Wonder Man Season 2 Gets Promising Update with New Story Details.

Marvel Television’s Wonder Man made its debut on Disney+ earlier this year, introducing fans to a fresh and grounded take within the MCU. The series, created by Andrew Guest and Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings director Destin Daniel Cretton, stars Yahya Abdul-Mateen II as Simon Williams, alongside Ben Kingsley, who returns as Trevor Slattery.

In March 2026, Marvel officially confirmed that Wonder Man would return for a second season. While updates have been limited since the renewal, new information has now surfaced, offering insight into the show’s development and direction.

Marvel fans finally have something exciting to look forward to as the long wait for the third and final chapter of the animated Spider-Verse saga slowly starts to feel worth it. After facing multiple delays over the years, Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse is now moving ahead smoothly, thanks to some major internal changes within Marvel Studios.

Before diving into what’s next, it’s important to remember how far this franchise has come. The journey began with Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018), followed by the visually stunning Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (2023). These two films didn’t just entertain—they redefined animated superhero storytelling and introduced audiences to Miles Morales in a way that truly stood out.

Now, there’s even more good news for fans. Starting May 1, viewers who don’t use Disney+ will finally get a chance to watch Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse without paying premium rental fees. The hit 2023 film is officially arriving on HBO Max, making it more accessible than ever.

What’s Happening with the Spider-Verse Finale?

The latest updates are surprisingly positive. After several setbacks, production on Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse has picked up pace. The animation process is already underway, and early previews have reportedly impressed studio executives.

Even the cast seems thrilled. Brian Tyree Henry, who voices Jefferson Davis (Miles’ father), hinted that the upcoming film will be even bigger emotionally and visually than its predecessors—so fans should be prepared for a powerful ending.

Another exciting reveal is that many fan-favorite characters are expected to return. However, since this is the final chapter of Miles Morales’ journey, the story may not hold back when it comes to emotional or dramatic moments. With threats like The Spot and a darker version of Miles from another universe, the stakes are higher than ever.

The Spider-Verse Isn’t Going Anywhere

While Beyond the Spider-Verse will wrap up Miles Morales’ main story, it won’t mark the end of the Spider-Verse itself. In fact, Marvel is already expanding this universe with new projects.

One of the confirmed spin-offs is Spider-Noir, starring Nicolas Cage, which is set to release on May 27, 2026. On top of that, projects centered around Spider-Punk and Spider-Gwen are also in development, promising even more stories from different corners of the multiverse.

Final Release Update

The Spider-Verse continues to grow stronger, both in theaters and on streaming platforms. As for the grand finale, Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse is currently scheduled to hit cinemas on June 18, 2027.

Avengers: Doomsday is set to showcase some high-stakes clashes between heroes and villains as the Multiverse is on the brink of destruction. Marvel Studios unveiled the first official trailer for Avengers: Doomsday exclusively to attendees at CinemaCon 2026, featuring memorable scenes of Multiversal crossovers, a glimpse at Thor and Steve Rogers' reunion, and a terrifying showcase of Robert Downey Jr.'s Doctor Doom. 

Among the trailer's most standout moments were the intense hero-versus-hero battles, as characters (mostly the Avengers and the X-Men) from colliding universes clashed while desperately fighting to protect their own realities, a tense premise that makes it genuinely hard to pick a side. 

Every Major Marvel Fight Confirmed In Avengers: Doomsday 

Thor Vs. Doom

The most-talked-about moment in the official Avengers: Doomsday trailer from CinemaCon was the clash between Chris Hemsworth's Thor and Doctor Doom. 

In the footage, Thor leaps at a fully armored Doctor Doom with Stormbreaker for an overhead strike. However, Doom casually stops the axe mid-swing with one hand, and he barely flinched. Despite Thor's god-like power, the fact that Doom singlehandedly prevented his attack proves how terrifying and formidable this new Marvel ending really is. 

The brutal clash also makes it clear that Doom could kill Thor with shocking ease, which is bad news for the rest of the lesser-powered heroes. 

This moment in the trailer serves as the big-bad introduction for Doom, and it could be why Thor gets humbled early, leading to his prayer to Odin seen in the second Avengers: Doomsday teaser trailer. 

Gambit Vs. Shang-Chi

Another tense moment seen in the Doomsday trailer is the fight between Shang-Chi and Gambit. The pair of master combatants were seen duking it out inside the X-Mansion, fighting over a misunderstanding that may have been set up by Victor von Doom's manipulation. 

Gambit is simply defending home turf while Shang-Chi arrives amid the chaos, believing that the X-Men are the villains and possibly responsible for the incursions. 

Some fans have pointed out that Shang-Chi would win if it were purely hand-to-hand combat, while Gambit would come out on top if the fight were based on power abilities. 

Yelena Vs. Mystique

Another epic clash between two unlikely opponents is between Rebecca Romijn's Mystique and Florence Pugh's Yelena Belova (the leader of the New Avengers). 

The trailer showed Mystique shapeshifting into Yelena mid-fight, creating a mirror-match showdown between the pair of female anti-heroes. 

The reason for their fighting could be the confirmed clash between the X-Men and the Avengers over the incursions, with both groups believing the other is an invading force or responsible for the collapse of their respective Earths. 

Avengers Vs. X-Men

After a long wait, Avengers: Doomsday will finally showcase the much-awaited clash between the Avengers and the X-Men on the big screen, presumably due to Doctor Doom's manipulation and mind games, and the presence of the incursions. 

The core premise of Doomsday ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠revolves around three universes slamming together, and this situation instantly creates distrust among heroes. While the Fantastic Four and Earth-616's Avengers find common ground, the X-Men see them as intruders trying to destroy their Earth to save theirs. 

Outside of the aforementioned Shang-Chi and Gambit fight and Yelena and Mystique clash, memorable, high-stakes clashes between the likes of Cyclops and Sam Wilson, Beast and Winter Soldier, and Magneto and Thor could happen at some point in the film. 

Namor Vs. Sue Storm / Fantastic Four?

Avengers: Doomsday's official trailer revealed that the desert seen in the fourth Wakandan-related teaser was actually the drained ocean floor (which explains why Namor is so pissed). 

The footage showed Tenoch Huerta's Namor flying while Sue Storm screamed as a tidal wave rose above her, indicating that Namor was protective of his territory upon seeing new faces like the Fantastic Four. 

This clash could simply be a misunderstanding on Namor's end, and it will be up to Shuri to stop him from attacking their new allies from another universe. 

BONUS: Nightcrawler Vs. Mr. Fantastic / Fantastic Four 

In May 2025, Alan Cumming spoiled that his Nightcrawler will seemingly fight Pedro Pascal's Reed Richards at one point in Avengers: Doomsday, with him noting that he hit "Pascal against the head:"

    "... And I'm sort of learning these fights, I'm like, 'What? Who am I fighting with?' They said, 'You're fight– you're hitting Pedro Pascal against the head or something. It's just that I can't quite believe– especially 'cause it was such a long time ago, but actually that's quite a nice thing I think is about life and about as you get older, that things come back. They always do and people come back and it's actually a really nice thing about getting older."   

This matchup has the potential to be a standout, thanks to the pair's contrasting abilities. Nightcrawler's lightning-fast teleportation and swordplay, colliding with Reed Richards' elastic stretching and near-limitless durability, promise some of the creative and entertaining sequences in Doomsday.

New looks at highly anticipated titles come in all shapes and forms. With some of the biggest movies on the planet, this can sometimes mean that unexpected previews of titles come in the form of consumer products, given how far in advance brands have to create this items to meet the demands of exciting releases.

Hot off Sony Pictures' CinemaCon presentation showcasing a new scene from Spider-Man: Brand New Day, newly released images from upcoming LEGO sets and toys reveal new looks at the various heroes and villains in the upcoming MCU film. The X account, Spider-Man: Brand New Day Updates, shared a series of photos offering a look at upcoming LEGO sets centered on Spider-Man: Brand New Day. One image shows new looks at villains like Scorpion, Tarantula, Boomerang, and The Hulk, while another features LEGO sets themed around the armored truck chase and what appears to be a New York skyscraper. The armored truck LEGO set offers the first look at Tombstone, who will be played by Marvin "Krondon" Jones III. See the images below:

#SpiderManBrandNewDay @LEGO_Group figures! pic.twitter.com/c6o4bLCbx9

— Spider-Man: Brand New Day Updates (@spideyupdated) April 15, 2026

Spider-Man: Brand New Day Updates also shared a new look at Hulk toys for the movie. It includes a Hulk action figure, along with new additions of the Hulk hands and Hulk mask that have been popular since 2003's Ang Lee-directed Hulk movie. With the Hulk now shown in the Spider-Man: Brand New Day trailer, this is the first look at a more traditional Hulk as opposed to the Professor Hulk persona the MCU has featured since 2019's Avengers: Endgame, implying that Bruce Banner will lose control of his Hulk persona.

First look at the #SpiderManBrandNewDay lego sets, this time not taken from a 3ds camera https://t.co/uWQj5EqxDN pic.twitter.com/PXBH9Oeq3y

— Spider-Man: Brand New Day Updates (@spideyupdated) April 15, 2026

Notably, none of the toy sets offer a look at Sadie Sink's mysterious character or Jon Bernthal's The Punisher. While Marvel Studios might want to avoid selling toys centered on the violent hero The Punisher, the exclusion of Sadie Sink's character was likely planned well in advance as to avoid spoiling her identity. It appears that Marvel Studios and Sony Pictures will keep her identity a mystery for as long as they can, possibly until the film's release.

Marvel Studios is banking big on Avengers: Doomsday, its biggest crossover event film since Endgame hit theaters back in 2019.  

After an up-and-down run of films in recent years, the studio wants to end things with a bang, bringing together the likes of the Avengers, New Avengers, X-Men, and The Fantastic Four. While four short teasers made their way into theaters earlier this year, Marvel has unleashed the first trailer for Doomsday at CinemaCon, and it sounds like the ultimate superhero crossover event.

A trailer for Avengers: Doomsday was shown to audiences at CinemaCon, and The Wrap has provided a description of what was shown. The footage prominently featured Chris Hemsworth as Thor and Chris Evans as Steve Rogers, while also reintroducing Shang-Chi (Simu Liu), Gambit (Channing Tatum), and Mystique (Rebecca Romijn). Thor and Steve are shown reuniting, with the trailer ending on the latter summoning Mjolnir out of Thor's hand. Read the full description below:

"We hear the words "Something's coming. Something we may not be able to deter" over the ruins of the X-Mansion.

We see Doctor Doom kneeling and his face looks scarred.

Thor remarks that he's fought many enemies and threats that scare him less than this, saying all his heroes and friends died. Everything they sacrificed will mean nothing if they don't stand together.

We get footage of Thor approaching Doom with Stormbreaker. The Fantastic Four meet the MCU heroes. Shang-Chi fights Gambit. Mystique turns into Yelena Belova.

Thor leaps at Doom with Stormbreaker in hand, and Doom stops it at once.

Steve Rogers approaches Thor and says, "Hey pal." Thor says, "It's not possible. Steve reaches for Mjolnir and it leaves Thor's hand, coming to his."

At CinemaCon, Marvel Studios had its own presentation during the Walt Disney Studios panel. Kevin Feige hosted the section, which primarily focused on the biggest film yet in the Multiverse Saga, Avengers: Doomsday. The film, which hits theaters this December, features the return of several MCU icons, including Chris Evans as Steve Rogers. Evans was also in attendance alongside Anthony and Joe Russo, who returned to direct their fifth film in the franchise. Feige confirmed that the film "takes place where Endgame left off but also goes back to when it all started with X-Men."

Despite murmurs online in recent weeks that Marvel Studios was considering moving Avengers: Doomsday up a week in the release schedule, the superhero event film is staying the course. It is still set to open on Dec. 18 opposite Dune: Part Three, which has exclusively secured IMAX screens for three weeks, completely shutting out the MCU's biggest film since Endgame in the popular premium theatrical format. Instead, Marvel will look to ScreenX, 4DX, and other formats to help boost ticket sales profits at the box office, which should still be quite healthy despite the heavy competition. The studio also announced that certain theaters will be certified as Infinity Vision to help moviegoers select the best (and largest) screens possible to see Doomsday.

The cast of Avengers: Doomsday includes Chris Hemsworth as Thor, Vanessa Kirby as Sue Storm / Invisible Woman, Anthony Mackie as Captain America, Sebastian Stan as Bucky Barnes, Letitia Wright as Shuri / Black Panther, Paul Rudd as Ant-Man, Wyatt Russell as John Walker / U.S. Agent, Tenoch Huerta Mejía as Namor, Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Ben Grimm / Thing, Simu Liu as Shang-Chi, Florence Pugh as Yelena Belova, Kelsey Grammer as Beast, Lewis Pullman as Sentry, Danny Ramirez as Falcon, Joseph Quinn as Johnny Storm / Human Torch, David Harbour as Red Guardian, Winston Duke as M'Baku, Hannah John-Kamen as Ghost, Tom Hiddleston as Loki, Patrick Stewart as Professor X, Ian McKellen as Magneto, Alan Cumming as Nightcrawler, Rebecca Romijn as Mystique, James Marsden as Cyclops, Channing Tatum as Gambit, Pedro Pascal as Reed Richards / Mister Fantastic, Chris Evans as Steve Rogers, and Robert Downey Jr. as Doctor Doom.

Avengers Doomsday New Cast and Rumors in April 2026

The highly anticipated movie, Avengers Doomsday, has been making headlines with its ever-growing cast list. As the release date approaches, fans are eager to know more about the confirmed and rumored characters that will appear in the film. In this article, we will delve into the latest updates and rumors surrounding the Avengers Doomsday cast, providing you with the most up-to-date information available.

Confirmed Cast Members

Marvel has officially revealed the cast of Avengers Doomsday, and the list is impressive. Some of the confirmed cast members include:

• Steve Rogers, played by Chris Evans
• Spider-Man, played by Tom Holland (rumored)
• X-Men characters, including Wolverine and Professor X
• Fantastic Four characters, including Mr. Fantastic and Invisible Woman
• Thunderbolts characters, including Bucky Barnes and Winter Soldier

These characters will come together in an explosive crossover event that promises to be one of the most epic movies of the year. With the Avengers, X-Men, Fantastic Four, and Thunderbolts united, fans can expect an action-packed film with plenty of twists and turns.

Rumored Cast Members

In addition to the confirmed cast members, there are several rumors circulating about other actors who may join the cast. Some of these rumored cast members include:

• Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark/Iron Man (although this has not been officially confirmed)
• Other X-Men characters, such as Storm and Cyclops
• Fantastic Four characters, including the Human Torch and the Thing
• Thunderbolts characters, including Baron Zemo and the Abomination

While these rumors are unconfirmed, they have sparked excitement among fans who are eager to see their favorite characters on the big screen. With the cast list constantly evolving, it's likely that we'll see more surprises in the coming months.

Latest Updates and Rumors

In recent days, Robert Downey Jr. has sparked speculation about his potential involvement in the film. While he has not officially confirmed his role, his comments have fueled rumors that he may reprise his iconic character, Tony Stark/Iron Man.

Additionally, the full cast list for Avengers: Doomsday has been revealed, with a star-studded lineup that includes some of the biggest names in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. With the film's release date approaching, fans can expect more updates and announcements in the coming weeks.

Conclusion

Avengers Doomsday is shaping up to be one of the most epic movies of the year, with a cast list that reads like a who's who of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. While some characters have been confirmed, others remain rumored, leaving fans to speculate about the film's plot and characters. As the release date approaches, we can expect more updates and announcements, including official confirmations of the cast members and plot details. One thing is certain, however: Avengers Doomsday is going to be a movie event that you won't want to miss. Stay tuned for more updates, and get ready to assemble with the Avengers in 2026!

Marvel is quietly building a major storyline connection between Daredevil: Born Again and Spider-Man: Brand New Day. The Disney+ series is not just about Daredevil’s return—it’s also laying the groundwork for a huge political and villain shift in New York City.

Kingpin’s Rule As Mayor Is Not Permanent

In Daredevil: Born Again, Wilson Fisk (Kingpin) rises to power as the Mayor of New York City. This storyline shows his control over law enforcement and his growing political influence.

However, the show strongly hints that Fisk’s time in power will not last forever. His leadership is already facing resistance, and cracks are beginning to appear in his authority.

This creates the perfect setup for a major shift—someone else taking his place.

Who Could Replace Kingpin?

Marvel appears to be setting up a new figure to step into Kingpin’s role. While the series hasn’t officially revealed the replacement, there are strong hints that a new political or criminal leader will rise in New York.

This aligns with Marvel Comics, where multiple characters have taken over Fisk’s empire or challenged his dominance.

Connection To Spider-Man: Brand New Day

The upcoming movie Spider-Man: Brand New Day is expected to explore a “fresh start” for Peter Parker, focusing on street-level crime in New York City.

With Kingpin potentially removed or replaced, the film could introduce a new major villain or political figure controlling the city.

This creates a seamless transition between the events of Daredevil: Born Again and Spider-Man’s next chapter.

Why This Matters For The MCU

This storyline shows how Marvel is connecting its street-level heroes:

• Daredevil dealing with corruption and justice
• Kingpin controlling the city politically
• Spider-Man facing new threats in a changed New York

Marvel Studios is clearly building a shared narrative where events in Disney+ series directly impact major movies.

Final Thoughts

Daredevil: Born Again is doing more than telling a standalone story—it is shaping the future of New York in the MCU.

If Kingpin falls, the power vacuum will open the door for a new villain, which could become the central conflict in Spider-Man: Brand New Day.

This makes Daredevil: Born Again essential viewing for understanding Marvel’s next big story arc.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe Phase 5 will continue in 2024, but only one of its forthcoming properties is not a spin-off. Amidst a variety of shakeups and delays, 2024’s slate of MCU Phase 5 properties will include several TV shows and one highly anticipated movie, continuing the MCU’s Multiverse Saga as it builds towards its finale, which will likely be altered significantly following the firing of Jonathan Majors as Kang the Conqueror. 2024’s MCU properties will, fittingly, take place across various realities, with most tying into the main MCU timeline.

2024 was initially set to include Captain America: Brave New World – a film that continues the saga of Sam Wilson as the new Captain America following the Avengers: Endgame ending and The Falcon and the Winter Solider – which would itself lead into Marvel’s Thunderbolts. With both films delayed, the only MCU movie releasing in 2024 is Deadpool 3, a film that will bridge the MCU to the Fox X-Men universe and potentially many other familiar realities. As for the rest of 2024’s MCU releases, they will be spin off TV shows based on previous MCU properties.

Deadpool 3 Is The Only MCU Release Of 2024 That Isn't A Spin-Off

The MCU will begin its 2024 slate with Echo, a series centered on Maya Lopez, who was introduced in 2021’s Hawkeye. Agatha: Darkhold Diaries will see the return of Agatha Harness, the antagonist and breakout character of WandaVision. Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man – fascinatingly – is an animated series based on Spider-Man: Homecoming, featuring an alternate version of the MCU in which Peter Parker is mentored by Norman Osborn instead of Tony Stark. The upcoming Eyes Of Wakanda animated series will further explore the history of Wakanda established in Black Panther and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, and Marvel Zombies will be based on an episode of Marvel’s What If…? season 1.

Deadpool 3, however, will not be a spinoff of a previous MCU property. The film will likely have massive ramifications for the main MCU timeline, bringing not only Deadpool into the MCU but also potentially many other X-Men characters. The X-Men’s introduction to the MCU is inevitable, but with the Fox X-Men universe being bridged to the MCU, it is now possible that the MCU’s mutants (other than Wade Wilson) may come from multiple realities.

X-Men '97 Is A Sequel (But It's Not In The MCU)

One highly anticipated Marvel property due to be released in 2024 is X-Men ’97, which, notably, is not a spinoff but rather a sequel to the beloved X-Men Animated Series. X-Men ’97, despite being produced by Marvel Studios Animation, is not set in the MCU, though considering the multiversal premise of Marvel’s current properties, it is safe to assume that its reality may be referenced in future MCU properties. As it stands, the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness and Ms. Marvel each reference the original X-Men Animated Series.

Warning: This article contains SPOILERS for What If...? season 2 episode 4

4 years after Iron Man died during Avengers: Endgame's heartbreaking ending, What If...? season 2 episode 4's ending undermined his tragedy. Worse still, the same MCU TV release had done the same thing just four days earlier in episode 1. In both cases, the imaginative animated series challenged one of the fundamental story details of Robert Downey Jr's final appearance as Tony Stark.

While What If...? is very much an Elseworlds-style multiverse release offering a glimpse at some of the millions of universe branches created by the countless Nexus events of everyday MCU existence. Now that the TVA are no longer pruning branches created by these Nexus events, the multiverse can be as chaotic as it yearns to be. The result, as Sylvie indirectly predicted in Loki season 1, is that an infinite number of branches exist, creating universes where Nebula joined the Nova Corps, where Happy Hogan became the Purple Hulk, or where the Avengers formed early in 1988. Crucially, though, each of those branches still adhered to every rule of the Sacred Timeline established before they branched off.

What If...? Season 2 Episode 4 Ending Explained

In What If...? season 2 episode 4, Marvel answers the question of what would have happened if Iron Man's near-miss sacrifice at the Battle of New York hadn't been avoided. Instead of Stark falling back through the portal above New York after destroying the Chitauri mothership, in this branch, he was trapped on the other side of the portal and ended up being teleported to Sakaar instead of being killed. Don't ask why, the show doesn't actually answer it: it's more just a set-up to have Stark entwined in The Grandmaster's endless gladiatorial games.

While Thor: Ragnarok saw Chris Hemsworth's God of Thunder and Hulk taking part in battles for their life with other gladiators, Iron Man arrives at a different point in Sakaar's confusing timeline. At this point, The Grandmaster presides over rigged Death Races, in which the likes of Valkyrie, Korg, and (inexplicably) Gamora all compete. Stark hatches a plan to escape, but also to overthrow The Grandmaster and end his reign of tyranny on Sakaar.

What If Confirms Valkyrie Was Always Destined To Be King

In an interesting twist, after Iron Man is successful and beats The Grandmaster in their Death Race, Valkyrie is crowned king of Sakaar. That suggests that Valkyrie's multiversal destiny is to be a king, effectively adopting the logic of Canon Events from Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse. That raises the possibility that every character in the multiverse remains fated, despite the destruction of the Sacred Timeline, which also fits with The Grandmaster confirming Tony Stark's future defeat of Thanos, even in this branched universe.

After convincing Gamora to help him defeat The Grandmaster, Iron Man repays her allegiance by helping her kill Thanos. The returning Mad Titan sits on the same throne as was previously seen in Guardians Of The Galaxy, and offers no defense when his daughter double-crosses him. Up to that point, she had remained loyal, suggesting an unseen event on the main timeline prior to Guardians of the Galaxy's events led to her epiphany and betrayal of her father. That mystery will seemingly remain unanswered, but her arrival on Sakaar must have come before 2014 (when GOTG is set).

How What If...? Undermines Iron Man's Death (Again)

Without getting too deep in the multiversal soup, it's Gamora's murder of her father that compromises Iron Man's Endgame ending. In Endgame, Doctor Strange tells The Avengers that of the millions of possible futures he saw, only one led to their victory at the Battle of Earth. That single possibility is tied inherently to Tony Stark's sacrifice, with the suggestion that any other plan to take out Thanos (like Rhodey's suggestion to kill him as a baby) wouldn't have worked, somehow.

But in both What If...? season 2 episode 4 and episode 1, Thanos is killed quite easily by two of his former allies. The first episode sees Ronin The Accuser kill him off-screen, while Gamora kills him three episodes later to set up her part in the Guardians Of The Multiverse's battle with Ultron from What If...? season 1's ending. Just as Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness confirmed Thanos was defeated without Iron Man dying, What If...? confirms Doctor Strange was wrong. Thanos could have been taken out elsewhere on the timeline, making Tony Stark's ultimate sacrifice significantly less special.

What If...? Season 2 Episode 4 Post-Credits Scene Explained

As What If...? season 2 episode 4's credits roll, the season's second credits scene (after Darcy's festive sing-along after episode 3's ending), The Grandmaster actually returns again. Despite being melted by his own Melt Stick from Thor: Ragnarok, Jeff Goldblum's charming bad guy survives, jovially asking his sidekick and bodyguard Topaz to fetch a sponge to mop him up. It's a funny tag, but it suggests that the Elders of the Universe (including The Grandmaster and his brother The Collector, played by Benicio Del Toro in the MCU) are actually immortal. No matter what they have to endure to survive.

That suggests that while The Collector was assumed to have been killed by Thanos in Avengers: Infinity War, it's unlikely he actually died. He might not be living well, as The Grandmaster wouldn't be after What If..? season 2 episode 4, but it seems he is one of the MCU's genuinely unkillable characters.

Warning: This article contains SPOILERS for What If...? season 2 episode 3.

Marvel’s What If…? season 2 episode 3 is a festive joy, paying homage to definite Christmas movie Die Hard, and making Happy Hogan (Jon Favreau) the hero. The animated episode is easily one of the most fun MCU releases, and perfectly matches up to the spirit of the season. There's humor, heart, and a new type of Hulk for the Marvel timeline: everything you could ever want for Christmas.

But what does it all mean? And how well does the Die Hard parody actually work? These questions and more are answered in this full explainer of "What If Happy Hogan Saved Christmas?" Along the way there's a hint of a major event in Hulk's story after Avengers: Endgame's ending, a hint of Armor Wars' villain's future, and an examination of what really makes an Avenger an Avenger.

What If...?’s Die Hard Parody Explained

"What If Happy Hogan Saved Christmas?" is essentially a smartly observed Die Hard homage. In place of Alan Rickman’s Hans Gruber, Justin Hammer plays the invading villain, and the Avengers Tower stands in for the Nakatomi Plaza. Happy, of course, is John McClane and Darcy Lewis (Kat Dennings) is his Al Powell (Reginald VelJohnson), as she identifies herself in a particularly meta moment.

All the major moments get referenced, from Happy crawling through the vents, to putting a villain in the elevator (though this time it’s a mannequin), and Gruber’s iconic death (though it’s subverted by Happy saving Hammer from death). There are obviously differences - John McClane didn’t use Bruce Banner’s blood to turn into a Hulk to save the day as Happy does - but it’s an affectionate and perfectly timed pastiche.

The "what if...?" element - as if it really matters - is what if Justin Hammer took revenge on Iron Man by infiltrating the Avengers tower and taking over the defence systems including the Iron Legion. Naturally, it just so happens that the Avengers are out on promotional duties and JARVIS is down for repair. Ultimately, Happy takes down Hammer himself after accidentally being transformed into a Hulk when the original plan to reboot the Tower’s defences with a backup AI (hilariously styled on Werner Herzog) fails.

Tony Stark’s Hulk Cure Explained

As Happy hides from Hammer and the hijacked Iron Legion drones, who are seeking to steal a vial of Bruce Banner’s blood to turn Hammer into a Hulk, it’s revealed that Stark was developing a Hulk cure. Interestingly, it seems Iron Man’s experiments sought to keep Banner’s ability to transform into the Hulk, but without the anger issues.

While it may seem strange that Stark doesn’t look to cure Banner outright, that actually fits with what’s established elsewhere in the MCU. In She-Hulk, it’s revealed Iron Man built Hulk’s lab in Mexico to help him transform into Smart Hulk. It could be that Stark’s earlier experiments led to the epiphany that Hulk could never be “cured”, leading in turn to Banner and Stark hypothetizing that balance was the only cure. And there is some suggestion that Stark actually valued the Hulk too much to lose his influence as one of Earth’s defenders.

Why Happy Hogan’s Hulk Is Purple (And Speaks)

The major differences between Happy Hogan’s Hulk mutation and Banner’s are the color and the fact that he can speak. Happy Hulk is purple (and bald like The Abomination despite both Hulk and She-Hulk having hair). Perhaps modified versions of pure Hulk blood create more monstrous mutations?

In the comics, the most prominent Purple Hulk was Norman Osborn who used powers taken from Super-Adaptoid to steal Red Hulk’s powers and transform. His purple coloring is never really addressed. But the other Purple Hulk from the comics suggests the color links to incredible evil. In Incredible Hulk #371 Hulk is possessed by Shangar, the Sorceror Supreme of the Dark Dimension (who became the Dark Entity in the animated adaptation). Possessed, Banner became Dark Hulk and turned purple (at least in the animated Incredible Hulk series of 1996 where the color was revealed).

Happy’s Purple Hulk would break the trend of supervillains turning Hulk purple, though he does visibly fight the influence of the Hulk with his own personality. So perhaps purple here does also mean evil, and Happy’s true superpower was just being enough of a great guy to counterbalance it.

What is clear is that whatever Tony Stark did to Bruce Banner's blood, it created an early version of Endgame's Smart Hulk, because Happy is still able to talk when he becomes Purple Hulk. Notably, both the original Hulk and Abomination were limited in their ability to talk, because neither were able to control their rage: She-Hulk was an exception, because her experience as a woman trained her to control her rage, so she never lost control entirely. Happy explicitly mentions Stark working on a means to control Hulk's anger issues, suggesting the key to communication is simply not being angry.

What If...? Sets Up Justin Hammer’s Powerful MCU Return

At one point, Justin Hammer reveals that he’s gained considerable martial arts skills in prison after the events of Iron Man 2. In the company of criminals, Hammer learned a number of martial arts disciplines in the prison yard, suggesting his expected life-action return could see an improved villain all round. Interestingly, that would also make him a lot more like Tony Stark, who is established as a hand-to-hand combat expert in the MCU.

What Marvel's What If...? Says About The Avengers As An Idea

Seeking deeper meaning in a cartoon that parodies Die Hard and features a John McClane Hulk bumbling his way through a mission to save his superhero friends might seem pointless, but it’s absolutely there. What If…? season 2 episode 3 subtly explores what it really means to be an Avenger: it’s not just about using your superpowers, but about doing your duty in the face of serious adversity.

On top of that, Happy’s initial mistake in letting Hammer take over Avengers Tower so easily echoes the experience of almost every original Avenger. Each had red in their ledger, to borrow Black Widow’s most famous catchphrase, and it was only in atoning for those mistakes that they became Earth’s Mightiest Heroes. Happy effectively earns his Avengers stripes because of his recovery, and not just his newly gained powers.

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A new report reveals just how long Avengers: Secret Wars' runtime might be.

According to a new insider report by Jeff Sneider (TheInSneider) dated Dec. 20, Avengers: Secret Wars' runtime is a massive five hours, so long that the reported plan is to split the story across two movies. This strengthens Marvel rumors from earlier this year, with the source now describing it as a "a giant five-hour movie with a year-long intermission." This suggests that its current slated date of May 7, 2027, will be quickly followed by Avengers: Secret Wars (Part 2) in 2028. They would also quickly follow Avengers 5, which may no longer be called Avengers: The Kang Dynasty, which is slated for a May 1, 2026 release. As of now, this is just a rumor, and nothing has been confirmed officially by Marvel Studios, but it's creating a lot of fan discussion online.

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— Jeff Sneider (@TheInSneider) December 20, 2023

I am praying to god that we still get Avengers 5 as its own thing

They can’t just have Secret Wars be 5 hours with no Avengers movie before it, it will be an overly rushed mess https://t.co/Q5RxZxRwoo

— Mikedude (@Mikedude0) December 20, 2023

Jonathan Majors' MCU Firing Might Further Affect the Avengers Sequels

Marvel Studios firing Jonathan Majors will undoubtedly have rippling effects moving forward, but the move also makes 2 MCU scenes from 2023 much more important in retrospect. Speculation has run rampant about what Disney and Marvel Studios would do ever since abuse and harassment allegations against Jonathan Majors surfaced in March 2023. Now that Majors has been found guilty of the aforementioned, his professional relationship with Marvel has been terminated. As of now, it's unclear if Kang will be recast or if the franchise will move in a different direction entirely.

Regardless of whether Kang is recast or not, it makes sense that Marvel Studios may want to close the narrative threads involving Majors' versions of the character. Fortunately, two scenes from 2023 MCU movies and TV make that a lot easier. These scenes may not have been written with the intention of moving away from Jonathan Majors, but they certainly seem a lot more important now.

Quantumania's Ending Reshoots Mean Kang The Conqueror Never Needs To Show Up Again

Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania underwent reshoots, and set photos prove that the final few minutes of the movie are among the scenes that were revisited. It's impossible to say exactly what the original ending entailed, but reports indicate that the original draft had Kang beat Scott in their Quantum Realm brawl and escape out into the world. Regardless of whether that's accurate or not, the end of Quantumania may have been written to allow The Conqueror to return - but it also offered a perfectly serviceable ending for the Kang variant.

When Wasp arrives to rescue Ant-Man, she blasts Kang into his Quantum Engine. Scott previously survived a trip into the device, so it seems Kang was set up to do the same, but the MCU can now very easily move on and operate under the assumption that he died from the event. Regardless of whether Marvel moves on from Kang or recasts him, this scene becomes more important for explaining why this particular variant can be done and over with. Conversely, the bizarre physics of the Quantum Drive could explain an age change if Marvel goes with an older or younger actor for the part.

Loki Season 2 Gave A Perfect Explanation If The MCU Wants To Move On From Kang

Another scene that now seems much more important in hindsight is the ending of Loki season 2. As the season closes, TVA takes on a new task - tracking and dealing Kang variants who may threaten the multiverse. The episode alludes to Kang the Conqueror from Quantumania being taken care of, but the scene can now be used as justification for the Council of Kangs not showing up again if Marvel Studios so chooses. The TVA has proven its competence, and it's narratively reasonable for the group to succeed in nipping other Kang problems in the bud.

Will The MCU Move On From Kang Or Will The Studio Recast?

At this point, it's unclear if the MCU will simply recast Kang and continue on with his story as planned or pivot away from the character entirely to distance the franchise from Majors even further. Either way, change is clearly afoot. Avengers 5 has reportedly dropped "The Kang Dynasty" from its title internally at Marvel Studios as a new writer, Loki co-creator David Waldron, rewrites an earlier draft from Quantumania scribe Jeff Loveness. On one hand, this may indicate a significant change, but Waldron's history with a Kang-centric project may simply indicate a fresh take on the character.

However, pivoting from Kang would likely demand change in more than just The Avengers 5. Presumably, several other upcoming MCU movies include plot points meant to build to Kang's larger story, and those would need to be rewritten, too. There are still several years before the next Avengers project, but some significant rewrites may be needed across the MCU to lay the groundwork for a brand-new villain if that's the direction Marvel Studios goes. Regardless, the MCU is at a crossroads, and only time will tell how the franchise moves on from such an unfortunate situation.

 Jonathan Majors is officially out at Marvel Studios.

Due to an alleged incident that happened in March, Majors was recently brought to trial following allegations of domestic violence. On Monday, he was found guilty on charges of assault and harassment. After the verdict was announced, it was confirmed by a Marvel Studios representative that Majors will not return for any future MCU projects, per Deadline. Majors had recently appeared in the second season of Loki after debuting as Kang in the film Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania.

While this isn't a great time for Majors, with the actor also potentially facing one year behind bars, he did get some good news in that he was found not guilty on additional charges of intentional assault and aggravated harassment in the second degree. His attorney, Priya Chaudhry, has also suggested that the legal battle isn't over just yet. Suggesting that there would be an appeal, she said in a statement after the verdict was announced that Majors "looks forward to fully clearing his name." She added, “Mr. Majors is grateful to God, his family, his friends, and his fans for their love and support during these harrowing eight months.”

Getting fired by Marvel Studios comes after there had been reports that the company was already considering moving forward without Majors in light of his legal troubles. Other companies were also quicker to cut ties with Majors when the allegations were first made public. That included getting immediately dropped from an ad campaign for the U.S. Army that was imminently set to start airing. He was also dropped from multiple movies he had been attached to, and Disney recently pulled his upcoming film, Magazine Dreams, from its planned theatrical release in December.

Majors was on the rise in Hollywood when his legal troubles began. He had just appeared in two major motion pictures with key roles in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania and Creed III, and there were very big plans for him in the MCU, as he would've been the major antagonist in at least one of the upcoming Avengers films. Majors had also garnered acclaim with his upcoming film Magazine Dreams in its early reviews ahead of its release. The actor previously found praise with his role in HBO's Lovecraft Country and appeared in films like The Last Black Man in San Francisco, Da 5 Bloods, and Devotion.

Loki head writer Eric Martin confirmed a fan theory about the MCU show's Season 2 ending on Disney+.

Tom Hiddleston's titular antihero made the biggest sacrifice of his 12-year MCU tenure in the Loki Season 2 finale, taking on the duty of guarding the Sacred Timeline to keep He Who Remains at bay.

Hiddleston even admitted that his character's moment in the finale "was wholly appropriate and...very moving," with Loki now holding a place as one of the most important figures across the entire Multiverse with this new job.

Loki Writer Confirms Season 2 Ending Idea

Loki Season 2 head writer Eric Martin compared the conclusion of Loki's story in the latest season of his Disney+ show to that of the legendary Greek figure, Atlas.

Martin told Esquire that the idea for Season 2 was to have Loki evolve "from a lowercase-g god, to a capital-G God," powering up his "wisdom and knowledge" while giving him a new responsibility that allows the Multiverse's inhabitants to live:

"The big idea was taking Loki from a lowercase-g god, to a capital-G God, powering him up to that place where he gets his throne—but it’s not a throne he wants anymore. This is a duty. He’s doing this so everyone else can have their lives. He’s giving up the thing that he wants most so that everyone else can have their free will… We wanted to power up his abilities, but also his wisdom and knowledge."

Martin also made it clear that the last shot of Loki sitting on his new thrown is "meant to be ambiguous" about him possibly suffering, comparing him to the Greek Titan Atlas for those familiar with mythology and legends:

"I leave that up to interpretation. That final image is meant to be ambiguous. So I’ll let people make up their own minds there. If you look into mythology, someone like Atlas is an interesting person to look at with that."

In Greek mythology, Atlas was condemned to hold up the heavens for all eternity after a decade-long battle between the Titans and the Olympians - two separate generations of gods living on Mount Olympus. He at one point turned Perseus into stone, and another legend saw him attempt to get Hercules to take over his punishment of holding the universe up.

Portraying a single character over a decade is challenging, but Robert Downey Jr. managed just that – successfully bringing Tony Stark/Iron Man to life in 10 films.

Speaking to Vanity Fair, Joe and Anthony Russo, who directed Downey in three of his Marvel Cinematic Universe appearances, explained how the actor kept the character fresh for so long. "When he'll come back to set, Robert is famous for throwing the plan out the window and climbing on top of the couch and whatever, sort of going off-book," Joe said. "He does this because he likes to surprise himself. He likes to keep things fresh. He lights up for that."

"There's no other way that he could have played that character for 10 movies unless he was doing that," Anthony added. "Robert has certainly lived a complicated life. He understands the stakes, he understands loss, he understands the turns life can take between ups and downs. He's always looking for that level of depth, that level of complexity. I think he knows that's what we all come to movies for in the first place."

Marvel Studios Firmly Shuts Down Iron Man's Return

During the same interview, dubbed "Robert Downey Jr.'s Third Act," Kevin Feige debunked rumors that Marvel Studios was considering bringing Stark back into the multiverse storyline. "We are going to keep [Iron Man's death] and not touch that moment again," Feige explained. "We all worked very hard for many years to get to that. We would never want to magically undo it in any way," he added, referencing Tony Stark's character growth over the years.

"We'd already said tearful goodbyes on the last day of shooting. Everybody had moved on emotionally," Joe Russo added. "We promised him it would be the last time we made him do it ever." Iron Man met his demise in Avengers: Endgame, giving up his life to thwart Thanos and avert the villain's plan to obliterate half of all life once more. However, with recent MCU releases failing to capture the magic of the Infinity Saga, speculation about Iron Man's return has been rife.

When Robert Downey Jr. was initially cast as Tony Stark in 2008, it was an unexpected choice, and the studio had explored other options before finalizing the decision. Among the considered actors was Tom Cruise, who Feige says was in contention for the role during the mid-2000s. However, financial considerations proved to be a hurdle, as Cruise's asking fee at the time exceeded what studios were willing to risk on an untested superhero property. Interestingly, Cruise dismissed speculation about playing Iron Man and commended Downey for his exceptional portrayal of the superhero.

Source: Vanity Fair

Kevin Feige has confirmed whether or not Iron Man will be returning in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Robert Downey Jr. originated the MCU version of the character in 2008's Iron Man, the movie that kicked off the franchise which has now expanded to include 33 movies and eight Disney+ shows, with many more on the way. Downey Jr. reprised his role in nine MCU movies before his character's death in 2019's Avengers: Endgame.

Vanity Fair recently ran a cover story on Robert Downey Jr. in which they spoke to Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige about the possibility of a future Iron Man MCU return. Feige said that they are planning to "not touch that moment again." He shared that bringing Iron Man's story to a close took years of hard work, and they do not intend to "magically undo it." Check out his full quote below:

We are going to keep that moment and not touch that moment again. We all worked very hard for many years to get to that, and we would never want to magically undo it in any way.

Iron Man's MCU Legacy Looms Large