Weekly MCU Review for 1/28

Another week, and more MCU news!  Black Panther is filming, and a whole bunch of upcoming MCU shows are moving closer to filming.  We also got some episode titles for Iron Fist.  Put some ketchup on your eggs, and catch-up on your Marvel news!

Mostly MCU Reviews

My articles from the week

Expectations and Review for Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.’s “Wake Up” (4x11)

MCU News

Links to news articles and blog posts about the MCU

Black Panther has begun filming, and we have our first confirmation that Martin Freeman will be in the movie.  It was already assumed he would appear, but this makes it certain.

Here is the first synopsis for Black Panther:

“Black Panther” follows T’Challa who, after the events of “Captain America: Civil War,” returns home to the isolated, technologically advanced African nation of Wakanda to take his place as King. However, when an old enemy reappears on the radar, T’Challa’s mettle as King and Black Panther is tested when he is drawn into a conflict that puts the entire fate of Wakanda and the world at risk.

It looks pretty cool.  There’s no mention of Klaue (the “old enemy” is probably Erick Killmonger), but that doesn’t mean he won’t appear anyways.

Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers 4 started filming this past Monday.  That means we should start getting all kinds of additional news and photos any time now…

The Inhumans will reportedly film in Hawaii in June.

Cloak and Dagger has a director for the pilot.  And it *may* also have stars in Noah Gray-Cabey and Debby Ryan.  Oh, and according to that last report Runaways may be close to casting its leads.

Check out these character breakdowns for Cloak and Dagger.  They look pretty close to the main universe versions of the characters (as opposed to the Ultimate Universe).

Here are the episode titles and directors for almost all episodes of Iron Fist season 1.

News from Around Geekdom

Anything not related to the MCU that I find interesting

So this week’s big Marvel announcement was a collaboration between Marvel and Square Enix to produce a video game franchise based on Marvel characters.

The upcoming X-Men series helmed by Matt Nix has been ordered to pilot by FOX.  As a huge Burn Notice fan, I am excited to see what this will look like.  I actually thought he would have been a brilliant showrunner for Marvel’s Most Wanted.  But, alas.

The Flash has a new writer coming in to do rewrites.  Is the DCEU ever going to get an unqualified success?

Star Wars Episode VIII has received a title:  Star Wars: The Last Jedi.  Thoughts?

Here is the recently-released synopsis for the upcoming Star Wars: Thrawn novel, set to be released April 11:

One of the most cunning and ruthless warriors in the history of the Galactic Empire, Grand Admiral Thrawn is also one of the most captivating characters in the Star Wars universe. From his introduction in bestselling author Timothy Zahn’s classic Heir to the Empire, through his continuing adventures in Dark Force Rising, The Last Command, and beyond, Grand Admiral Thrawn has earned an iconic status among Star Wars’ greatest villains. But Thrawn’s origins and the story of his rise in the Imperial ranks have remained mysterious. Now, in Star Wars: Thrawn, Timothy Zahn chronicles the fateful events that launched the blue-skinned, red-eyed master of military strategy and lethal warfare into the highest realms of power—and infamy.

After Thrawn is rescued from exile by Imperial soldiers, his deadly ingenuity and keen tactical abilities swiftly capture the attention of Emperor Palpatine. And just as quickly, Thrawn proves to be as indispensable to the Empire as he is ambitious; as devoted as its most loyal servant, Darth Vader; and a brilliant warrior never to be underestimated. On missions to rout smugglers, snare spies, and defeat pirates, he triumphs time and again—even as his renegade methods infuriate superiors while inspiring ever greater admiration from the Empire. As one promotion follows another in his rapid ascension to greater power, he schools his trusted aide, Ensign Eli Vanto, in the arts of combat and leadership, and the secrets of claiming victory. But even though Thrawn dominates the battlefield, he has much to learn in the arena of politics where ruthless administrator Arihnda Pryce holds the power to be a potent ally or a brutal enemy.

All these lessons will be put to the ultimate test when Thrawn rises to admiral—and must pit all the knowledge, instincts, and battle forces at his command against an insurgent uprising that threatens not only innocent lives but also the Empire’s grip on the galaxy—and his own carefully laid plans for future ascendancy.

This certainly looks interesting, especially since it is being written by Timothy Zahn, the writer who created Thrawn in the first place.  I assume it is part of the new canon, but the article doesn’t confirm that.

In more interesting Star Wars novel news, there are two new books on their way fleshing out the back stories of Rogue One characters.  First is Guardians of the Whills about Chirrut Imwe and Baze Malbus.  Second is Star Wars: Rebel Rising about Jyn Erso’s history with Saw Gerrera.  Both look interesting.

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