MCU: The Marvel Cinematic Universe Official Discussion - Part 4

[kedrell]

So what are the chances this hero ever shows in the MCU?

Spoiler

I'd say pretty good that she'll show up by 2025(phase 4 or 5, basically).

We know that a couple years ago they said they had plotted this all out as far as 2028. Doubtless they're beyond that now(at least to 2030, I'd guess).

 

[flickchick85]

I think there's a good chance she could show up as a supporting player sometime soon.

 

[kedrell]

It is funny how Marvel is employing a lot of humor in their movies, when in the comics, they where the more "gritty", world outside your window universe answer to DC's more fantasy based universe.

These things come and go in large waves which take decades to turn around. 20-30 years ago DC films was colorful, campy and silly. They ran that horse into the ground but I have no doubt they'll be back there at some point. They just need to run this super serious horse into the ground as well first.

Marvel however seems to be taking a balanced approach with all tastes finding some place in the MCU that will be to their liking, whether it be the dark gritty Netflix corner or the ABC & movie corners which go for a lighter, broader appeal. Since they are essentially doing both at the same time I doubt there'll be any change up coming anytime soon.

Since DC is keeping their Film and TV divisions separate I don't know how that'll play out for them, given they have their fair share of lighthearted stuff on TV as well with Flash and now Supergirl. I assume that people will eventually crave lighter versions of DC's top duo. That was one of the chief criticisms of MoS, after all. Batman hasn't been comic-booky since the 1990's and this grim & gritty fad really limits the villains he can use. Then again, let's see how Affleck's Batman differs from Bale's before we rule things out. But I'd like to see Mr. Freeze done right in live action for once and that's a character that needs a high level of comic-bookyness in the film that he's a part of, just to give one example.

 

[Dr. Evil]

I'd say pretty good that she'll show up by 2025(phase 4 or 5, basically).
We know that a couple years ago they said they had plotted this all out as far as 2028. Doubtless they're beyond that now(at least to 2030, I'd guess).

And played by a 33 year old Keke Palmer!

 

[R_Hythlodeus]

I think there's a good chance she could show up as a supporting player sometime soon.

to good a character to play second fiddle to someone else. she needs her own movie.

 

[Flint Marko]

Great montage/tribute to the MCU:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fXyGOecaaWg

 

[AVEITWITHJAMON]

Great montage/tribute to the MCU:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fXyGOecaaWg

good stuff.

 

[Mjölnir]

Really cool video. It also made me laugh when they cut from Thor smashing the coffee cup to the diner exploding.

 

[Flint Marko]

Yeah that was a great transition. Some serious time and thought was put into that video.

 

[MbJ]

I think there's a good chance she could show up as a supporting player sometime soon.

They've said they want to get more diverse from Phase 3 onward so I imagine there's a good chance Monica will show up.

 

[Eddie]

Disney currently is making a massive company wide push for diversity across all of their brands. Even the animation side is setting their upcoming works in a wide array of locales with characters from cultural backgrounds that aren't frequently seen in American animation.

 

[DoubleO88]

I just hope the do diversity right and not just black men and white women and changing a popular white person into a minority.

 

[BoredGuy]

I still say Latinos and Asians should make a bigger stink about diversity and representation

In the US, there's what, 3 times the amount of latinos as there are black people (or gay people for that matter) yet you see 10 times as many black actors, characters, superheroes, etc as any other minority
And globally? shiiiii*, Asians should be like half of all the actors in film if we're going off demographics

if you were to make a (US) demographically correct Avengers, who would they be?

 

[Iron_Stark]

I just hope the do diversity right and not just black men and white women and changing a popular white person into a minority.

Exactly right.

Latinos and Asians are horribly unrepresented in the whole MCU. I didn't even think there were Latinos in the MCU until the Ant-Man movie. And even then Michael Pena's character was just a regular guy, not a "super".

There has yet to be a Latino superhero/heroine out there.

 

[NotSoLongAgo]

I still say Latinos and Asians should make a bigger stink about diversity and representation

In the US, there's what, 3 times the amount of latinos as there are black people (or gay people for that matter) yet you see 10 times as many black actors, characters, superheroes, etc as any other minority
And globally? shiiiii*, Asians should be like half of all the actors in film if we're going off demographics

if you were to make a (US) demographically correct Avengers, who would they be?

Haha true. As a latino I don't really care though. It's never bothered me tbh

 

[Eddie]

Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. has made some positive steps with representation in the MCU. The main superhero it's introduced is a woman of Caucasian/Chinese heritage, most of the most powerful members of the "team" are women, and it also has a diverse crew (sometimes people forget about the behind-the-scenes talent).

 

[MbJ]

I still say Latinos and Asians should make a bigger stink about diversity and representation

In the US, there's what, 3 times the amount of latinos as there are black people (or gay people for that matter) yet you see 10 times as many black actors, characters, superheroes, etc as any other minority
And globally? shiiiii*, Asians should be like half of all the actors in film if we're going off demographics

if you were to make a (US) demographically correct Avengers, who would they be?

Asians are viewed as even less marketable than African-Americans. Aziz Ansari makes a joke in his new show where he says movie and TV studios are JUST NOW coming around to the idea that black people have money and are a viable audience demographic, but they don't even take Asians that seriously.

This plays into comics as well. There may not be any black a-listers, but Storm, Black Panther, Falcon, Luke Cage are probably more recognizable and prominent than just about any Asian superhero Marvel has published. They're only just now getting on the right track with Ms. Marvel and Amadeus Cho. For many years diversity just wasn't a priority for Marvel, and when it was, Asian characters were at the very bottom of everyone's lists.

 

[Doctor Octopus]

Great montage/tribute to the MCU:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fXyGOecaaWg

I love this video. MCU come so far in such short time.

 

[Dr. Evil]

Asians are viewed as even less marketable than African-Americans. Aziz Ansari makes a joke in his new show where he says movie and TV studios are JUST NOW coming around to the idea that black people have money and are a viable audience demographic, but they don't even take Asians that seriously.

This plays into comics as well. There may not be any black a-listers, but Storm, Black Panther, Falcon, Luke Cage are probably more recognizable and prominent than just about any Asian superhero Marvel has published. They're only just now getting on the right track with Ms. Marvel and Amadeus Cho. For many years diversity just wasn't a priority for Marvel, and when it was, Asian characters were at the very bottom of everyone's lists.

Asians are very marketable.....if they are martial artists.

The bigger named Asian actors are foreign born martial artists like Jackie Chan, Jet Li and Donnie Yen. Most Asian American actors tend to move more towards TV anyways. Lucy Liu, Daniel Dae Kim, Masi Oka, Ian Anthony Dale, Grace Park, Ming Na Wen, Mindy Kaling, John Cho, Maggie Q, Kal Penn and Aziz Ansari. I think that if they want to cast Shang Chi, they'll go the foreign born Asian martial artist route. Colleen Wing will probably be an Asian American actress. I have my doubts that we'll ever see Wong in Dr. Strange or even an Asian American actor who plays an Avenger, unless they make Iron Fist an Asian.

As for Black actors in the MCU, each movie has added one well known name to it's cast. Each of them are fairly recognizable names: SLJ, Anthony Mackie, Idris Elba, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Don Cheadle, Blair Underwood and Chadwick Boseman (well, Boseman is not there yet but will be). They missed the boat on adding Will Smith to the MCU (as who though, I have no clue), but they could still add an even bigger African American name to it's roster of black actors if they go with my (longshot) suggestion of Denzel Washington as Norman Osborn. Not sure he would do it, but he would be awesome in the role. Plus they added Mike Colter as Luke Cage. Not sure where Forrest Whitaker would fit as I think the role of Robbie Robertson is too small for him. Same pretty much for Morgan Freeman. Not certain of superhero interest from the likes of Nate Parker and David Oyelowo. Also not certain if we want to see Jamie Foxx redeem himself in another Superhero movie after the disaster of ASM 2. Had he not been cast in the disastrous Fantastic Four, Michael B. Jordan would have been a great addition to the MCU. Not sure of Marvel's interest in John Boyega at this point, but he would certainly be on Marvel's radar if he becomes a household name after The Force Awakens (which I am sure he will be).

With regards to African American females in the MCU, there have been five so far and none of them are in the movies, except Zoe Saldana, but she's playing an Alien. Rosario Dawson, Alfrie Woodard, Christine Adams and Simone Missick are on TV. Something tells me that if they add Monica Rambeau, it will be in a movie and she will be a fairly well known actress or an up and comer on the rise. This is where I think Marvel runs into a major casting issue. Do they go with an actress who is closer in age to RDJ or Ruffalo or Rudd? If so, names such as Taraji P. Henson and Gabrielle Union should be on top of their list. Do they go younger, as in the ages of the three Chrises: Pratt (35 born in 1980), Evans (33) and Hemsworth (32). In that case, it's got to be Gugu Mbatha Raw, who is the same age as Hemsworth. Or is it somewhere in between like with Mackie, who is 37 or Cumberbatch, who is 39? In that case, it should be Kerry Washington (38) or Naomie Harris (39) or Paula Patton (39).

There are no Asian American actors who are box office draws and a lot the ones I mentioned have been gearing more towards comedic work on TV. Yes, John Cho is playing Sulu in the Star Trek movies, but he's best known as Harold in the Harold and Kumar movies and as one of the MILF guys in the American Pie movies. Hell, the most famous Vietnamese American actor is Maggie Q and she's only Half Vietnamese. As a result, a Vietnamese American like me has to look at Chinese and Japanese actors for people who are my race in Hollywood.

Right now, the best Asians can hope for in the MCU are Daisy and Melinda May.

 

[flickchick85]

In that case, it's got to be Gugu Mbatha Raw, who is the same age as Hemsworth.

She's been my pick for ages now. I REALLY want to see her in the MCU.

Right now, the best Asians can hope for in the MCU are Daisy and Melinda May.

Don't forget Mantis! I mean, the actress they chose is only half-Korean, but at least it's something.

 

[R_Hythlodeus]

the actress they chose is only half-Korean.

the character she's portraying is 'only' half-Vietnamese too, so good choice

 

[Loki882]

But that also feeds into the stereotype of "all Asians are interchangeable." Of course we can have a Chinese actress playing a Japanese Geisha (during WWII no less) in Memoirs of a Geisha. What's the big deal, it's not like that's a touchy subject between those two countries or anything.

So why not cast a, oh IDK, half-Vietnamese actress to play the half-Vietnamese character. And if I may add onto Dr. Evil's point about Zoe Saldana, the same applies here. They cast as half-Asian actress in their big film (finally), and of course she's playing an alien.

 

[Mjölnir]

But that also feeds into the stereotype of "all Asians are interchangeable." Of course we can have a Chinese actress playing a Japanese Geisha (during WWII no less) in Memoirs of a Geisha. What's the big deal, it's not like that's a touchy subject between those two countries or anything.

So why not cast a, oh IDK, half-Vietnamese actress to play the half-Vietnamese character. And if I may add onto Dr. Evil's point about Zoe Saldana, the same applies here. They cast as half-Asian actress in their big film (finally), and of course she's playing an alien.

To be fair that happens a lot with Caucasians as well.

While Thor isn't from Earth he's a Norse god, but played by someone from the opposite end of the world to that region. On the subject of the region, Swedish actors like Peter Stormare or Michael Nyqvist get cast to play Russians.

There are of course many examples of when things are switched up like that, and often it's just due to getting in the ballpark of being believable and then focusing on finding a good actor/actress instead.

 

[Whiskey Tango]

Haha true. As a latino I don't really care though. It's never bothered me tbh

I don't imagine it bothers most people but I'm an evil whitey so what do I know? I was oppressing minorities before I even sprang from the womb.

 

[MbJ]

But that also feeds into the stereotype of "all Asians are interchangeable." Of course we can have a Chinese actress playing a Japanese Geisha (during WWII no less) in Memoirs of a Geisha. What's the big deal, it's not like that's a touchy subject between those two countries or anything.

So why not cast a, oh IDK, half-Vietnamese actress to play the half-Vietnamese character. And if I may add onto Dr. Evil's point about Zoe Saldana, the same applies here. They cast as half-Asian actress in their big film (finally), and of course she's playing an alien.

It depends on who you ask because it's a very touchy subject. People like John Cho and Sandra Oh have said there are so few roles for Asian actors in Hollywood that it's kind of reductive and counter productive to insist that certain Asians shouldn't get parts like that.

Cho was even hesitant about getting the Mr. Sulu role in Star Trek and asked George Takei if he was alright with a Korean playing a Japanese guy.

I don't imagine it bothers most people but I'm an evil whitey so what do I know? I was oppressing minorities before I even sprang from the womb.

I don't think Marvel is obligated to do anything of course but it's just kind of noticeable when everyone is bragging about how the MCU has an entire universe of heroes and until very recently, that entire hero community of that universe has been mostly made of white guys. Sorry, white guys and then I guess some robots and aliens.