Marvel

When you’re in the business of making movies as large as those in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, even the first few days of production are a pretty big deal for fans. This is doubly so when you’re launching Avengers: Infinity War, a superhero crossover event unlike anything audiences have ever seen before on film. So last night, when Marvel released a brand new production video complete with new cast interviews and some key concept art, people rightfully lost their minds. You think you’ve seen movie hype? You ain’t seen nothing yet.

We’ve got still more coverage from the Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 for you. Following our visit to the set, and our conversation with Kevin Feige, here’s the full transcript (lightly edited for length, and removing a few spoilers that Marvel still doesn’t want out in the world) of the press’ lengthy chat with Guardians writer/director James Gunn. Topics included why Thanos and his Infinity Stones won’t show up this time around, how the sequel is both more intimate and more massive in scope, and the mystery character who Gunn originally wrote into the Guardians 2 script treatment, only to cut him (and he did say it was a him) out because there were just two many heroes at that point.

A lot goes into the design of a logo, especially the design of a logo for a huge superhero blockbuster. Logo and title reveals for upcoming Marvel and Lucasfilm properties and the like are big news, mostly because it’s just fun to use whatever fonts the studio chose to speculate about what that says for the movie. Today, Marvel’s co-president Louis D’Esposito tweeted a photo of one of the chairs on the set of Black Panther, revealing a logo that’s very different from the one we’ve become accustomed to.

In what is surely the most glorious rumor of the week, the Blu-ray details for Marvel’s Doctor Strange have apparently leaked online, and among the special features listed is perhaps the most special of all — something titled “Team Thor: Part 2,” which appears to be a follow-up to the hilarious mockumentary short that debuted at last year’s Comic-Con. Marvel isn’t releasing the Blu-ray until February 28, which means our fingers are going to be pretty stiff from all the crossing they’ll be doing until then.

Marvel’s Netflix Defenders has yet to reveal much about Sigourney Weaver’s main villain, though one imagines the eight-episode teamup series will feature a number of smaller big bads. Don’t expect Vincent D’Onofrio’s Wilson Fisk to menace anyone other than Daredevil, however, as the actor says there’s “no chance” of a Defenders appearance (or a Spider-Man: Homecoming role).

After experiencing the utter joy that is Dancing Baby Groot in the Guardians of the Galaxy post-credits scene, his inclusion in Vol. 2 seems like a real no-brainer — especially for Marvel and Disney, which stand to make serious bank off of that adorable, wide-eyed little twig in merchandising alone. But according to director James Gunn, Baby Groot’s involvement in the sequel has nothing to do with merchandising at all (though I’m sure it doesn’t hurt the bottom line in that department).

Reptilian thespian Benedict Cumberbatch scored a true box-office smash this past weekend as the headliner of Doctor Strange, a long-time-coming solo film for one of Marvel Comics’ most outré heroes. In addition to the distinction of being the first performer in the history of cinema to successfully pull off a cape-and-goatee combo, Cumberbatch proved his bona fides as an honest-to-god movie star with this pivotal role. But a new piece from IGN today reveals that in addition to the Sorcerer Supreme, Cumberbatch also played a second, uncredited role in the Doctor Strange production. (Here be SPOILERS. Continue at your own risk.)

After 30 years of trying to bring the mystical surgeon Stephen Strange from the page to the screen, Doctor Strange is finally making his movie debut.

For decades, Marvel has benefited greatly from having Stan Lee as the unofficial ambassador of all things comic book-related. Over the past few years, though, director James Gunn has given Lee a run for his money with his (relative) candor about the Marvel Cinematic Universe and the challenge of keeping the characters and mythology of the comic books all in a row. When Lee is finally ready to hang up his Marvel hat, Gunn might be the obvious chose to succeed him as the creative face of the company. And that makes the two of them working together on Lee’s MCU cameos just about the perfect match.

While domestic critics and international audiences have already been treated to their first screenings of Doctor Strange, many of us  —  myself included  —  are still waiting for our chance to see the movie in theaters. That means we’re still glued to our computer screens for every new photo, video, or audio clip that comes to mind. And that means we get excited over the silliest things. I mean, did you listen to that track from the Doctor Strange score? That theme song is amazing!

Scarlett Johansson has played Natasha Romanoff in five Marvel movies, five, and yet she still hasn’t gotten her own Black Widow solo movie. It’s kind of crazy, especially since fans have been clamoring for the female superhero to get her own film for ages – just this summer a new poll found that audiences want a Black Widow movie over any other Avengers character. Kevin Feige recently ignited some hope, saying Marvel is “committed” to giving the superhero her own movie, the Russo brothers called it a “no-brainer,” and Joss Whedon is down to direct. Now Johansson has chimed in to share her ideas for a solo movie.

With New York Comic-Con happening this weekend, we’re up to our ears in new footage, rumors, and casting announcements for the Marvel Netflix televisions series. Why, it’s almost enough to make us overlook the new footage, rumors, and casting announcements from the Marvel movies! Almost, but not quite.