland, Chris Evans, or any of the former X-Men can’t make the current shooting schedule? Then this date change gives Kevin Feige quite a bit of extra time to try and land them. Although all the previous Avengers movies opened in late April/early May, Disney saw massive box office success with the Star Wars sequels and Rogue One when released over the winter holidays.

With Avengers: Doomsday now opening in December of next year, it means that aside from Spider-Man: Brand New Day, there won’t be an MCU movie in theaters after The Fantastic Four: First Steps for almost a full 18 months. But that “Absence makes the heart grow fonder” mindset might work in Doomsday’s favor. It seems the era when we were getting new MCU content every few months like clockwork is behind us. Here’s hoping the strategy pays off for Marvel Studios, and helps make Doomsday and Secret Wars better films.

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