‘The Fantastic Four' Director Matt Shakman Reveals the ‘Magical' Comics That Inspired the Film in ‘Small and Large Ways' (EXCLUSIVE)

Before Iron Man, before the Hulk, before Spider-Man, there was the Fantastic Four. The quartet of astronauts transformed into superheroes were Stan Lee and Jack Kirby's first creation for Marvel Comics, launching the sprawling storytelling universe of interconnected characters that has endured for 64 years. Until Disney acquired 20th Century Fox in 2019, however, Reed Richards (a.k.a. Mr. Fantastic), Sue Storm (a.k.a. the Invisible Woman), Johnny Storm (a.k.a. the Human Torch) and Ben Grimm (a.k.a. the Thing), as were unable to join the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
That will finally change in July with the premiere of Marvel Studios' 'The Fantastic Four: First Steps,' starring Pedro Pascal as Reed, Vanessa Kirby as Sue, Joseph Quinn as Johnny and Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Ben. To marshal Marvel's First Family into the MCU, studio chief Kevin Feige tapped veteran director Matt Shakman, who helmed every episode of Marvel's first streaming series, 'WandaVision,' as well as episodes of 'Monarch: Legacy of Monsters,' 'Succession,' 'Game of Thrones,' 'The Great,' 'The Boys,' 'Fargo,' 'The Good Wife' and 'It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia.'
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Beyond his extensive resume, Shakman's biggest qualification for the job is his love for the Fantastic Four comics, as demonstrated in the foreward the filmmaker penned for the new Marvel Premiere Collection release, 'Fantastic Four: Solve Everything' — which Variety is exclusively previewing below.
The volume, which goes on sale June 3, is a streamlined collection of Fantastic Four comics published between 2009 and 2011 (i.e. issues #570–588) written by Jonathan Hickman, with art by Dale Eaglesham, Neil Edwards and Steve Epting, and cover art by Joe Quesada. In his foreward, Shakman singles out Hickman's work — and this particular run of issues — as a major influence on the new 'Fantastic Four' movie. Among several curious allusions to FF storylines and characters, the director specifically cites three of Hickman's inventions — Reed's philanthropic Future Foundation, the multiverse portal the Bridge, and the interdimensional Council of Reeds. How these may (or may not) be incorporated into the movie remains to be seen, but Shakman's love for the comics, and for these characters, is abundantly clear.
Fantastic Four: Solve EverythingForeward By Matt Shakman
I fell in love with the Fantastic Four when I was a kid growing up in Ventura, California. Encountering a family of super heroes that felt so familiar blew my mind: the humor, the heart, the sniping and griping, the messiness. At the same time, I was taken by the optimism and wonder of their world. With their roots in the '60s space race, the F4 have always been about exploration — whether it is to the cosmos or the Negative Zone or deep into the human mind. Reed, Sue, Ben and Johnny may have incredible powers, but they are family first, scientists and explorers second and super heroes only when absolutely necessary.
Every Marvel filmmaker attempts to build on what has come before in publishing while simultaneously reinventing the characters for the current moment. The same is true with comic creators. What Lee and Kirby launched in the '60s changed Marvel forever. Their bold gamble to center a realistic family turned into the biggest hit of the early Silver Age. Every artist and writer since has attempted to build on that legacy while finding something in the characters that made them sparkle anew.
In preparation for Marvel Studios' 'The Fantastic Four: First Steps,' I delved into the 60-plus years of comics history. Marvel's First Family has been continuously cared for by the best and brightest the company had to offer. None shone so bright as Jonathan Hickman. The humor and heart I loved as a kid? It's there and better than ever. The messy family dynamics? Made even more interesting as Val and Franklin take center stage. And that sense of optimism and wonder? I don't think the Fantastic Four have been quite as fantastic as they are in the pages of this book.
As we developed the script for the film, I returned again and again to this epic run — thrilled by brain-bending innovations like the Council of Reeds and riveted by heroic standoffs against the likes of Annihilus. But it was Hickman's deep insight into the specific family dynamics of the Four that affected me the most.
His Reed Richards is part Steve Jobs and part Oppenheimer, always on the edge of saving the world or destroying it. The author runs right at Mister Fantastic's weakness: believing that he can and should do it all on his own. Reed is determined to 'Solve Everything' — but he learns that the cost of solving everything is… everything. Ultimate knowledge risks ultimate sacrifice: the loss of his family.
Sue has come a long way from the 'Invisible Girl' of the early '60s. In these pages, she is part United Nations Secretary General and part Field Marshal, backing up diplomacy with force when necessary. Hickman's Sue may be the most powerful member of the Four — she's the glue that holds the world together while Reed experiments in the lab with things that could destroy it. She brokers deals as the world's finest diplomat, ending up as the Queen of the Sea. In one of my favorite F4 moments, she declares to Namor, 'I am a Queen that bows before no King.' Damn right.
How do these two very different people make up the greatest marriage in comics history? We see, page after page, that the secret is their unique balance of heart and mind. Before Jerry Maguire, these two completed each other.
Sue and Reed are relatable not just as partners, but also as parents. We understand their anxiety, fretting over the destiny of Val and Franklin just as I fret over my 9-year-old daughter's future. I cherish the family intimacy of scenes in the Baxter Building and never doubt that these parents love their children and would do anything to protect their future. I know that Johnny and Ben would do the same.
And we know that, as super heroes, they will fight just as hard to protect our world.
Having absorbed six decades of F4 publishing, many of Hickman's magical moments and unique character dynamics stick with me. And they made it into our film in small and large ways. From Sue as a diplomat to Reed trying to solve everything even at the risk of imperiling his family. Johnny's need to be taken seriously. Ben's gentle nature, forever at odds with his appearance. The Future Foundation. The Bridge. The mystery of children and the anxiety we have as parents about their future.
Hickman is a poet, of both the everyday and the extraordinary. His work beats with a heart as big as Sue Storm's, rendering an emotional journey that culminates in a scene that makes me tear up every time I read it. (I won't ruin it… just wait for 'Uncles.') His writing is thrilling, thought-provoking and tender…and, like the characters he writes about, fantastic.
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New York Post

2 hours ago

• New York Post

Ryan Murphy defends JFK Jr. show as nephew Jack Schlossberg calls it ‘grotesque': ‘It's not fair'

He's on the defensive. Superproducer Ryan Murphy is blasting critics of his upcoming show 'American Love Story,' which is about the '90s it-couple, John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy. 'It's very interesting that people become so inflammatory,' Murphy told Variety in a story published Thursday. Advertisement 12 Paul Kelly and Sarah Pidgeon in costume as JFK Jr. and Carolyn Bessette Kennedy in 'American Love Story.' Instagram/@ryanmurphyproductions 12 John F. Kennedy Jr. with his wife, Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy, circa 1995. Getty Images He was referring to the backlash when he posted a 'first look' photo of actors Paul Kelly and Sarah Pidgeon in costume in the roles last week. Advertisement Critics derided the clothing as being 'completely off' and looking like 'Zara,' and failing to capture the essence of the fashion icons. 'This is OFFENSIVE' one indignant fan posted on Twitter, alongside the photo of Pidgeon in costume. Another critic blasted it as, 'This is so Zara Basic 2015.' 'Her blonde hair is all wrong,' wrote another person. 'She was famous for the varying blonde tones, the highlights and lowlights. It should be warmer. Not platinum. Please try again.' Advertisement 'Doesn't capture the essence of CBK,' another person commented. 'Nope. Accuracy & research in costume design. Even in test photos. I'm shade of blonde…You can't just throw on a modern (cheap) coat and thinks it's giving this,' they concluded, sharing a photo of the real Bessette-Kennedy. 12 First look photos of actors Paul Kelly and Sarah Pidgeon as JFK Jr. and Carolyn Bessette Kennedy. Instagram/@ryanmurphyproductions 12 John F. Kennedy, Jr. gives his wife Carolyn a kiss on the cheek during the annual White House Correspondents dinner May 1, 1999 in Washington, D.C. Getty Images Advertisement Murphy told the outlet that the actors' outfits were not pieces they'll wear on the show. Rather, they were thrown together for lighting and color tests – to get ahead of the paparazzi set photos when the production films in New York City. 'There were comments like, 'I hate that coat, Carolyn would never have worn that,'' Murphy said. 'That was just a coat we threw on for color. People were writing, 'How dare you use the No. 35 Birkin bag? She wore a 40!' Yes, we have a 40 but we just threw on a bag from another costume department because that was the sound stage we were on.' He said he had a 10-person 'style advisory board' to put together Bassette-Kennedy's look. Bessette-Kennedy was famous for her high end fashion. The socialite died at age 33 in a plane crash off the coast of Martha's Vineyard in 1999. JFK Jr., died with her in that crash, at age 38. 12 Ryan Murphy attends the 2023 Vanity Fair Oscar Party Hosted By Radhika Jones at Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts on March 12, 2023 in Beverly Hills, California. WireImage for Vanity Fair 12 John Kennedy Junior and new wife, Carolyn Bessette Kennedy pose after leaving their Tribeca loft after John introduced Carolyn to the waiting press and asking for privacy for his new bride, October 6, 1996. Lawrence Schwartzwald 12 Paul Kelly and Sarah Pidgeon as JFK Jr and Carolyn Bessette are seen on the set of Ryan Murphy's 'American Love Story' in Downtown, Manhattan on June 18, 2025 in New York City. GC Images Advertisement Murphy said the production will use some clothing from the real Bessette-Kennedy. 'We have multiple pairs of Manolo black heels and sandals from 1992 to 1999. We have the Manolo boots she wore in black and brown. We have her Prada tall boots. We have her Prada bags,' he explained. 'We have the Birkin No. 40 that we have taken to a specialist to scruff it up so it looks identical to the one she would wear half-open on the subway.' Murphy insisted that the public reaction is 'not fair.' Advertisement 'We're writing a story about a person – an unknown person – who falls in love with the most famous man in the world and suddenly she can't leave her house. She was constantly being photographed, being called a c–t by the paparazzi,' he said. Regarding the scrutiny on the first look photos, he said, 'They're doing to our Carolyn, what they did to the real-life Carolyn. It's not fair.' 12 Sarah Pidgeon as Carolyn Bessette Kennedy in Ryan Murphy's 'American Love Story.' Instagram/@ryanmurphyproductions 12 John F. Kennedy Jr. walks with wife Carolyn Bessette in 1997. Corbis/VCG via Getty Images Advertisement 12 Paul Kelly as JFK Jr, in 'American Love Story.' Instagram/@ryanmurphyproductions This isn't Murphy's first time landing in hot water with the real life subjects of his shows. His 2024 show 'Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story' faced criticism for suggesting an incestuous relationship between the infamous brothers who went to jail for the 1989 murder of their parents, Jose and Kitty Menendez. Erik, 53, spoke out in a statement and said the 'dishonest' show is filled with 'horrible and blatant lies' about himself and his brother Lyle, 56. Advertisement Some relatives of Jeffrey Dahmer's victims also speaking out against Murphy's other Netflix series 'Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story.' 12 Jack Schlossberg in his Instagram video blasting the Ryan Murphy show. jackuno/Instagram 12 Caroline Kennedy and Jack Schlossberg attend 'Rei Kawakubo/Comme des Garcons: Art Of The In-Between' Costume Institute Gala – Arrivals at Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 1, 2017 in New York City. Getty Images On Thursday, former President John F. Kennedy's grandson Jack Schlossberg put Murphy on blast and said that 'American Love Story' is 'grotesque.' 'Lately, my news feed has been filled with pictures of my uncle, John F. Kennedy Jr. a great man,' Schlossberg, 32, said in an Instagram video, referencing the Murphy-produced show. 'For those wondering whether his family was ever consulted, or has anything to do with the new show being made about him, the answer is no. And there's not much we can do.' The Kennedy scion added, 'For the record, I think admiration for my Uncle John is great. What I don't think is great is profiting off of it in a grotesque way.' 'American Love Story' premieres on FX in Feb. 2026.

Yahoo

2 hours ago

• Yahoo

‘Will Sean Combs Testify?' and Other Burning Questions We Still Have

Follow all of our Sean Combs trial coverage With Sean Combs' sex trafficking and racketeering trial entering its sixth week, much of the closely guarded case is now public record. Jurors have sat through days of highly emotional testimony from the two principal alleged victims, Casandra 'Cassie' Ventura and a recent ex-girlfriend testifying under the pseudonym 'Jane.' More from Rolling Stone Matthew Perry's Ketamine Death: Second Doctor Agrees to Plead Guilty Judge Dismisses Sean Combs Juror Over Inconsistent Statements Sean Combs Trial: Possible Juror Dismissal and Mogul's 'Threatening' Voice Notes In disturbing detail, the women described Combs feeding them drugs and stage-directing them through days-long sexual marathons with male escorts. The women said Combs threatened to release their intimate videos or yank financial support if they resisted. Both described Combs turning violent, breaking down doors, and giving them black eyes. Jurors listened as one former assistant said Combs kidnapped her at gunpoint and another said he raped her in a staff bunk bed at his home. They heard Kid Cudi describe Combs as a 'Marvel supervillain' who broke into his house, opened his holiday gifts, and allegedly later firebombed his Porsche in 2012. They watched a hotel security guard describe how Combs handed him $100,000 stuffed in a paper bag to buy and bury video of Combs viciously beating Ventura at L.A.'s InterContinental Hotel in 2016. While prosecutors have pieced together most of the evidence they say should land Combs in prison for life, Combs' defense has yet to take center stage – and many questions remain. Rolling Stone reached out to experts and pored over transcripts to get some clarity on some of the biggest, still-lingering unknowns. Throughout the trial, Combs has been visibly engaged, leaning forward, passing notes to his lawyers and even nodding so 'vigorously' in the direction of jurors, the judge threatened expulsion from the courtroom. Combs also has a history of speaking up when the legal chips are down. He testified in his own defense at his 2001 trial over charges he brandished a gun during a shooting in a Manhattan nightclub, leading to an acquittal. After CNN released damning video last year showing him kicking and dragging Ventura at the InterContinental, he responded within 48 hours, releasing a lengthy video apology, making 'no excuses.' He clearly likes to share his thoughts. 'I'm sure Sean Combs wants to testify. I'm also sure his lawyers are telling him that would be a terrible idea,' David Ring, a plaintiff's lawyer who represented Evgeniya Chernyshova, the Italian actress whose testimony led to Harvey Weinstein's rape conviction in California, tells Rolling Stone. Experts say Combs taking the stand is 'extremely risky' because it could open the floodgates to testimony about a long list of alleged prior bad acts that otherwise would not come in. In her opening statement, defense lawyer Teny Geragos sounded fully resigned to any charm offensive being pointless. 'Sean Combs has a bad temper,' she told jurors, predicting they would consider him a 'jerk' and say to themselves, 'Wow, he is a really bad boyfriend.' The defense position, she said, was that 'he is not charged with being mean,' he's charged with running a racketeering enterprise (a charge Combs denies.) 'Usually, when you're a celebrity, you get on the stand and the jury falls in love with you. They are not going to fall in love with him. It's too late for that,' Ring said. 'The jury already hates him. They might not convict him, but they hate him. So for him to get on the stand, it's not going to change their opinion of him.' If he does testify, experts said he likely would be on the stand for more than a week. The way the trial is running, such testimony would push any verdict beyond the Fourth of July. Jurors previously heard their service likely would wrap up in time for the holiday. When Combs' indictment was first unsealed last September, his online court docket referred to him as 'Sealed Defendant 1.' Many speculated that meant others would be charged but is still under wraps. That's not necessarily the case, experts tell Rolling Stone. Echoing Dave Chappelle's viral Saturday Night Live joke last January – where the comedian said he knew things were bad for Combs because 'they've got this guy in a RICO case … by himself!' – experts say it's not only possible, but even likely, Combs will be the only one charged. 'A lot of these people who are functioning as part of the government's theory – the allegedly corrupt enterprise – they worked under Combs. They allegedly were doing things at his direction,' Alyse Adamson, a former assistant U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia, tells Rolling Stone. Adamson says it's possible, though looking less likely by the day, that prosecutors made still undisclosed, top-secret deals where people pleaded to lesser charges or avoided charges altogether in exchange for their cooperation. These deals can be common with co-conspirators whose testimony is needed or whose experience also involved being victimized by the main target of an investigation. (Two former assistants to Combs, George Kaplan and Jonathan Perez, already have testified under grants of immunity.) Adamson says many of the alleged crimes listed as predicate acts in Combs' indictment – such as bribery and arson – have charging windows that are now closed. It's possible prosecutors' only option was to bring an actual RICO charge to file anything against the people under Combs, she says, and maybe they lacked the evidence for that. 'Or maybe they've been interviewed, but they weren't granted immunity, so they're in a holding pattern because they're not going to get up on the stand,' Adamson says. (Those involved could invoke their Fifth Amendment right to not testify.) 'There has to be a conspiracy, but the government doesn't have to charge the other co-conspirators,' Ring says. 'I doubt anyone else will be charged.' Ring says Combs' security, his assistants, the people who allegedly carried drugs for him, and those that set up the freak-offs could all qualify as co-conspirators without being charged. He adds that charging them could actually backfire. 'When people cut a deal and then they take the stand, it's fair game for the defense to question their credibility because, hey, they took a deal and got something in exchange for their testimony,' he says. Khorram, also known as K.K., started working for Combs in 2013 and became his longtime chief of staff. In a 2021 Facebook post, Combs called her his 'right hand,' claiming he couldn't 'function without her.' Prosecutors didn't name Khorram in their opening. Instead, they were general, saying Combs relied on his inner circle, including 'chiefs of staff,' to run 'all aspects of his life.' On June 5, prosecutors got more specific, dubbing Khorram, 38, an 'agent and co-conspirator.' Jurors have heard Khorram's name over and over. Ventura said she communicated with Khorram 'every day,' adding that Khorram knew Combs was physically abusive. She said Khorram reached out directly after the InterContinental incident to say Combs was looking for her. Indeed, it was on Khorram's seized devices that investigators found the photo IDs for the hotel security guards linked to the $100,000 'bribe' from Combs. One of the guards testified it was Khorram who called repeatedly and showed up in the hotel's lobby looking for him before the deal was brokered. For her part, Jane testified Khorram encouraged her to smuggle Ecstasy pills for Combs in her checked luggage. 'It's fine. I do it all the time,' Khorram allegedly said. Jane also claimed Khorram booked her travel for the so-called 'hotel nights.' 'Her name has come up so much during the trial, if she's not put on the stand, the jury will be wondering, 'Where's Kristina?' Adamson tells Rolling Stone. 'She could have some of the highest evidentiary value here … in terms of proving the alleged conspiracy.' On Friday, prosecutors hinted they would rest their case this week without calling Khorram. They listed their final witnesses as Combs' former assistant Brendan Paul, a law enforcement officer, and three summary witnesses. 'If she's not called, it could be she's too risky [and] that prosecutors are worried her testimony would cut favorably to Diddy,' Adamson says. 'Or it could be that they're not giving her immunity, and she has a Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination.' Experts who spoke with Rolling Stone say that given Khorram's high-level position, it's also possible she's a target. 'Maybe she's been charged. and we don't know it, because it's sealed,' Adamson says. 'That's just in the range of possibilities – but less likely.' From the moment of Combs' arrest, his defense team has painted the government's case as a broad abuse of power, coming into his bedroom, scrutinizing his personal sex life, and deeming it as criminal. They've been open that Combs is polyamorous, engaged in 'kinky' sex, was a jealous lover, and part of a swingers' lifestyle. They also readily admitted there were episodes of domestic violence, particularly in Combs' decade-long relationship with Ventura. But they were adamant that Combs' conduct and perhaps taboo sexual preferences do not equate to the serious charges he's facing. 'Domestic violence is not sex trafficking,' Geragos said in her opening statement. That argument will likely be prominent as the defense presents its case later this week or early next week. Combs' defense team has also raised questions about his former girlfriends' roles in these 'toxic' dynamics. 'The alleged victims who will testify in this case are capable, strong, adult women,' Geragos said. 'They all had the personal responsibility and the freedom to make the choices that they made.' Combs' all-star defense team has also grilled witnesses on their motives, particularly those related to financial gain. They've elicited testimony from several of Combs' former employees who praised the mogul's brilliance and 'can't stop, won't stop' work ethic, suggesting that due to the nature of Combs' around-the-clock schedule, his personal life inherently meshed with his business duties. They said the blurred lines don't constitute conspiring to run a criminal enterprise. While those are just some of the defenses Combs' side has offered during the prosecution's case, his team has kept a tight lid on who he might call to the stand. They've only revealed they plan on calling Dr. Sasha Bardey, a psychiatrist, to rebut the testimony of government witness Dr. Dawn Hughes, who testified about sexual abuse, coercive control, and intimate partner violence. Shortly before the expected eight-week trial commenced, a long-whispered-about woman identified as Victim-3 vanished from the prosecutors' case. The woman first emerged in a second superseding indictment against Combs in March. Unlike Ventura and Jane, Victim-3 wasn't connected to a specific sex trafficking charge. Instead, she was mentioned under the racketeering conspiracy count. The government alleged Combs lured the woman into his orbit 'under the pretense of a romantic relationship and used physical violence, threats, financial control, and coercion to allegedly compel her to engage in commercial sex acts, known as 'freak-offs.'' In late April, just a few weeks before the trial's start, the woman agreed to testify under her real name. But, on the eve of the trial, prosecutors reported difficulties in contacting the woman and her attorney, later stating that she would no longer testify. The government would confirm Victim-3 as Gina, one of Combs' girlfriends who has been in an on-off relationship with him since around 2015. Her name has continually surfaced during the trial, with Ventura admitting that Gina was a source of contention in her decade-long relationship with Combs, a refrain echoed by Jane, who dated Combs from 2021 until his September arrest. One of Combs' former assistants, George Kaplan, alleged he once observed a fight between Combs and Gina, in which Combs hurled apples at her, and Gina later yelled to be let out of Combs' Miami mansion in the middle of the night. But prosecutors lost their bid to include a text conversation between Combs and his former head of security, who issued a dire warning to Combs that he could go to jail if word leaked about an apparent violent incident between the couple in October 2015 in Atlanta. 'If anyone called the police, the police is a 100 percent going to lock you,' the security member allegedly texted Combs. 'Even if she begs them not to, it's the law. So once they put the cuffs on you, your life and career is over.' It's still unclear if another alleged victim, Victim-5, will take the stand. Prosecutors haven't mentioned the person in any publicly filed documents, but Combs' defense attorneys objected to portions of their testimony in a heavily redacted filing. The judge ruled any testimony from the alleged victim had to be narrowly tailored. As Combs faces up to life in prison if convicted, he's also facing another legal crisis on the civil front. In the wake of Ventura's pivotal November 2023 filing, a tidal wave of more than 50 women and men have claimed the larger-than-life mogul abused and sexually preyed on them over three decades. While more than a dozen of the civil suits include accusations of sexual assault that overlap with SDNY prosecutors' timeframe of the alleged racketeering conspiracy — 2004 until 2024 — the deluge of filings has barely played a role in the criminal case. Only the testimonies of fashion designer Bryana 'Bana' Bongolan and former Bad Boy artist Dawn Richard have come into the trial so far. Although both women alleged sexual misconduct by Combs, prosecutors essentially used their testimonies to boost corroboration of Ventura's claims that Combs would unleash brutal attacks on her. Richard testified that on her first day recording the 2010 Diddy-Dirty Money album, Last Train to Paris, she saw Combs attempt to hit Ventura with a frying pan before dragging her to an upstairs bedroom by the hair because he was upset about how she was cooling his eggs. Richard was not permitted to discuss her separate personal claims against Combs, claiming he sexually harassed and groped her and once ordered one of his executives to lock her in a freezing car for hours after speaking back to Combs. Bongolan, who forged a close friendship with Ventura in 2015, claimed she saw the lengths to which Combs would go to attempt to control Ventura, incessantly blowing up her phone and monitoring her location. She said she routinely observed bruises on Ventura and allegedly saw Combs once hurl a knife in his girlfriend's direction after showing up to her apartment unprompted. But unlike Richard, Bongolan was able to testify more about her personal experiences with Combs. She claimed he once called himself the 'devil' and warned he 'could kill' her. She claimed the powerful music executive almost dangled her over Ventura's 17th-floor balcony, yelling, 'You know what the fuck you did!' The government used the alleged incident as evidence that Combs' abuse of Ventura was boundless, spreading to her closest friends when he flew into a rage. They also suggested it reinforced Ventura's fear of Combs and kept her trapped in the decade-long relationship. Best of Rolling Stone Sly and the Family Stone: 20 Essential Songs The 50 Greatest Eminem Songs All 274 of Taylor Swift's Songs, Ranked

Geek Tyrant

3 hours ago

• Geek Tyrant

Dominique Thorne Teases Ironheart's Possible Return in AVENGERS: DOOMSDAY and SECRET WARS — GeekTyrant

Dominique Thorne isn't officially on the cast list for Avengers: Doomsday or Secret Wars … yet, but the Ironheart star just dropped a sly hint that Riri Williams may be suiting up alongside Earth's Mightiest Heroes after all. In a recent chat with The Direct, Thorne was asked point-blank about her potential return in Marvel's upcoming mega-event films. She didn't confirm anything outright, MCU actors are famously trained to keep quite, but her response was telling: 'Oh, you know, what can I say? The odds might be in our favor. Who knows? We'll see. We'll see.' Fans have been wondering how, or if, the Disney+ characters will play into the multiversal madness. So far, the official Doomsday cast is light on streaming heroes, even as rumors swirl with names like Kate Bishop, Kamala Khan, and Billy Maximoff in the mix. It seems only a matter of time before Marvel pulls the trigger on the next-gen team-up… whether it's Young Avengers aka The Champions. With Ironheart finally gearing up for release, Riri Williams could be being set for a big leap from solo armor-builder to universe-saving genius. Thorne also commented on the show's new trailer and the unexpected fusion of tech and mysticism at play: 'I think we've got little tastes and teases of that previously. Throughout, you know, the phases that have led us here. But this, absolutely, to me, feels like new territory in terms of how tech and magic can merge, how they can work together, how they might clash.' That blend could make Riri a key player in the coming cosmic-scale conflicts. After all, if Secret Wars follows the comics even loosely, a Stark-level mind fused with magical tech will fit right into the story Marvel wants to tell. Avengers: Doomsday hits theaters December 18, 2026, followed by Avengers: Secret Wars on December 17, 2027. Both are in the hands of Joe and Anthony Russo, returning to the MCU after delivering some of the biggest hits in franchise history. The Russos shared after their SDCC panel: 'Being able to create stories and explore characters within the Marvel Universe fulfilled a life-long dream of ours, and we discovered a powerful connection with audiences in each film that we made. We're thrilled to collaborate once again with Kevin, Lou and the entire Marvel team to bring this epic adventure in storytelling to new and surprising places for both the fans and ourselves.' It will be interesting to see if Riri Williams does show up in the next Avengers movies. There's a lot more characters that have yet to be announced, so it is possible.