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After the conclusion of Nickelodeon's groundbreaking animated series, 'AVATAR: THE LAST AIRBENDER,' a new cult classic was born, and along with it came its very own cult following. Together, fans worldwide watched as a twelve-year-old boy was unleashed from a 100-year slumber by a brother and a sister and was subsequently taken on the adventure of a lifetime. Along the way, they allied with the forces of good, battled the forces of evil, and picked up some of the most unlikely of friends, all on a quest to end the famed Hundred Year War. In their victory, they transformed into legend, their story into history, and from that adoration came Nickelodeon's 'THE LEGEND OF KORRA.' The Legend of Korra Season 1 poster The Legend of Korra takes place 70 years after the events of the original series, at a time when an era of peace has been ushered into the world. In this tale, Aang's time as the Avatar has ended with his spirit transforming itself into a little girl named Korra, from the Southern Water Tribe. Korra is shown to be vastly different from her predecessor, headstrong and temperamental, while sharing some of his other qualities, like bravery and empathy. Since seven decades have passed since the Hundred Year War, Korra is luckily not left to pick up the broken pieces of the old world; instead, she must navigate her path as the avatar in a technologically and socially changed society. In the original Avatar series, there were several overreaching themes, such as genocide, imperialism, trauma, and governmental corruption, to name a few. However, in its sequel, themes of populism, religion, anarchism, and fascism were personified within each season through the arrival of a different antagonistic character. The Legend of Korra Season 1-4 antagonists. While both shows addressed mature themes to their audiences, The Legend of Korra can be noted to possess a distinctively specific mature atmosphere that submerges its viewers into a more adult-led world. One can argue that this is due to the older set of protagonist characters we follow along with, while others can cite how character actions, and especially their ultimate fates, are showcased within the show. With this framework in mind, there is no denying that The Legend of Korra gave an original new take on the world of Avatar while remaining true to elements from the original series, and although it was received with mixed reviews, its impact on the franchise is everlasting. It is here, in this space, that the possibility of a live-action adaptation can thrive. Throughout our time with Avatar Korra, we witnessed her experience many trials and tribulations that tested her wit, strength, faith, and resilience. Korra showcased to the world how even the most powerful of people could use a helping hand from the ones we love, and how this is not something one should be ashamed of. In her personal life, Korra faced the friend zone, heartbreak, and, in the end, epic love, which is likely how one would expect the story of a 17-year-old girl to go. Asami and Korra endgame Korra's journey served as a perfect catalyst to hold a coming-of-age story alongside her duties as the Avatar. These topics of the forces of good and evil and love and heartbreak are exactly why The Legend of Korra would make for an astounding live-action young adult series. Audiences around the world would be allowed to resonate with Korra on a deeper level should a talented writer be allowed to enhance and improve upon the shortcomings left by the animated series. A noted misstep in the production process for The Legend of Korra was the initial lack of cohesion in the overall story. For seasons 1 and 2, Nickelodeon had only greenlit the show on a season-to-season basis, leaving creators unsure if they would receive a renewal, while with seasons 3 and 4, both were renewed simultaneously, allowing for a more cohesive end to the series. This differs from the Avatar: The Last Airbender animated series, where the entire show received its green light from its initial onset, allowing the creators to create a cohesive story. Additionally, unlike Avatar: The Last Airbender 's average of 20-episode-long seasons, The Legend of Korra had an average of 12 -14 episodes per season. With a previously established shortened length, the live-action show creators have the opportunity to fit The Legend of Korra within an 8-10 episode season length without omitting and rearranging major plot details from the original show. As it stands, Netflix has created a live-action Avatar: The Last Airbender series that received masses of mixed reviews, most distinctly negative. However, given its record-breaking viewership, the streaming giant has officially renewed the show for seasons 2 and 3, allowing the creators to bring to life the entire original animated series. As for The Legend of Korra , despite interest shown by Netflix's Avatar: The Last Airbender executive producer Jabbar Raisani to bring Korra into live-action, Netflix does not currently have the rights to adapt the series as the rights are currently held by Paramount. Netflix's Avatar: The Last Airbender Live-Action series poster Would a live-action Legend of Korra series work? It would seem so. However, to properly adapt Korra's journey as the avatar, the right writer and creators should be attached to the series. Who that may be is a question for another day. Follow @DiscussAvatar and @NexusPointNews for all the latest news and coverage on the Avatar Universe.

" If you don't trust me, trust my X-Men ." WARNING : This review contains spoilers  for X-Men ‘97: Season 1, Episode 9! In the wake of Magneto's worldwide electromagnetic pulse , the X-Men's war against Bastion has only arrived at a momentary lull. With the return of Charles Xavier, the X-Men reckon with the lie surrounding his faked death, which their old professor attempts to justify in classic Charles Xavier fashion, claiming the favoring of their free will outside his influence. So why has he made his return now? To preach to them after his timely departure spared him the fallout of Genosha, and act as their righteous savior? Charles Xavier everyone, the immortal hypocrite upon his infallible soapbox. The X-Men are made whole again (or whole-er?) with the awakening of Rogue, who once again finds herself in a world that is still missing her love, Gambit. In a one-on-one conversation with the old professor, she calls him out on his inability to see the X-Men as people with entire lives, and not students that need to reprimanded. Storm and Jean Grey also have a heartfelt reunion, and Forge and Beast nerd out when the former finally claims his rightful spot on the team as well. With thousands dead, worldwide infrastructure still down, and the planet's electromagnetic field dying, the X-Men deduce that action against Magneto is crucial. Although, the Master of Magnetism approaches the X-Men first in a sea of aurora borealis, shadowed by a floating island in which he intends to make a new mutant state—a new Genosha, but one not shackled to the dying planet. Instead freely existing in space. In the wake of surviving yet another genocide, Magneto has chosen to forsaken the dying planet entirely, understanding he is condemning the billions left to their demise. Xavier's dream is dead, he proclaims. It's important to showcase the nuance surrounding Magneto's rage and truly acknowledge the conditions that crafted him. Magneto is in pain . He's reeling from witnessing thousands die on Genosha and being unable to save them. He's reeling from understanding that the oppression of the minority group that he belongs to is caught in a constant cycle. He's reeling from holding a boy in his arms and watching him die. Weaker men fall. Stronger men stand. Magneto's revenge only exists because of a world that has done little to nothing in the face of mutant oppression. This man simply does not exist otherwise. To rebuke Magneto, to diminish him to a supremacist or a tyrant or a madman is to be utterly disingenuous. It's to not see the patchwork of conditions that forces someone like Magneto to see that they have no other option for survival. When we perceive resistance in the face of oppression—in the face of blatant genocide like we are seeing happening right now in Gaza, we must keep that in mind. People are not created in vacuums. We are victims of our environment, our perception, and our love for our communities. We have to recognize the factors that make us who we are, and fight against that which strips of us our facilities to imagine a world without pain and loss. Pain breeds rage. Magneto's speech is enough to sway X-Men veteran Rogue and X-Men newcomer Roberto to join his side. Rogue had also witnessed the genocide in Genosha firsthand, and Roberto was handed over to the Prime Sentinels by his mother. Who can blame them? Comic readers will note the parallel of Rogue's ascension to Magneto's side with that of X-Men veteran Colossus, in the comic crossover Fatal Attractions . While Rogue was spurred by the murder of her lover and surviving Genosha, Colossus was spurred by the death of his younger sister, Illyana, at the hand of the mutant-killing Legacy Virus. There's been enough talk—it's time for the X-Men to get to work. Gold Team consisting of Storm, Jean Grey, Cable, Morph, Forge, and Beast are sent to neutralize Bastion and his sentinels. Meanwhile, the Blue Team consisting of Cyclops, Wolverine, Jubilee, Nightcrawler, and Xavier travel to space to apprehend Magneto. (Although, why nobody realized that sending Logan, a man with metal lining his bones after the Master of Magnetism was a terrible idea is beyond me. More on that later.) The X-Men have noticeably ditched their '90s attire to sport their classic looks, which doesn't have an explicit explanation for within the narrative. Not that I'm complaining, more comic media should allow their heroes to stunt in different attire purely because why not. Jean's green dress, gaudy mask, and dishwasher gloves don't have to be earned! Personally, my belief is that they saw Ororo rocking different threads and all felt compelled to follow in the footsteps of the queen. Although, I do wonder why we got no moment explicitly outlining why Roberto even suited up in the first place. There's the beginning of the hero's journey for him, coming to terms with his mutant status and his disapproving mother, but here it falls flat and receives no attention to cinch that plot thread. Where is the call to action for him? Roberto joining Magneto is an interesting take on their Headmaster and student relationship (see 1983's The New Mutants! ), but otherwise, this character continues to be fumbled visually and narratively. Gold Team fractures early on, with Forge and Ororo staying in the sky to draw out the sentinels so the rest of the team can continue on land. There are personal gripes to be had about taking Ororo away from the meat of the conflict, again , and hand-waving this with a flashy demonstration (that's even shorter than the ones we've gotten before). However, we are given are heartfelt moment between the X-Men's two strongest members before her departure which I appreciate. " Make them mind your weather, sister. " " And them weather your mind ." Morph continues to fulfill their weekly cameo quota, this time morphing into the Incredible Hulk. Jean Grey takes the fight to Sinister head-on, displaying the might of a world-class telekinetic. Again the animation delivers on this front—it's delicious, riveting, and filling in a way that the live-action movies routinely failed to be. The tides turn however when we see the members downed one by one. Sinister manipulates Cable to turn on his mother's genetic sister, and though Jean attempts to reach out, Cable's telekinetic might seemingly overwhelms her. Simultaneously in Magneto's new mutant state, Blue Team clashes with Magneto and their former teammates, Rogue and Roberto. (With the clashing between Roberto and Jubilee, one can only hope and pray that this means a breakup is on the horizon!) Xavier and Magneto of course do their classic "This isn't you!" retort in a different flavor, and the Master of Magnetism says what we're all thinking when he tells Xavier to "shut up!" Blue Team is seemingly more successful when Wolverine gets Magneto's helmet off, which would allow Xavier to get into his mind and force him to fix the damage done to the Earth. The sh*t hits the fan when Jean telepathically links with Scott during her fight with Cable. She tells him she loves him before the link breaks. (Is she dead? Maybe? Probably? As Rogue said earlier in the episode, "Jean? Ha! Been there, done that".) This causes Scott to blast his old professor as he believes the Gold Team needs more time, which in turn allows Magneto to regain the upper hand. The episode ends promptly when Wolverine impales Magneto with his claws, though only a fool would believe the omega-level mutant would go down that easily. Remember what I said about a man with metal bones versus a man who can control metal? Magneto flips over the chess board when he uses his power to painfully extract the adamantium from Wolverine's body in a glorious display that does justice to the comic moment it mirrors. (Also from Fatal Attractions! ) Has the X-Men's boy Scott truly gone rogue ? Is Wolverine dead? Is Jean? Will Roberto and Jubilee finally break up? Will Storm finally have a central role in the narrative? How will Professor Xavier patronize us next? Find out next week in the season finale of X-Men '97!

“Magneto was right.” WARNING : This review contains spoilers  for X-Men ‘97: Season 1, Episode 8! The three-part finale of the first season of the widely-lauded X’Men ‘97 began this week and it pulls no punches. After last week’s action-packed episode sprinkled with bombshells like the transformation of Boliver Trask into a Prime Sentinel and the survival of Magneto, “Tolerance is Extinction - Part 1” winds together several threads to prepare the audience for this season’s finale showdown. Are you ready? Last week’s episode saw the return of Scott Summers and Madelyne Pryor’s time-traveling son, Cable, who has returned to help the X-Men defeat the new threat that is Prime Sentinels. The X-Men learn that in Cable’s future, Bastion replaced humanity with Prime Sentinels, hybrids created with the Techno-Organic virus. (His future recap paves the way for cameos of future versions of X-Men veterans: Polaris and Rachel Summers!) This is the same virus that Sinister infected Cable with in Episode 3 of this season. Our favorite blue devil, Nightcrawler, has moved in with the X-Men following Gambit’s death and we’re all better for it. While caring for Rogue who is still recuperating from the last episode, he shares the importance of family of your own volition with Jean, who continues to struggle with her emotions being mixed with her clone, Madelyne Pryor, who died during the Genoshan massacre. “ Blood is blood. Family is a choice. ” While Wolverine, Nightcrawler, Beast, and Morph stay in the mansion to care for Rogue, the Grey-Summers family consisting of Jean, Cyclops, and Cable travel to Bastion’s childhood home. There, they learn his origin, born from a father infected by Nimrod, creating something new that is an amalgamation of “past, present, and future”, and descended from every Sentinel. This confirms Bastion as a threat we have never seen before. One has to appreciate the parallels held between the bond of Jean and Cable, and Bastion and his mother—both sons infected with unfathomable technology and reaffirmed by motherly love. As Bastion moves his final chess piece, he is supported by two familiar faces: Dr. Doom and Baron Zemo. Sure, Bastion is a physically threatening villain, but it’s his methodology that makes him chillingly familiar. When he clarifies the purpose of Genosha, how can one ignore the similarity to the genocide happening in Gaza? “ Overload their bandwidth, too much to compute. Because when your skin’s not in the game, apathy is your answer. ” And when he strokes out the motivation behind the Prime Sentinel program, how can one ignore the similarity to the uprising of white supremacy? Operation Zero Tolerance utilizes bigoted basement dwellers, “average Joes”, in the face of fears of mutant replacement. This echoes the far-right replacement theory that claims that non-white immigrants are working to replace white citizens. Can anyone else hear the white supremacist “You will not replace us” chant from Charlottesville ringing in the background? With the pieces in play, Bastion makes his move. Both teams, at the X-Mansion and in the field, are attacked by Prime Sentinels, leading to the revelation that Beast’s friend, Trish Tilby, has also been infected. The Grey-Summers family leads an impressive getaway, while Wolverine and Nightcrawler fight to protect Rogue with a synergy that perfectly encapsulates the beauty of their friendship. Not enough can be said about the riveting animation, particularly when Wolverine is transported through the Brimstone Dimension when Nightcrawler BAMFs . Simultaneously, Roberto and Jubilee still manage to carve away screentime that would be better spent elsewhere. While the X-Men are doing X-Men things, the two are living lavishly via the Da Costa fortune, while Roberto’s mother continues to be ignorant about her son’s mutant status. Roberto continues to be quite unlike his equal parts arrogant and melodramatic comic book self, muted and suppressed, and passive to the world around him (also, is he getting lighter? ). However, Roberto finally does something in this episode when he saves Jubilee and expresses his ability on the fly. In the end, though, the Prime Sentinels apprehend the two boring and unconvincing lovers when his mother sides with them over her son at a fundraiser held for Genosha—perfectly encapsulating the flimsy standing of a performative activist. Although fans have theorized for weeks that the stone-cold Valerie Cooper is Mystique, this week’s episode seems to snuff out that rumor. We discover that she is working with the coalition between Bastion and Sinister, who still have an imprisoned Magneto that she eventually frees. The zoom-in on the tattooed serial number on Magneto’s wrist is not just a callback to his past, persecuted by Nazis because of his Jewish heritage during World War II—but a reminder of how much of an echo mutant oppression in the present is, ringing a similar song for this survivor. It is Valerie Cooper’s speech to Bastion after freeing Magneto that stands out as one of this episode’s most poignant aspects. The scariest thing about Genosha wasn’t the death or the chaos, no, nobody was shocked at mutant pain on widescale—it was that at the end of the day: Magneto was right. And he saves the day when he sends out a global EMP that deactivates all the Prime Sentinels, simultaneously taking down humanity’s infrastructure. “ Enough ,” he proclaims as we’re graced with another set of cameos in the form of Spider-Man ( confirmed as the Peter Parker from the 1994 TV series! ), Silver Sentinel, and Omega Red. However, this has likely only bought the mutants time. This episode not only saw the revelation that Charles Xavier is still alive, selfishly living a grandeur life away from the mutant struggle with the Shi’ar, but also his late arrival at the very end. But in the face of the Genoshan massacre, Rogue choosing to kill Trask, along with Magneto retracing his old paths—is there room for Xavier’s dream? We can only find out how the X-Men receive their old professor in next week’s episode. Rating : 4.5/5

Our favorite Greek Mythology show seems to be getting a new addition, and what some might say changes overall. We now know who is set to be the new second-season showrunner for the hit series Percy Jackson and The Olympians. Craig Silverstein has reportedly joined season two alongside Jonathan E. Steinberg & Dan Shotz. Since the name might not sound familiar to most, I want to note that Silverstein previously wrote episode eight of the first season of Percy Jackson and The Olympians. Silverstein also has showrunner credits on the popular CW show Nikita and the AMC series Turn: Washingtonʼs Spies. Update from the original post : We have learned that Craig Silverstein has joined the team as co-showrunner alongside Jonathan E. Steinberg & Dan Shotz. Percy Jackson & The Olympians Season 2 has no release date currently. This story is developing.

Marvel/Disney+ series Wonder Man is a project we know very little about, so let's start with what we know about the series. Destin Daniel Cretton, Shang-Chi & The Legends of the Ten Rings director, serves as a director for Wonder Man, and Andrew Guest is the showrunner. Both Cretton and Guest also serve as the creators of the series. Additionally, James Ponsoldt and Stella Meghie are set to direct some episodes, and Brett Pawlak, who has worked on American Born Chinese with Cretton, is the director of photography. The series will star Yahya Abdul-Mateen II as Simon Williams aka the titular character Wonder Man, Demetrius Grosse as Eric Williams aka the Grim Reaper, and Lauren Glazier in a TBA role. Ben Kingsley (Shang-Chi & The Legend of the Ten Rings, Iron Man 3) is reportedly reprising his role as Trevor Slattery in Wonder Man as well. Although filming for Wonder Man began in April 2023, it had to stop due to the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. Back in January, several leaked set pictures and videos indicated that production resumed, and I have heard that they have wrapped filming in March. The release date for the series is still unknown. There is no official announcement or logo for the series. When it comes to Marvel Studios productions, it's typical for plot details and castings to leak, but Wonder Man seems to be an exception to this trend. Little is known about the storyline beyond the fact that Simon Williams is portrayed as an actor and that the Grim Reaper is featured prominently. I also have heard the series would consist of 8 episodes, however, this was pre-strikes and the strikes may have prompted changes, akin to what happened with Daredevil: Born Again. I have recently uncovered some more information about the series. One crew member has listed the director Tiffany Johnson alongside Destin Daniel Cretton and Stella Meghie. Johnson has directed episode four of Natasha Lyonne's Poker Face and multiple episodes of Dear White People. It seems like Johnson will be directing at least one episode of Wonder Man. Another thing I have uncovered was the production designers for the series. Cindy Chao and Michele Yu serve as the production designers, per a crew member's resume. This is not the first time the Emmy nominated production duo has worked with Destin Daniel Cretton. Both Chao and Yu served as production designers on the Disney+ series American Born Chinese. I believe it will be a while until we get an official update on Marvel Studiosʼ Wonder Man. The safest bet would be the D23 event this August, and it is very likely we could get a teaser for the series then. Until then, follow Nexus Point News for further updates.

Marvel has begun to unveil some of its new promotional material regarding the upcoming movie, Captain America: Brave New World . From the looks of it, Captain America: Brave New World looks to be a promising adventure for all. Here is some of the promotional material we have uncovered in anticipation of the upcoming Marvel film. 1. Captain America promotional artwork for Captain America: Brave New World 2 . Falcon promotional artwork for Captain America: Brave New World 3. Captain America & Falcon promotional artwork for Captain America: Brave New World 4. Anthony Mackie as Captain America for Captain America: Brave New World 5 . Danny Ramirez as Falcon for Captain America: Brave New World 6. Sam Wilson as Captain America promotional artwork for Captain America: Brave New World 7. Captain America: Brave New World promotional artwork As shown above, the new promotional material features Anthony Mackie and Danny Ramirez as Captain America and Falcon for the upcoming Marvel film Captain America: Brave New World. Harrison Ford, who replaced William Hurtʼs Thaddeus Ross after the actorʼs passing, is also expected to have a major role in this film as Red Hulk. Carl Lumbly is expected to reprise his role as Isaiah Bradley alongside Seth Rollins who is expected to debut in the Marvel Cinematic Universe in an undisclosed role. Additionally, Captain America: Brave New World is scheduled to undergo major reshoots soon. Captain America: Brave New World will be released in theaters on February 14th, 2025.

As the release date of DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE approaches, Marvel unveils more merch. Ahead of Osaka Comic-Con 2024, Marvel Japan announced they would release brand new DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE merch. The designs on these new merchandise feature Deadpool (Ryan Reynolds) and Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) all suited up. These designs cleverly incorporate nods to popular Avengers characters and Disney princess movies. While we still don't have all the images for the new merch, we are happy to share some of them with you. 1 - Deadpool and Wolverine featured on Osaka Comic-Con ticket holder cards 2 - Several nods to Avengers, and Disney princesses 3 - New look at Dogpool, Kidpool, Babypool, Zombiepool, Deadpool and Wolverine 4 - Deadpool as Avengers 5 - Deadpool and Wolverince stands 6 - Deadpool, aka the merc with a mouth, and Wolverine (Holy Snikt!) as Best Bubs 7 - "Aim for the middle and you'll never miss" 8 - DP + WOLV 9 - Wolverine (with the cowl) and Deadpool 10 - Several different designs featuring Deadpool, Wolverine and Deadpool variants (Part 1) 11 - Several different designs featuring Deadpool, Wolverine and Deadpool variants (Part 2) 12 - Several different designs featuring Deadpool, Wolverine and Deadpool variants (Part 3) 13 - Several different designs featuring Deadpool, Wolverine and Deadpool variants (Part 4) © Marvel 14 - Deadpool as the face of Disney Plus As seen above, the latest merchandise reveals a new look at Deadpool and Wolverine. Alongside the iconic duo, the merchandise confirms Deadpool variants like Babypool, Kidpool, and Zombiepool/Headpool are set to make appearances.This exciting glimpse into Deadpool & Wolverine is a treat for fans, with the film's release still three months away. The anticipation continues to build as each new detail adds to the excitement surrounding this highly anticipated cinematic event. Deadpool & Wolverine starring Ryan Reynolds, Hugh Jackman, Emma Corrin, and Matthew Macfadyen will be officially released in theaters on July 26.

Game of Thrones: Legends Mobile Game Ad Photo According to Redanian Intelligence , video game company Nexon is currently working on an MMORPG (massively multiplayer online role-playing game) set in the world of Game of Thrones. The plot is reportedly set sometime during Season 4 or 5 within the North as both Winterfell and the Wall are to be featured. For this, Roose Bolton is Warden of the North after betraying King Robb Stark at the Red Wedding and being awarded the lands by Lord Tywin Lannister. Other kingdoms may be featured as well, but at this time only the North has been confirmed. The Wall in HBO's Game of Thrones Season 1 (2011) The story has a campaign, but it is online. Players have the opportunity to choose between a new male or female protagonist whose mission will be to journey around to resolve different issues to complete the campaign. The protagonist who is not chosen will reportedly still be involved in the game. Cast members of Game of Thrones are unexpected to make a return to voice their respective characters, with new actors likely to take the helm. As for a release date, Intelligence cites a set time that is currently unknown due to the nature of the time video game development requires. Follow westerosies and Nexus Point News for more information as the story develops .

After several delays due to the strikes in the entertainment industry, we are finally at the stage to get more information on upcoming Marvel Studios productions. AVENGERS 5 , FKA AVENGERS KANG DYNASTY, Filming Date and Location AVENGERS 5 , formerly known as AVENGERS: KANG DYNASTY , was first announced at San Diego Comic-Con on July 24, 2022. The movie was initially slated for a May 2, 2025 release, however, it got pushed to May 1, 2026, due to SAG-AFTRA and WGA strikes. The movie then dropped the KANG DYNASTY from its title after the Kang actor Jonathan Majors got dropped by Marvel Studios because of his two misdemeanor charges of assault and harassment. It is currently unclear whether Marvel Studios will keep Kang as the villain of the new installment of the AVENGERS franchise. Among all this uncertainty, one thing we are happy to be the first to report about AVENGERS 5 is that a new listing has included the filming date and location for the movie. According to this listing, AVENGERS 5 will begin filming in January 2025, in the United Kingdom. It seems like Marvel Studios is moving most of its productions to the United Kingdom. ARMOR WARS Filming Date and Location ARMOR WARS , starring Don Cheadle as the War Machine, is a Marvel Studios production that was in development hell for, well, forever. Initially announced by Kevin Feige during Disney's Investor Day in 2020, the project's journey took an unexpected turn. It was revealed in 2022 that ARMOR WARS was undergoing a significant transformation from its original conception as a Disney+ series into a full-fledged feature film. This transition sparked a wave of discussions among fans and industry insiders, eagerly anticipating additional updates on the project's progress and eventual debut. Some fans even began speculating that the project had been canceled. It seems like the project is still moving forward. Another listing has unveiled the filming locations and dates for the movie. As per this listing, ARMOR WARS is set to begin filming in the United Kingdom and Atlanta in January 2025, coinciding with the current filming schedule of AVENGERS 5 . It raises the possibility that Marvel Studios might be planning to shoot both productions simultaneously. If they opt for similar settings, it could lead to cost savings. There's also the possibility that these dates could change, which wouldn't be unprecedented for either of these movies. SHANG-CHI AND THE LEGENDS OF THE TEN RINGS Filming Date and Location SHANG-CHI AND THE LEGENDS OF THE TEN RINGS was a success for Marvel Studios as it was perceived well by both audiences and critics. Anticipation for a sequel has been palpable among fans, particularly given the positive reception of the first film. Yet, with director Destin Daniel Cretton working on the upcoming Marvel/Disney+ series WONDER MAN , which wrapped filming recently as far as I am aware, talks of a sequel appeared to be on hold. However, a recent interview with Simu Liu (Shang-Chi) has revealed that a sequel to SHANG-CHI is indeed in development, with Destin Cretton still attached as director, as reported by ComicBook : You know Destin is such a special filmmaker and we're very happy to have him on the sequel. So, he'll be working on that and we're really excited to see what he comes up with. I think he's going to do a brilliant job. Adding to this recent news, another listing has revealed SHANG-CHI AND THE LEGENDS OF THE TEN RINGS sequel is set to begin filming in March 2025, in the United Kingdom. After enduring numerous delays, it's a relief to see these highly anticipated projects finally progressing into production. There's always a chance that these dates may undergo further changes, and unfortunately, it wouldn't be unprecedented. Nevertheless, let's hope that Marvel Studios can stick to their current schedule and deliver on the excitement they've generated among fans. This story is still developing...

Enter Sunspot The inclusion of Sunspot in Marvel Animation’s X-Men ‘97  has drawn up a lot of buzz around the powerful solar-based mutant that is Roberto Da Costa. Despite being a longtime mutant who has gone on to lead the Avengers, his history of depictions has been full of inconsistencies. Let’s delve into the historic and continual whitewashing of Marvel’s first Black male mutant. Roberto Da Costa is an Afro-Brazilian from a wealthy family who joins the New Mutants after being saved from anti-mutant mercenaries. His mutation allows him to absorb solar radiation, turning him all black as he converts it into super strength, energy blasts, and flight. He’s a suave ladies' man, best friends with Cannonball, infectiously cool when he wants to be, but melodramatic when he needs to be. What’s not to love? Since graduating from New Mutant status, Roberto has gone on to join Cable’s X-Force , was a part of the Hellfire Club (after his father), was an Avenger under Jonathan Hickman, owned his business empire, funded X-Corp , and most recently just ended his tenure on the mutant space nation of Arakko, working alongside the mutant goddess, Storm, in Al Ewing’s X-Men: Red. Oh! He’s also been in a couple of X-Men movies when Fox was doing those. He first appeared in X-Men: Days of Future Past  (2014) in a very minor role, played by the late Adan Canto. In 2020, he appeared in the critically panned The New Mutants , played by Henry Zaga. Should I address the elephant in the room? Unpacking Sunspot’s Racist History How the @#$%  does Roberto Da Costa go from a dark-skinned boy with a round nose and curly hair, to very  light-skinned, straight-haired, and narrow-nosed? The erasure of Sunspot’s Blackness can be traced to the tail end of the 90’s. In the limited series, New Mutants: Truth or Death  (1997), he’s drawn a couple of shades lighter than his usual dark complexion. It gets even worse in Volume 2 of New Mutants (2009) when he’s genuinely just drawn white—so white you wonder if it’s the same character, and what research (or rather the lack thereof) the artists did before depicting him. This would continue for many years. Since then, Sunspot’s depiction within comics has been getting… better— if not perfect just yet. This is in part due to fan backlash, calling out whenever Sunspot doesn't match his original intended look. His dark skin still comes and goes though, and notable Afro features (curly hair, fuller nose) are toned down, if not missing entirely. The highs! And the lows... The whitewashing of Sunspot predates Fox’s depictions of him. But why does this continue to happen? Why isn’t the diligent research and care had when handling this Black character? The Bigger Picture To arrive at an answer, we should first revisit what two things spurred me to write this article. First, Sunspot’s inclusion in Marvel Animation’s X-Men ‘97 , a show which has been a welcome surprise (I’m not too big on the ’90s, and let’s just blame Rob Liefeld… More thoughts on the show later). However despite my enjoyment, whenever Roberto Da Costa is on my screen, I squint my eyes and frown—and I’m not just talking about the jacket that comic Roberto wouldn’t be caught dead in. Again, his Afro features have been diminished and his dark skin has been lightened so its ambiguously brown. Last year, when it was reported that he would be voiced by Gui Agustini, a white Brazilian man, fans quickly began to vocalize their justified frustration at Sunspot being whitewashed again . The discussion about diversity in front of and behind the screen led to former X-Men ‘97  head writer and executive producer Beau DeMayo leaving Twitter after back and forth with fans. Also recently, Henry Zaga, who played Sunspot in the weirdly racist and better-to-have-been-forgotten The New Mutants (2020), recently stated   he would like to return as Roberto Da Costa. Comics Explained, a Youtuber, proclaimed his anticipation for this to happen. When others began to note how Zaga isn’t Black like Sunspot is in the comic, he implied that Zaga being Brazilian was enough . Look, I’m not gonna harp on about this guy—not even how weird, corny, and tacky it is for a self-proclaimed “comic historian” to change his profile picture to a panel of a Black character being actively whitewashed. Instead, I want to connect this attitude to comments made by the director of that movie, Josh Boone, in an interview  when he was asked about the criticism his whitewashed casting rightfully obtained. “ I didn’t care so much about the racism I’ve heard about in Brazil, about light-skinned versus dark-skinned. To me, it was I wanted to represent Brazil positively and I wanted to find somebody who seems like he could look like a guy who’s had the silver spoon in his mouth, who has like a really rich dad, and [Henry] just exemplified all these things. ” — Josh Boone Outside Africa, Brazil has the highest percentage  of Black people as a country. Are we to sit here and believe that one: a dark-skinned Brazilian actor couldn’t have been found, and two: that Sunspot’s Blackness is that readily disposable? Zero Black and dark-skinned Brazilian actors could (in his words) “represent Brazil in a positive way” and “look like a guy who’s had the silver spoon in his mouth”? Do we see the racial script being blatantly poured before us? The point I want to arrive at is that the erasure of Sunspot’s blackness isn’t something that just happened and continues to happen in a void. It’s a deliberate choice stemming from systemic anti-Blackness that bleeds into everything. It’s the choice to see the label “Brazilian” and ignore the “Afro” in front of it. It’s the choice to see Blackness as not as important to one’s identity, allowing it to be ignored and sacrificed at the artist’s discretion. And when it comes to Sunspot’s identity, the erasure of his Blackness is especially insulting when you consider his mutant powers emerged when he was the victim of an anti-Black, racist attack. An origin that X-Men '97 has completely omitted (along with his dark-skinned father...), instead replacing it with a coming out allegory (as seen in episode 7). Although, I do suppose it's uncomfortable to incorporate a Black man's pain caused by racism when there's a white voice actor behind the scenes. But does Sunspot's origin even need to be brought up to justify his Blackness? Why do we have to make the case for why a Black character—within a franchise that has few Black characters, within an industry that is the same—should stay Black? Why is this a point that needs to be had and shared over and over? Why are we giving a platform or time to anybody who fixes their lips to say otherwise? To truly stage the conversation surrounding the erasure of Sunspot’s blackness requires prerequisites that a lot of people simply lack. It requires the understanding that anti-Blackness is pervading and prevalent. It requires the understanding that anti-Blackness seeps into all  of our choices as a collective society, conscious and subconscious. It requires the understanding that perhaps we shouldn’t be entirely surprised that non-Black creators don’t have the facilities to properly maneuver while being aware of it, if not around it in some fashion. This entire topic has brought to mind a Toni Morrison quote: “ The function, the very serious function of racism is a distraction. It keeps you from doing your work. It keeps you explaining, over and over again, your reason for being. Somebody says you have no language and you spend twenty years proving that you do. Somebody says your head isn’t shaped properly so you have scientists working on the fact that it is. Somebody says you have no art, so you dredge that up. Somebody says you have no kingdoms, so you dredge that up. None of this is necessary. There will always be one more thing .” The function of saying otherwise, of playing devil’s advocate, of saying “but muh, the comics” is to preoccupy your time. It’s to distract. There are better, more worthwhile, less mind-numbing conversations to be had. The idea that arguing a character’s Blackness is something that can be done in your free time is utter lunacy. These people should be blocked, ignored, and forgotten, just like everything else that refuses to get with the times. As a Black fan of Sunspot, I am relieved to be a part of a fanbase that continuously calls out such a racist practice, yet also saddened at the same time that this collective backlash has become so commonplace. It’s almost framed to appear that we shouldn’t be surprised that an Afro-Latino has his Afro aspect diminished and/or erased again, and again… and again. This article isn’t here to convince you at length why (his) representation matters. The audience that I write to, and frankly the only audience that matters, knows why it’s important for people to see people who look like them on the screen. This isn’t to say a character’s reliability is only skin deep. However, there’s a quality in seeing a character look like you— I mean really look like you —in a society that continually seeks to replace and diminish your identity and has done so for centuries. Especially when said identities are so intertwined with what makes those characters who they are, and why we love them. A Final Note As the X-Men continues to thrust forward as a Civil Rights allegory, it is disheartening at best and antithetical at worst, to see this franchise continue to not handle its characters of color correctly —as the whitewashing of Sunspot truly is only the tip of a much larger iceberg. I suppose moving forward I hope we can get to the point where fans don’t have to relentlessly ask to keep Black characters Black, and dark-skinned characters, dark-skinned—because this issue goes beyond just Roberto Da Costa. Even fellow mutant, Storm, has had printed moments where she isn’t depicted how she should be. I hope that an industry that “prides” itself on diversity and pats itself on the back once a year with one-shots (much more diverse than their standard ongoings, mind you), could do the active work and make sure these “slip-ups” don’t even see print in the first place. Until then, I suppose it falls upon the fans to do that work: when we see good depictions that choose  to represent Sunspot as he is—as he should be—dark-skinned with Afro features, it should be noticed and praised; when we see depictions that choose  to represent him otherwise and treat the visually Black aspect of him as something that can be disregarded or sacrificed, that shouldn’t go unnoticed either. P.S. A Sunspot and Spider-Man (Miles Morales) team-up is way overdue.

(Photo: Courtesy of Marvel Studios) Deadpool & Wolverine will reportedly be adding a new concept to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. What does that mean going forward? Here are our thoughts. (Photo: Courtesy of Marvel Studios) With the highly anticipated Deadpool & Wolverine approaching and the many looming rumors that have been surrounding this film since its debut, there seems to be a new one circulating with an entirely new multiverse concept being introduced that will impact the Marvel Cinematic Universe going forward.  According to Insider DanielRPK (via 'Patreon' & 'X') alluded to a new concept being introduced: In every universe, there’s one specific being, an important figure that if they die or get removed from their universe, that entire universe would begin to collapse and vanish over time . A description that may sound familiar to some. (What if..? Vol. 2, Issue 35) Comic reader's eyes may have been widened given this "New Concept" sounds a lot like the comic definition for a ‘Nexus being’. In the comics, The Watcher defines a Nexus being as "Someone with an immense amount of power to affect the Universal Time Stream. Beings who can alter the future and health of their reality/universe." This specifically aligns with the Marvel Cinematic Universe's new concept. (Photo: Courtesy of Marvel Studios) (Photo: Courtesy of Marvel Studios) In the Marvel Cinematic Universe, we have been introduced to the term ‘Nexus’ a few times, Once in WandaVision during episode 7 titled Breaking the Fourth Wall, a reference during a fake commercial as an antidepressant called Nexus. Possibly alluding to Wanda Maximoff having a connection with or being a nexus being, as she is in the comics. In Loki, we’re given an informational deep dive into the TVA and its rules, and Miss Minutes begins to discuss ‘Nexus Events’. A Nexus Event is what causes the sacred timeline to branch off, they’re events caused by variants breaking off from the path that had been previously set by ‘He Who Remains’ & The TVA.  (Photo: Courtesy of Marvel Studios) In the latest trailer for Deadpool & Wolverine , the TVA agent, Paradox, mentions to Deadpool that Wolverine left his universe to die. This lines up with this new element, perhaps hinting that Wolverine was the "nexus being" of his own universe. Knowing this new concept opens up doors for new theories and possibilities that now could or already have happened within the MCU. Has our anchor hero already died and if so who? Are we actively seeing the causes of that within the main universe and will Deadpool & Wolverine answer that question or leave us with more?

Dune: Part Two has found its way to substantial box office success. Written and directed by Denis Villeneuve, Dune: Part Two picks up right where Dune: Part One leaves off, continuing the story of Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet), adapting the second half of the classic 1965 novel by Frank Herbert. Paul ingratiates himself in the Fremen culture on Arrakis with the help of Chani (Zendaya) and seeks to lead their people to freedom while achieving revenge against the Harkonnens. The film also stars Rebecca Ferguson, Josh Brolin, Austin Butler, Florence Pugh, Dave Bautista, Christopher Walken, Léa Seydoux, Souheila Yacoub, Stellan Skarsgård, Charlotte Rampling, Javier Bardem and others. Total numbers, as reported on April 21, for the sci-fi epic from director Denis Villeneuve put the film at just under $700 million worldwide. Grossing $276 million in North America and $419 million overseas, the film brought its global total to $695 million after eight weeks in theaters. It's safe to assume that by the weekend's end, $700 million worldwide will be locked. It's currently the highest-grossing film of 2024, and the only one to cross the $700 million mark. Reaching these heights is a feat in box office power in a post-COVID theatrical landscape. Only five movies in 2023, eight in 2022, and five in 2021 crossed the $700 million mark worldwide. Denis Villeneuve and the star-studded cast surrounding him have indeed cultivated the potential desert power the Duke Leto Atreides foresaw on the dunes of Arrakis. These numbers come hot off the heels of Dune: Part Two returning to IMAX screens for an extended run in the premium format, starting on April 19. Audiences showed a tremendous desire to see the Timothée Chalamet-led epic on the biggest screens possible, with IMAX previously reporting a record-setting global market share of 22% of the film's global box office back in its second weekend. The sand-swept sequel to 2021's Dune: Part One has had terrific holds in the weeks since its initial March 1 release and is a major step up in revenue from its predecessor's total cume of $433 million. There are several reasons to attribute to the film's resounding success. An A-list ensemble cast, phenomenal word of mouth, interest in premium format screens, and a singular vision from one of the best directors working today, brought to life by an incredible array of cast and crew make this a can't-miss event film. It also certainly doesn't hurt that until April 16, the film was playing exclusively in theaters, unlike Dune: Part One, which had a day-and-date release on HBO Max at the time of its release. With the film released on digital formats on April 16, it'll be interesting to see how it continues to hold at the box office. If this initial weekend's return to IMAX screens is any indication, though, Dune: Part Two can expect the spice to continue to flow. Dune: Part Two is currently playing in theaters and is also available to buy or rent digitally.