Director: Sam Raimi
Writer: Michael Waldron
Cast: Benedict Cumberbatch, Elizabeth Olsen, Rachel McAdams, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Xochitl Gomez

When Doctor Strange meets America Chavez, a girl who is being hunted for her unique ability to travel through the multiverse, he steps in to help America survive. Facing a threat too great to handle alone, Strange turns to Wong and Wanda for their assistance, but soon discovers that the danger comes from an unexpected – and extremely powerful – source. Plunged into the multiverse, Strange is pitted against all sorts of surprises as he attempts to protect not just America, but the state of the multiverse too.

It’s a storm that’s been brewing for a long time. Threads from 2021’s WandaVision, What If…?, Loki, and Spider-Man: No Way Home, plus as far back as Avengers: Endgame (2019) and the original Doctor Strange (2016) have all led here, to one of the most thrilling adventures of the MCU yet.

Multiverse of Madness cold opens in the midst of the action, with Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) and newcomer America Chavez (Xochitl Gomez) running for their lives in another dimension. From there, the crazy events don’t stop. The two hours pass in the blink of an eye as the film leaps from one big, exciting moment to the next. You don’t go into a film called Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness expecting a slow ride, and the movie certainly doesn’t disappoint; it’s a veritable cinematic supernova, bursting with the weird and the wonderful and the wild.

Sam Raimi appears to have been given free rein to go full Sam Raimi on the film, and he didn’t sleep on the opportunity. Multiverse of Madness marks something of a comeback to mega-budget cinema for the director of the original Spider-Man movies, and it was a return worth waiting for. Raimi unleashes his full potential; there’s plenty of trippy camera twists and turns, and the director of The Evil Dead even dips back into the horror handbook to pull out a number of jump scares and inject a good dose of creepiness into the plot. When all mixed together with the magic and the sci-fi elements, it makes for a bold, hectic, action adventure film that manages to remain exciting for every minute of its run time.

America Chavez has the power to blast open portals through the multiverse, so all bets are off; anything is possible. America and Strange jump between universes, confronting demons, monsters, villains, and the rules of alternate worlds as they fight just to remain alive. It’s a circus of epic battles, full of magic duels that are fierce and whimsical in equal measure; there’s everything from energy blasts, to sorcerous sling-ringing, to a truly stunning duel made up of weaponised musical notes.

Thankfully the film doesn’t get lost in its own extravagance. The cast hold down the fort, tethering all the chaos back to matters of heart and humanity. Cumberbatch and Olsen are really given the chance to stretch their acting chops; Strange’s arc sees the sorcerer reckon with his past choices, whilst Elizabeth Olsen is once again a stand-out, giving a gutsy performance as Wanda battles a full spectrum of tangled emotions. Xochitl Gomez shows great promise for the future; America Chavez is primed to be a powerful new addition to the MCU’s catalog of superheroes. However, while this film served as an explosive introduction for her character, it would have been great to see America get the chance to do a little more herself; she does spend rather a lot of her time running and yelling and being captured.

Steeped in so much lore, newcomers might be slightly baffled by some of the finer points of the plot, but there’s plenty to be enjoyed even for a casual viewer; anyone who likes action won’t want to look away from the screen. Marvel fans will find plenty to love in all the cameos, references, and meta jokes that made their way into the script.

Marvel certainly brought the razzle and dazzle with Multiverse of Madness. One crazy, chaotic, magical ride from start to finish, it’s a distinctly Sam Raimi film through and through. As every Marvel fan will have hoped, the latest instalment in the MCU lives up to its name; Multiverse of Madness is truly an example of Marvel at its most marvellous, and its most mad.

What did you think of Multiverse of Madness? Tell us in the comments below!

The post Movie Review: Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

BLACK WIDOW | May 1st 2020
Starring Scarlett Johansson, David Harbour, Florence Pugh, O-T Fagbenle, and Rachel Weisz. Directed by Cate Shortland.

THE FALCON AND THE WINTER SOLDIER | Fall 2020
An original series with Anthony Mackie, Sebastian Stan, and Daniel Brühl. Streaming exclusively on Disney+.

THE ETERNALS | November 6th 2020
Starring Angelina Jolie, Richard Madden, Kumail Nanjiani, Lauren Ridloff, Brian Tyree Henry, Salma Hayek, Lia McHugh, and Don Lee. Directed by Chloé Zhao.

SHANG-CHI AND THE LEGEND OF THE TEN RINGS | February 12th 2021
Starring Simu Liu, Awkwafina, and Tony Leung, directed by Destin Daniel Cretton.

WANDAVISION | Spring 2021
An original series with Elizabeth Olsen, Paul Bettany, and Teyonah Parris. Streaming exclusively on Disney+.

DOCTOR STRANGE IN THE MULTIVERSE OF MADNESS | May 7th 2021
Starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Elizabeth Olsen. Scott Derrickson returns as director.

LOKI | Spring 2021
An original series with Tom Hiddleston. Streaming exclusively on Disney+.

WHAT IF…? | Summer 2021
The first animated series in the MCU, with Jeffrey Wright as the voice of The Watcher, and many actors from across the MCU reprising their roles as voice talent. Streaming exclusively on Disney+.

HAWKEYE | Fall 2021
Jeremy Renner, an original series that will also introduce Kate Bishop. Streaming exclusively on Disney+.

THOR: LOVE AND THUNDER | November 5th 2021
Chris Hemsworth, Tessa Thompson, and Natalie Portman. Taika Waititi returns as director.

BLADE | Unknown
BLADE with Mahershala Ali

Which one are you most excited to watch? Tell us in the comments below!

The post SDCC 2019: New Marvel TV Shows & Movies appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

“I love you, 3000” has quickly become an iconic sentence in pop culture history since Avengers: Endgame premiered in April 2019. 11 years and 23 movies later, the MCU as we know it closes its finale chapter of the Infinity Saga. It may be the end of this storyline, but has it been the final curtain call for every Avenger?

THE ORIGINAL 6

Iron Man

The man who started it all, reminded us with his last breath that he will be forever our Iron Man. Tony sacrificed himself to save millions of people not only on earth, but in the entire universe. His legacy is now in the hands of those who he left behind, however, I am certain that Tony’s spirit will be around for quite some time. His inventions and ideas he never finished in his garage could be picked up by someone – Peter, I am looking at you – and this way we do not need to say our farewell for good. Of course, there is always a possibility for a different timeline (I will come to that at a later point) or, considering we are talking about Mr. Anthony Howard Stark, we could even see him becoming the next A.I. Who knows?

Black Widow

I don’t know about you, but my tears have not dried yet. I love Nat and Clint’s friendship since the beginning and to see them going to Volmir together broke my heart. In a way, it does make sense why Nat had to die. She finally had a family, a place where she belonged to, and she wanted to make sure that they would survive and find their happiness. Is it fair? Hell no! She deserved better. I still hope that Kevin Feige will bring her back. After all, in the comics Gamora was freed from the Soul Stone, even if she had to lose a part of her soul in the process, she came back. The Soul Stone which appeared for Gamora was destroyed, that is why this cannot happen with her, but the one Clint got was brought back by Steve, so Nat has to come back, right? Until anything is confirmed, farewell, brave warrior queen.

Hawkeye

Are you one of those, who always where like “Clint, who?”, then shame on you! Clint gradually got a bigger part in every movie he was in and it is important that he has become a valued member of the team. Everyone else has a gadget or some supernatural powers, but all that Clint has is his bow and arrow and an impressive skill set. Yes, you can be a superhero with just so little. Clint definitely found his peace and all he wants is to be with his family and know that they are safe. However, I do hope to see him again, not as an active member, but as a mentor in one or more of the upcoming movies.

It is confirmed that Marvel is planning a web series on their new streaming site, Disney+, which will launch in November 2019. In that series, Clint will train a fellow archer – Kate Bishop – to become the next Hawkeye.

Hulk

In the five years between Infinity War and Endgame, Bruce has combined the best of his two personalities and has become Professor Hulk. Yes, this is awesome! Hulk is so happy; you have been able to see how Mark Ruffalo enjoyed playing that new Hulk. I do not think that we have to worry about him much. I gave up hope on seeing another Hulk movie anytime soon and maybe it is the best for this character. There is nothing known about his future, but I think that he will stick around one way or another, perhaps he’ll work on a new HQ for the Avengers?

Captain America

During the time heist, Hulk and the Ancient One had an intense discussion about whether they would change the future by borrowing the infinity stones from the past or if they create a different, new parallel timeline to the one we know.

So, we know that when Steve stayed in the past to get his well-deserved happy ending with Peggy, he did not change the timeline we know. All that we saw still happened and was not erased, but he created an anomaly by staying in the past with another Peggy. So, there is a different timeline, which could be of importance in the future. Steve has moved on from being the perfect soldier, even though I do think that he will wield his shield from time to time because that is the Steve we know. He will always help those in need.

At the end of Endgame, a well-aged Steve is back in our timeline which means that he had to do a time jump once more. Was he unhappy? Did new battles occur? How is everyone in the other timeline? Chris Evans announced that he will not return to the MCU anytime soon, but if the fans will ask for it, he gladly would tell us this part of his life.

It has been announced that Marvel is in pre-production of a “What if…” series which will premiere on Disney+. The first episode will be focusing on what if Peggy took the super soldier serum, instead of Steve.

Thor

Thor had a lot to deal with. Losing almost all of the Asgardians, losing Heimdall, and Loki and still thinking why he did not go for the head. At least, he got his second chance. I think, even if he was not in shape – physically and mentally – he was by far the best version of himself. He understands loss; he understands what it means to feel human. I think it is important to see that sometimes even the god of thunder has to face his mistakes and deal with human problems. His journey did not end in Endgame, it only took a new direction. Will he become a member of the Guardians? Will he find a new purpose somewhere else in the galaxy? Thor could also join Captain Marvel on her quest. For Thor, the possibilities are endless.

It is confirmed that Chris Hemsworth has signed a new contract with Marvel so he will definitely stick around for some more years and take us with him on his journey.

THE NEW AVENGERS

We have lost some of the Original 6, but that does not mean that the Avengers will not be around anymore. There are some guys who will not stop to protect earth from anyone who will do them harm and some “new” faces could join them.

Falcon

… or should I say, Captain America? After all the speculations who would get Steve’s shield if he ever would step aside from the battling, we know that it will be Sam. Honestly, I do think that this is a great choice. Steve and Sam are very similar when it comes to empathy, putting others first, and leadership. Sam deserves it and I think he will make Steve very proud. He is already a valued member and knows how everything works. He knows most of the others already and combined with his humour, he is able to build a new team who will follow his lead

Bucky

I am sorry if you are one of those who hoped to see Bucky as the new Captain America, but do not be sad, it is better that way for him. Bucky has lost his memories and his identity more than once. To put on another one would have been too much as Bucky is still recovering. Living in Wakanda by himself was the beginning of his journey to find inner peace and becoming whole again. In my opinion, part of his recovery will be to make his wrongs right and fight for those who cannot fight on their own. It is sad to know that we will not see Bucky and Steve’s friendship on-screen anymore, but I am sure that Bucky has found a new friend already in Sam, who will help him find his place and purpose.

Disney and Marvel have announced that there is a series in pre-production called “Falcon and Winter Soldier”. Nothing more is known so far, so it will be interesting to see when this show will take place.

War Machine

Tony’s best friend, Rhodey, is still very much alive and now has his chance to become the new Iron Man. I do not think that he will retire and live a quiet live in the woods as Tony did, but instead he will stay an Avenger. Unfortunately, they made Rhodey such a side character that there is currently nothing that could be a potential story line for him so Marvel better make some up ASAP.

Scarlet Witch (and Vision)

Wanda is alive and well and besides Clint, who seems to be a father figure for her, she doesn’t really have anyone left who she trusts. Her brother is dead, Vision is dead, and Steve is gone. However, the Avengers have become her family, so I do think that she will help with building a new team. I really hope so because we need every bad ass woman we can get. Maybe she will hop in and out of the Avengers HQ and will go see Clint and his family.

What we do know is that we have not seen the last of her and Vision together. “Vision and Scarlet Witch” are currently in pre-production and the show will premiere on Disney+ in the near future. Not much is known at this current point in time, but maybe we will see what happened between Civil War and Infinity War or we will see both of them in an alternative timeline.

The new team does not end with the ones mention above. There are also others, who could join them. You can read more of them below when we will discuss Phase 4.

OTHER CHARACTERS

Pepper and Morgan

We know that we will not see Pepper appear in a movie again because Gwyneth Paltrow announced that Endgame is the last one for her. Well, thinking about how many times she has said that and has always returned because RDJ has asked her to, I would not bet on it, especially because there is a new character in the game, who would need her mother for quite some time.

Squirrel, as Happy has called her by the end of the movie, could be a relevant character in the future of the MCU. Maybe not in Phase 4 or 5, but when the little girl will be old enough, she could follow into her fathers’ footprints. Her father, Iron Man. Her mother, Rescue. Morgan, Ironheart? Which path Marvel will choose for Morgan we will see in the years to come, but we definitely have to see more of her.

Happy

From chauffeur to bodyguard, then head of security to babysitting Spider-Man, followed by Uncle Happy to little Morgan, and then back to babysitting Spider-Man agin. Or so it seems.

Happy Hogan was not a big part of the movies since Iron Man 3. This may have to do with Jon Faverau being busy with his other projects, but, we know that we will not lose him just because Tony is not around anymore. The man, who truly founded the MCU and fought to bring Iron Man on the big screen, when not many believed in the success of the movie, will come back and be there for Peter Parker. The second trailer of Spider-Man Far From Home shows us that Happy will look after our friendly neighbourhood Spidey. For me, it seems that Happy could even work with Nick Fury, because what could be the reason that he is more around Peter as working at Stark Industries? I need answers!

S.H.I.E.L.D.

The Spider-Man trailer also confirmed that Nick Fury and Maria Hill are back and hunting the bad guys together, now those from the Multiverse. If they do that under the name S.H.I.E.L.D., it has not been confirmed yet, but we do not need to wait long to get some answers.

New Asgard and Valkyrie

Thor leaving with the Guardians at the end of Endgame means that New Asgard is now in the capable hands of their queen, Valkyrie. I cannot imagine that this will be enough for her as she certainly will pick up her sword again and fight some battle. We really need more of her and Marvel should explore this character and give her a bigger part in their upcoming movies.

Loki

Our favourite trickster is dead. Period. However, time-heist Loki has stolen the Tesseract and disappeared. Marvel confirmed that this way he created an alternative timeline and that is why Loki is able to get his own Disney+ series, which will explore his new mischief in a new created timeline.

Phase 3 is now closed, but this does not mean that we will never see or hear of our beloved superheroes ever again. Phase 4 is right behind the corner. Marvel Studios is the most secretive place right after the Vatican, but we do know already of some movies that are confirmed.

Phase 4

The second solo Spider-Man will be the last movie of Phase 3. In Spider-Man Far From Home we will follow Peter and his friends in Europe where he still has to find his place in a post-snap world and work for Nick Fury. As far as it is possible to tell, all of Peter’s friends have been gone for five years as he was, and they now have to finish high school. We also know that this movie will introduce us to the Multiverse, which brings new possibilities for interesting characters and new worlds.

Before Endgame, Marvel announced that a Black Widow solo movie is finally in pre-production. Scarlett Johansson will become once more Natasha and she will be the first actor of the MCU who will co-produce a movie. Now we also know, that this movie will be a prequel and maybe we will finally see how she became the Black Widow. The question I want an answer to is, what the hell has happened in Budapest? How did she and Clint became friends?

Another movie we know is in pre-production, but was delayed because of James Gunn being fired and then rehired, is Guardians of the Galaxy 3, in which Thor will be a part of. Starlord and his friends are looking for Gamora from 2014 and are up for another crazy adventure. Being a part of Endgame, I was hoping for them to stay longer on Earth, especially because Peter is human, but maybe another time.

Every actor who joins the MCU signs a contract for three solo movies. So, we wait for Doctor Strange to drag us back into his world in the sequel while Captain Marvel will also come back for a sequel. We will also all scream “Wakanda Forever” in Black Panther 2. Maybe Bucky has returned to Wakanda and will help Okoye, Shuri, and T’Challa with their upcoming problem. We also can look forward to see Scott and Hope back in action in Ant-Man 3.

To the already established heroes we get introduced to some new as well. Shang-Chi and The Eternals are already announced and will be the first to take us with them into the multiverse.

Now that FOX is part of Disney it means that the rights for some characters are back with Marvel. There are rumours that the Fantastic Four and the X-Men could be rebooted once more to become part of the MCU. Fans do hope to see an A-Force movie, after that short but important scene in which all female heroes are seen fighting together.

The possibilities are endless, and the comics have so many stories which can be adapted for the big screen.Then, there is always the possibility of exploring a different timeline, because we actually have two now!

What are you excited to see the MCU? Tell us in the comments below!

The post The Future of The MCU appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Avengers: Endgame will premiere in just a few months, and people all over the world, myself included, are being confronted with the fact that this will be the last time that all the Avengers will be together on the big screen. With this highly anticipated release, the journeys of each hero may have been forgotten over the many years that Marvel has been producing films. So, for anyone who needs a refresher on what’s going on in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, here’s a week-by-week movie watching schedule to prepare for Endgame!

Week 1: January 27 to February 2

Iron Man (2008): This is the movie that kicked off the past decade of Marvel movies. It is essentially Tony Stark’s origin story as Iron Man, and its success is was what allowed Marvel to make so many other movies.

Week 2: February 3 to February 9

The Incredible Hulk (2008): The Incredible Hulk was released the same year as Iron Man, and it gave Marvel fans a cinematic adaptation of how Bruce Banner became the Hulk.

Iron Man 2 (2010): This is the second instalment in the Iron Man franchise and in addition to continuing Tony Stark’s story, this movie introduces the character Black Widow, who is also featured in Marvel’s The Avengers.

Week 3: February 10 to February 16

Thor (2011): We were introduced to Thor, his brother Loki, and the realm of Asgard, which becomes essential to fully understanding the events that take place in the first Avengers movie. Thor also briefly introduces the character Hawkeye, who makes more appearances in later movies.

Captain America: The First Avenger (2011): Captain America’s origin story begins during World War II and features a weapon that becomes the subject of dispute in the first Avengers movie and other future movies.

Week 4: February 17 to February 23

Marvel’s The Avengers (2012): This was the first movie in recent years where heroes from different branches of the Marvel Universe finally came together to defeat a villain. This was a turning point for the MCU because of its immense success, and it continues to be a fan favourite.

Week 5: February 24 to March 2

Iron Man 3 (2013): Tony Stark’s story continues and it is the audience’s first look at the world after the events that took place in The Avengers.

Thor: The Dark World (2013): Just like Iron Man 3, the second instalment in the Thor franchise serves to offer another glimpse at the world post-Avengers.

Week 6: March 3 to March 9

Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014): Th second Captain America movie is the first of all the previous Marvel movies that deals with espionage and the inner workings of the government. The movie also features Black Widow, and it introduces a new hero and a new villain that both make many appearances in future movies.

Guardians of the Galaxy (2014): Before the release of this movie, the Guardians of the Galaxy were a relatively unknown group of Marvel heroes whose adventures take place on many other planets. This movie greatly expanded the Marvel Cinematic Universe by bringing it deep into space and introduces many new characters.

Week 7: March 10 to March 16

Captain Marvel will be released on March 8th so this will disrupt the order of the other movies. It will most likely be out of theatres by the time Endgame premieres, and it will definitely not be available on DVD or digital by that time. I would recommend to see it while it’s out, maybe even a few times this week!

Week 8: March 17 to March 23

Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015): Age of Ultron is the sequel to Marvel’s The Avengers, and while it does still feature the original six heroes, the team has a few new members. In this movie, the Avengers’ actions have major consequences that will continue to hinder them in the future.

Week 9: March 24 to March 30

Ant-Man (2015): We are introduced to a new hero: Ant-Man. Even though its release was sandwiched between an Avengers movie and Captain America movie, Ant-Man shouldn’t be skipped and it is necessary in understanding events that take place in later movies.

Captain America: Civil War (2016): Even though this is technically a Captain America movie, it features almost all of the Avengers. In this movie, the consequences of the events from Avengers: Age of Ultron are finally faced, and the Avengers are pitted against each other.

Doctor Strange (2016): This is the origin story of Doctor Strange, who becomes the sorcerer superhero of Marvel, and it also introduces the idea of multiple dimensions and a dangerous weapon that is seen again in future movies.

Week 10: March 31 to April 6

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017): The second instalment of the Guardians franchise sees the Guardians, just like Avengers: Age of Ultron, gain new members. If a Marvel movie hasn’t made you cry yet, the ending of this movie probably will.

Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017): After five Spider-Man movies being made by a different production company, Marvel finally secured the rights to one of their best and most well-known heroes. Because the Spider-Man origin story is common knowledge for most people, this movie doesn’t waste any time in getting to the action.

Week 11: April 7 to April 13

Thor: Ragnarok (2017): While this is the third instalment, it is the first Thor movie that fully embraces the ridiculousness of Thor’s colourful universe, and it does so in a very entertaining and hilarious way. This movie also leads directly into the upcoming Avengers: Infinity War.

Black Panther (2018): The first Black Panther movie in the MCU greatly expanded the cast of heroes featured in Marvel movies and introduced Wakanda, which is an important location in Infinity War.

Week 12: April 14 to April 20

Avengers: Infinity War (2018): Infinity War marked a complete turning point in the MCU. The Avengers face off against a villain that has been hinted at in many previous movies, and audiences were left with a huge cliffhanger that will (hopefully) be resolved in Endgame.

Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018): The second Ant-Man introduced us to the Wasp. Like the first Ant-Man, this movie was released in between two major premieres, but does connect Infinity War and Endgame.

Week 13: April 21 to April 26 (Avengers: Endgame premier date)

This week gives the option of looking over fan theories and re-watching trailers, but if you want to see Endgame with only the knowledge that you have from the previous movies, then this can just be a week of mental preparation!

What’s your favourite Marvel movie? Are you excited for Avengers: Endgame? Tell us in the comments below!

The post Marathon The Marvel Movies Before ‘Avengers: Endgame’ appeared first on The Nerd Daily.