All eyes were on the Marvel Studios panel in Hall H during the annual San Diego Comic-Con. There, Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige confirmed that it would be focusing on three upcoming films on their release slate.
Starting off Captain America: Brave New World, Tim Blake Nelson, who played Samuel Sterns in “The Incredible Hulk” has been confirmed to play The Leader. This was more or less an obvious direction considering the last time we saw the blood of the Hulk seep into Sterns’ open head would. Though the trailer revealed a Leader with a normal sized head, its likely we will get some changes.
Additionally, Giancarlo Espisto confirmed that he would be playing Sidewinder, aka the king of the Serpent Society. “I am the King of the Serpent Society. I am Seth Voelker, Sidewinder,” he told a cheering crowd.
More of the plot was also revealed as President Ross (Harrison Ford) invites world leaders to the Celestial Island summit – the incomplete Tiamut from “Eternals” – and the land mass contains Adamantium. It’s unclear if this confirms Earth 616 has X-Men, but we know that there are mutants considering we heard the theme during the final episode of “Ms. Marvel.” And as a last bit to get the crowd riled up, the footage revealed Ross transforming into the Red Hulk in front of the steps of the White House.
Next up, “Thunderbolts,” Marvel Studios’ verison of the DC’s “The Suicide Squad,” where antagonists who survived altercations with the MCU superheros have gathered together as a highly dysfunctional supergroup who goes on black-op missions for the government. Sebastian Stan who plays Bucky Barnes, aka The Winter Soldier, joked that the roles is like having nine lives, how many are left. Considering that Bucky “fell to his death” in “Captain America: The First Avenger” and was blipped in “Avengers: Infinity War,” there are seven. We’ll just have to wait and see.
Some of the “Thunderbolts*” – Feige did not want to explain the reason behind the asterisk – plot was also revealed. Julia Louis-Dreyfus who plays Valentina Allegra de Fontaine says her character is “after power, control” adding she “wants to kick ass in the Marvel universe.”
As expected, the panel closed out with the highly anticipated “Fantastic 4.” There, director Matt Shakman spoke about the extensive research they did to bring these powers to life. So even though the film takes place outside of Earth-616 and during the 1960s and features some superpowers, it will be grounded by research. The footage also confirmed the Future Foundation. In the comic “The Future Foundation” is a philanthropic organization created by Mister Fantastic (Pedro Pascal) to better serve humanity’s future.
The footage also revealed that the core group are on a space mission to the moon. This coincides with the film’s 1960s setting considering thats when the space race takes place. Also, Michael Giachinno will compose the score.
Later on, it was revealed that the Fantastic Four title changed to “Fantastic Four: First Steps.” Though filming is supposed to begin on Tuesday, they showed some test footage of Galactus peering through a building, showing the size and scale of the giant cosmic entity.
And it wouldn’t be much of a Marvel Studios panel without a major announcement drop. The Russo brothers are coming back to direct “Avengers 5” and “Avengers: Secret Wars.” The duo who are on stage to make a couple of new announcements as well. While The Multiverse Saga has been trying to make Kang the Conqueror as the main villain of the saga, it looks like “Avengers 5” is taking a major shift in direction both in title and story arc. That’s because “Avengers: The Kang Dynasty” has been changed to “Avengers: Doomsday” and that Dr. Doom will be played by Dr. Doom.
The actor came out in costume (at least an early version of it) with a group of Doom cultists. He then told the crowd: “New Mask. Same Task.”
