Disney confirms Loki-centric limited series for its streaming service

Marvel

Sometime ago it was rumoured that a limited run series that revolved around characters like Loki and Scarlet Witch were being developed by Disney for its upcoming streaming service, Disney+. Now, the company has confirmed that the Loki series is happening. Tom Hiddleston will be reprising his role as the trickster god but it isn’t clear where this story will fit in the Marvel Cinematic Universe timeline. There isn’t a word yet either about release dates or the number of episodes the show will have.

Source: Polygon

Disney CEO admits they’ve been pushing ‘Star Wars’ ‘too much, too fast’

Have you been feeling like there’s just been too much Star Wars too soon? It might be a strange thing to complain about but if you’ve gotten used to seeing Star Wars films arrive at least a couple of years apart, the sudden yearly release might seem too much—especially if you feel like the films are subpar to what you’re used to. With Solo underperformance in the box office, Disney was reportedly considering changing its strategy when it comes to marketing and releasing Star Wars content. Now, Disney CEO Bob Iger confirms this plan with The Hollywood Reporter.

He said, “I made the timing decision, and as I look back, I think the mistake that I made — I take the blame — was a little too much, too fast. You can expect some slowdown, but that doesn't mean we're not going to make films. J.J. [Abrams] is busy making [Episode] IX. We have creative entities, including [Game of Thrones creators David] Benioff and [D.B.] Weiss, who are developing sagas of their own, which we haven't been specific about. And we are just at the point where we're going to start making decisions about what comes next after J.J.'s. But I think we're going to be a little bit more careful about volume and timing. And the buck stops here on that.”

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Loki and Scarlet Witch among other MCU stars tipped to limited series on Disney’s streaming service

Expect to see Tom Hiddleston’s Loki and Elizabeth Olsen’s Scarlet Witch to appear on a TV, tablet, smartphone, or any other mobile device you have on hand once Disney launches its own streaming service. At least Variety reports that the two Marvel heroes (or antihero) among other “second tier” Marvel Cinematic Universe characters will be getting limited series centered on their stories/characters. The site mentions these two actors and characters specifically might be getting shows that include around six to eight episodes. Unlike its other TV shows that are under Marvel TV Studios, these will be developed by Marvel Studios and Kevin Feige will be taking a “hands-on role” in the production.

There are no writers attached to the projects yet and storylines are supposedly being “teased out.” The article claims Disney looks to be “holding back some significant fire power for the big screen.” Don’t expect Avengers who got their own movies to get TV shows, though. Disney is reportedly going to be spending heavily on these productions with budgets that can rival those of other major studio productions. But it needs to bet big if it is to go against its bigger streaming rivals. We don’t know much about the endeavor beyond Disney saying it will cost less than Netflix and will launch late in 2019.

Production for ‘Guardian of the Galaxy Vol. 3’ put on hold after James Gunn firing

Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures/Photofest

Following the firing of James Gunn, Marvel Studios and Disney are on the lookout for a new director for the third installment of Guardians of the Galaxy. And that’s put the production of the film on hold. According to The Hollywood Reporter, this has pushed the timeline of the film further. Pre-production was supposed to start this fall but now crew members for certain positions reportedly have been let go. And production, which was scheduled to begin this winter, doesn’t look like it’s going to push through.

Gunn was fired in late July after prominent far-right bloggers and personalities dug up offensive and questionable tweets from Gunn’s timeline, some of them around a decade old. Gunn reportedly met with Disney chairman Alan Horn and Marvel Studios co-president Kevin Feige to talk about his return for the final installment but Horn wouldn’t budge. The cast, in an open letter, have asked the studio to reinstate Gunn. But Disney hasn’t commented on the matter.