Has Marvel learned its lesson?
Has Marvel learned its lesson?
And new 'Lord of the Rings' movie confirmed
What to know
Have Marvel and Disney finally learned their lesson?… Recent quotes from Bob Iger and Kevin Feige make it seem so. If there was one thing that defined Marvel phase 4 it was volume. From 2021 to 2022, we got 7 movies and 8 TV shows, totaling 50 hours of content. Which is equal to the run time of phases 1 2 and 3 combined. Under former CEO Bob Chapek, the idea was more is more because they needed to bulk up Disney+. But pretty much everyone now agrees quantity will never top quality. In a new interview with Empire, Marvel’s co-president Louis D’Esposito admitted, “Maybe when you do too much, you dilute yourself a little bit. We’re not going to do that anymore. We learned our lesson.” And on Tuesday, Bob Iger further explained the Marvel retraction on a Disney earnings call, “We’re slowly going to decrease volume and go to probably about two TV series a year and reduce our film output from maybe four a year to two, or a maximum of three” Marvel has just one movie hitting theaters this year, Deadpool and Wolverine, and as Kevin Feige told Empire, “It’s nice to be able to rally behind one feature project this year.” Let’s hope this re-commitment to quality over quantity pays off. 💥
Warner Bros. announces new Lord of the Rings movie for 2026… It’s called The Hunt for Gollum and is going to be directed by and star Gollum himself, Andy Serkis! Making a Gollum movie spinoff and putting Serkis in charge is a brilliant move on WB’s part and it will be interesting to see what they come up with. Peter Jackson is producing the film as well. And while I don’t think this movie is going to be as big as the original films, it should do as well as The Hobbit movies at least. Also, 2026 isn’t that far away when you think about it. 💍
Disney+, Max, and Hulu team up for streaming bundle… It’s happening! The competing streamers are actually bundling their products together. We’re going back to cable! What a world! It was only a matter of time until something like this happened, because it’s the only way they can actually compete with Netflix at this point. 📺
Sydney Sweeney to play boxer Christy Martin… Big role for Sweeney. The type people get nominated for awards for. In fact, David Michod is directing this movie and he directed Jackie Weaver to an Oscar nomination for Animal Kingdom in 2010. Is Sweeney up to the task of playing Martin? I think so, but I know a lot of people think she’s not a great actress, so we’ll see. 🥊
The Office spinoff that’s not a spinoff will be about a failing midwest newspaper… That’s the perfect setting for a workplace mockumentary in the tradition of The Office and Parks and Rec. It starts shooting in July, so we could get it on Peacock within the next year. Peacock has also renewed Ted for a second season, because Peacock knows what’s up. 🦚
Ralph Ineson joins Marvel’s Fantastic Four as Galactus… Meet your new MCU big bad. I like this casting choice as Ineson isn’t a super well known actor. Oh and John Malkovich has also been cast in the movie. 👍
Poppy Playtime video game adaptation in the works at Lionsgate… You probably don’t know what this is now, but in the future you might, because this could very well be the next Five Nights at Freddy’s. 🎮
Jeremy Strong joins Jeremy Allen White in Springsteen biopic… Everyone’s favorite Jeremies in one movie together? Jere-meet me at the movie theater to see this. 🎸
Peter Farrelly directing making-of Rocky movie… Out: music biopics. In: movie biopics. Just kidding, music biopics are still very much in. 🎥
The Bear, Bluey, Last of Us win Peabody Awards… The Peabodys always get it right. Also, The Bear returns June 27. 🏆
Travis Kelce joins Ryan Murphy’s Grotesquerie… The Kelce takeover of Hollywood has only just begun. 🏈
Paul Walter Hauser to star in game show drama Press Your Luck… Where does this man find the time? 😮
Lionsgate developing scripted drama series about Shohei Ohtani translator scandal… That was fast. ⚾️
Schmigadoon! getting live staging at the Kennedy Center… Brilliant! Bring your corn pudding. 🎭
Netflix developing Wonka reality competition… Sure, why not. 🍫
Glen Powell to star in J.J. Abrams’ next movie… Speaking of busy actors. 🎬
Robert Downey Jr. to make Broadway debut… You’d think he’d done it already. 👏
Michelle Yeoh joins Blade Runner 2099 series at Amazon… Sci-fi queen. 👑
What’s new
Dark Matter — May 8 | Apple sci-fi series | Ⓜ️ 63
Pretty Little Liars: Summer School — May 9 | Max drama series | 🍅
Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes — May 10 | Sci-fi in theaters | Ⓜ️ 64
Returning: Doctor Who, The Chi s6, Interview With the Vampire s2
What I watched
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