A funny thing happened on The Marvels‘ way to streaming. Despite releasing in theaters to widespread disinterest in November, once the MCU sequel hit digital people suddenly started giving it some much-needed positive attention.

Sure enough, upon its arrival on Disney Plus, the film that seemed destined to become the most forgotten and least-viewed Marvel Studios production earned itself a surprising groundswell of popularity and some enduring chart-topping powers. “Hey, I wish I saw this in cinemas,” said a whole bunch of folks, while those that did and enjoyed it glared at the camera like Jim from The Office.

Speaking of John Krasinski, he definitely won’t be reprising his role as Reed Richards in The Fantastic Four, which promises to carve out an exciting new corner of the MCU. Marvel’s First Family have one of the richest rosters of associated characters in all of comics, so Kevin Feige and company will no doubt be hoping to fuel years’ worth of storylines based around them. But could the rise of the Silver Surfer lead to the crushing downfall of Carol Danvers?

Silver Surfer spin-off claims could be bad news for Brie Larson’s Captain Marvel

Hot on the heels of The Fantastic Four announcement, a rumor has emerged that a Silver Surfer spin-off is in the works at Marvel Studios. As has been suspected for the longest time, Norrid Radd is said to be making his way to the MCU in The Fantastic Four, with Marvel supposedly on the hunt for an actor as you read these words. This is totally uncorroborated as yet, but it does come from insider Daniel Richtman, who claimed that Pedro Pascal was playing Reed Richards before that was officially confirmed.

Silver Surfer is easily one of the most important characters Marvel inherited from Fox because, despite only making the one movie appearance to date, he’s one of the most integral cosmic characters in Marvel’s canon. You could even argue that he’s Marvel’s single most integral cosmic character. And that’s why the studio apparently being keen to promote him to leading status could be bad news for Carol Danvers, who currently stands as the MCU’s top-tier extraterrestrial tentpole.

As The Marvels made clear, by pairing her up with heroes from Ms. Marvel, WandaVision, and Secret Invasion, not to mention using her movie to set up the coming of the X-Men, Carol certainly was viewed as an anchor for the entire MCU. However, with the film underperforming so drastically there’s every chance that Marvel is working on pivoting focus away from her. Just look at how we’ve learned that Kang’s role was already being decreased after Quantumania bombed, before Jonathan Majors’ legal troubles came to light.

Larson herself remains cagey about her Marvel future, but even if she does end up returning for Avengers 5 and Secret Wars, there’s a decent chance that, in a few years time, space might not have enough space for both Captain Marvel and Silver Surfer.

Outside of her superhero antics as Captain Marvel, Brie Larson has enjoyed an illustrious acting career. Since making her debut at just eight years old, Larson has starred in a slew of buzzy films and television shows, which this year brought her to the hallowed halls of the 2024 Screen Actors Guild Awards. The ceremony — which largely recognises the best acting performances of the last year — took place at Los Angeles’ Shrine Auditorium and Expo Hall, with Barbie and Oppenheimer leading the pack with four nominations each. Larson received a nomination, but what is her broader nomination history with the SAG Awards, and has she ever won? 

Has Brie Larson ever won a SAG Award?

Brie Larson has received two SAG Award nominations over the course of her career. The first was in 2015, when she was nominated for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role for her performance in the claustrophobic thriller, Room. While it was a competitive race — populated by the likes of Cate Blanchett for Carol, Saoirse Ronan for Brooklyn and Sarah Silverman for I Smile Back — Larson ultimately took home the win. 

Room — which co-starred Jacob Tremblay and William H. Macy — marked a breakout moment for Larson, with the SAG trophy adding to her broader awards-season success. That same year, the actress won a Golden Globe, BAFTA and Academy Award for the same role in Room. Larson’s second SAG Award nomination came this year when she received a nod for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Miniseries or Television Movie. 

The nomination was for Larson’s performance in the Apple TV miniseries, Lessons in Chemistry, in which she portrayed a feminist cooking show host in the 1960s. Larson was nominated in the category alongside Uzo Aduba (for Painkiller) Kathryn Hahn (for Tiny Beautiful Things) and Bel Powley (for A Small Light). Ultimately, it was frontrunner Ali Wong who took home the trophy, for her role as Amy Lau in Netflix’s Beef. 

As for her future SAG Award aspirations, Larson has a few projects on the horizon that could spell future nominations. The actress is set to star in another, currently untitled Apple TV series as a CIA agent, and will make her sophomore effort as a director with the upcoming film Lady Business. The word is still out on whether Larson will ever take home a win for playing Carol Danvers, but we’re guessing Madame Web is perhaps the only superhero movie worthy of award-season contention (that’s a joke, obviously). 

Cassandra Webb’s superpower might be receiving visions of future events, but even those without fancy Spider-Senses predicted how Madame Web would turn out long before we heard Dakota Johnson talk about how her mom studied spiders in the Amazon before she died. So it’s no surprise that Deadpool 3 is already making numbers the Sony bomb-in-the-making will never see at the box office. But, first, it turns out The Marvels could’ve been a whole lot darker…

The Marvels nearly ending on Captain Marvel’s combustion snuffs out hopes for Captain Marvel 3

Now that it’s on streaming, Marvel folks are loving how fun and light-hearted The Marvels is (it’s about time, people!), but the film’s original ending no doubt would’ve left us stunned and picking our jaws up off the floor along with our spilled popcorn once the credits rolled. Dar-Benn actress Zawe Ashton has revealed that the movie’s climax initially had Carol Danvers and her nemesis “combust together,” which apparently confirmed that Captain Marvel was supposed to die in this film before reshoots changed the ending. Suddenly Brie Larson’s hedged bets about her MCU future make sense… Marvel can’t be keen on a Captain Marvel 3 if they nearly killed her off. Right?

Deadpool 3 is officially YouTube’s most-viewed trailer ever…

Who says nobody cares about Marvel movies anymore? Following its premiere on Super Bowl Sunday, the internet is still buzzing from our first glimpse at Deadpool 3, or Deadpool & Wolverine as it’s properly called. Whether because it marks Ryan Reynolds’ return as DP for the first time in six years or because this year’s Super Bowl was the highest-rated television event since the 1969 Moon Landing (!), DP3‘s trailer has gone down as the most watched trailer on YouTube, beating fellow multiversal Marvel threequel Spider-Man: No Way Home to the top spot on the back of 365 million views at launch. That bodes well for its box office figures this July!

… While Madame Web is officially the worst Marvel movie since Morbius

You know what doesn’t bode well for a movie’s box office figures, though? Launching on Rotten Tomatoes to a critics score that’s almost not old enough to drive. At the time of writing, Madame Web is sitting at a mere 17% on the reviews-aggregate site, after shockingly scathingly reactions that tell us exactly why Sony waited until the day before its worldwide release to lift the review embargo. With its Sony predecessor Morbius sitting at 15%, the Dakota Johnson vehicle is in real danger of falling even lower than the Jared Leto meme machine. We didn’t know that was possible until now, which proves that despite rampant superhero fatigue, at least Marvel is capable of setting new records.

Do you ever think sometimes the Marvel multiverse has gotten too big? Sure, those of us who spend way too much time online and know the difference between a Kree and Kraglin understand the complicated, corporate differences between, say, the MCU and Sony’s Marvel Universe, but anyone with the glamorous, busy life of a Hollywood star is forgiven for not having the time to take a crash-course in Marvel minutiae. Someone, for instance, like Madame Web‘s own Dakota Johnson.

Yes, it might be time to officially declare the Marvel movie medium too oversaturated, as it seems it’s even confusing the stars of these films themselves, and — who knows — maybe even misleading them to take jobs they otherwise wouldn’t. With Madame Web opening in theaters just in time to become the Valentine’s Day movie you should definitely not take your date to see, many are wondering… just why did Dakota Johnson sign up to star in this movie?

Based on the evidence, fans have speculated that Johnson may have been under the misapprehension that she was joining the MCU…

Did Dakota Johnson believe Madame Web was made by Marvel Studios? The conspiracy theory, explained

This conspiracy theory got kickstarted with Johnson’s very first public comment on her Madame Web casting. When announcing her involvement in the film on Instagram, the Persuasion actress got folks talking by tagging Marvel Studios in the post. She also tagged Sony Pictures, which has left some convinced that Johnson believed it would be a co-production venture between the two studios, much like Tom Holland’s Spider-Man films are.

More recently, in February 2024, Johnson recalled how she bumped into Scarlet Witch star Elizabeth Olsen shortly and asked her about her experience making Marvel movies. “When I got the Madame Web role, I ran into Lizzie Olsen and spoke to her about it,” the actress said. “That was helpful. She said she had a great time … seemed very relaxed about it so that was comforting.” Johnson getting advice from someone who’s made Marvel films for a completely different studio only reignited the theorists…

Then there’s what happened after the Madame Web trailer dropped in November 2023, and became the most instantly memed Marvel trailer since, well, Sony’s last superhero movie, Morbius. Just a week later, Johnson parted ways with her talent agency. As Variety noted, this “raised industry eyebrows” as it certainly seemed to indicate some regret on the actress’ part over being attached to such a mercilessly mocked project. What’s more, Johnson hasn’t been shy about her dissatisfaction with Hollywood across the Madame Web press tour, even noting how the industry is “really f***ing bleak” right now. Curious words to use to hype up your latest popcorn film!

Nobody knows the real reasoning behind Johnson’s decision to make a bed web with Sony for this project, but it definitely seems like she may have once been under the impression she was joining the likes of Captain Marvel and Black Widow as the latest leading lady of the MCU. Unfortunately, Dakota Johhnson’s Madame Web isn’t the new Brie Larson. With that movie’s Rotten Tomatoes score, she’s more like the new Jennifer Garner.

It’s always one step forward, two step back for Marvel‘s Multiverse Saga. The step forward? The Marvels is finally on Disney Plus, and it’s leading to some exciting developments that may suggest it’s going to go down as something other than the MCU’s worst ever movie. The two steps back? Its streaming release also has us worrying about Brie Larson’s franchise future more than ever. And it turns out the Marvel universe isn’t as entirely out from Jonathan Majors‘ shadow as it may appear.

Jonathan Majors still haunts the MCU as latest developments in his sentencing coincide with key Marvel releases

Jonathan Majors may have been fired by Marvel immediately upon his domestic assault conviction in December, but the MCU still apparently can’t avoid being overshadowed by the latest twists and turns in the actor’s legal troubles. Just as his initial trial coincided with the releases of Loki season 2 and The Marvels in theaters, Majors caused waves by failing to turn up to court for his sentencing on Feb. 6, the eve of The Marvels hitting streaming. Majors’ sentencing has now been rearranged to April 8. And it just so happens that predictions indicate X-Men ’97 will arrive on Disney Plus across March and April. In short, we might not see him on screen again, but the impact of Majors is sure to be felt on the MCU for a long while to come.

The Marvels hits Disney Plus, wins widespread adoration, and teases Brie Larson is done as Captain Marvel

So The Marvels is now on Disney Plus, and there is a lot to unpack. First of all, the recent flurry of newfound support for the film from when it debuted on digital has continued and then some following its streaming arrival. What’s more, its apparent importance to the future of the Multiverse Saga has just been massively hyped up thanks to The Making of The Marvels special that just dropped alongside the movie. Unfortunately, it’s not all sunshine and roses as that same documentary features Brie Larson casting doubt on whether she’ll even be back as Carol Danvers at all. The good news is The Marvels might not be the last MCU movie fans will rewatch, but it might turn out to be Larson’s last MCU movie period.

Daredevil: Born Again is either very bad at keeping its secrets or very good at misleading us

Marvel is either playing a very discerning or dumb game with Daredevil: Born Again. With production taking place on the streets of New York, set photos have flooded social media revealing everything from Daredevil’s new suit to Wilson Bethel finally in a Bullseye costume. The thing is, though, Marvel fans are smart and it’s not taken much to put two and two together and speculate that a major, and controversial, moment from the comics could be about to be adapted. I mean, they’re really laying the evidence on thick. But is Marvel employing some ingenius subterfuge here, deliberately planting supposed spoilers in order to get the fans talking and paying attention at a time when the MCU really needs it? Or has poor production planning resulted in secrets being spilled far too soon? Maybe the show’s new investigative journalist/potential Spider-Man pal can discover the truth.

Kumail Nanjiani has shocked his fans by revealing that he had to go to therapy following the release of his so-far single Marvel movie, Eternals, in November 2021 due to the intense backlash the Chloe Zhao-directed film received. On top of people being concerned for his mental health and sympathetic to his experience, Nanjiani’s revelations also shocked people as many had completely forgotten Eternals ever existed, even if they were among those scathingly reviewing it at the time.

For Marvel commentators and critics it’s easy to lay into the latest piece of subjectively disappointing MCU content online and then move onto the next thing to get annoyed about, but Nanjiani’s discussion of his own personal experience reminds us that internet chatter can have a longer-lasting effect in the real-world. Given the impact it had on his mental health last time, the actor would be forgiven for turning down the opportunity to return as Kingo in the future.

In this regard, Nanjiani’s situation is recalling the equally unsavory treatment of another Marvel star. Ever since Captain Marvel released in 2019, Brie Larson has faced endless hate from some quarters online. To date, the actress has yet to publicly address the toxicity or if and how it has had an impact on her, but rumors abound that it has dampened her enthusiasm for playing what should be the role of a lifetime. Her own future in the franchise is equally as in doubt as Nanjiani’s, going by comments from the Oscar-winning actress’ own mouth.

Obviously, toxic fandom is not exclusive to the MCU, far from it, but a community that used to be full of positivity has certainly become typified by vitriol in many instances over the past few years. Clearly, it would be beneficial to remind folks that these packages of Marvel content are made by real people with real feelings and not simply developed by Kevin the robot from She-Hulk just to irritate us. If only there was the perfect series sitting on Disney Plus ready to binge to educate us all? Oh, wait, there is…

Brie Larson and Kumail Nanjiani’s experiences prove one underrated Disney Plus series should be compulsory viewing

The backlash that both Larson and Nanjiani and sadly many other cast and crew members of the MCU have faced, particularly across the Multiverse Saga, makes it all the more necessary for fans to check out Marvels Studios: Assembled on Disney Plus. A fresh hour-long special is released anytime a new movie or TV show lands on the streamer that dives behind the scenes of the production, allowing the viewer unique insight into how the project came to life.

Even if you’re not a fan of the project in question, every episode of Assembled is an essential watch as it reminds you that this movie, no matter how flawed you might find the finished product, was put together by a huge and very dedicated team full of passionate and talented people who made every creative decision with the best of intentions. It’s easy to come out of one of these specials with a newfound appreciation for the film or show, now that you’ve seen the hard work that went into it.

For example, The Making of The Marvels showcases the moment when Larson wrapped on the sequel, at which point she was overwhelmed by emotion. As the star makes clear in a voiceover, she isn’t sure where her character goes from here and therefore if she’ll get to play her again. That’s pretty meaningful for an actress who once signed a seven-picture deal with the studio. For context, she’s only appeared in four films to date. Who knows what may have happened to cause this uncertainty, but the fact that these movies haven’t gone down as Larson was no doubt hoping they would must be a factor.

Likewise, Eternals had one of the finest casts Marvel has ever assembled, Nanjiani very much included, and yet its poor reception has seemingly blocked the way to all of them from returning — even Harry Styles, at present. Both Brie Larson and Kumail Nanjiani, and many more, deserved better from the MCU fandom, and perhaps even from Marvel Studios as a whole. We know all too well that it’s not easy being a superhero within the Marvel universe. It turns out it’s not so easy being one in the real universe either.

The Infinity Saga was marked by its ability to keep a core cast of heroes around for a full decade-stretch, with the constant presence of Robert Downey Jr., Chrises Evans and Hemsworth et al ensuring the MCU once felt like one big interconnected story. Sadly, the Multiverse Saga hasn’t quite been able to recapture that due to its expanded scope. Still, at least we can rely on the continuing involvement of such tentpole characters as Doctor Strange and Captain Marvel, right? Right??

For the longest time, even before The Marvels released and ended up bombing at the box office, there has been heavy speculation that Brie Larson could be on her way out of the MCU. Whether just because the actress is ready to embrace new challenges in her career or else because her experience has been soured by toxic backlash, depending on the rumor. That’s why it’s curious that Disney Plus’ The Making of The Marvels documentary ends on such a note of uncertainty, with Larson herself hedging her bets on her MCU future.

“Where this film ends, there’s a big question mark there with what this means for Carol,” Larson ruminated, when discussing what’s next for Captain Marvel. “There’s a lot in her heart that’s settled. There’s a lot in my heart that feels settled.”

Having said that, the actress stressed that she adores inhabiting the character of Carol, both in a personal sense and in being touched by how much she means to others.

“Every other character, when it’s over, I’m like ‘get it off!’ And this is the one where I’m like ‘I think I’m gonna keep this on a little bit longer,'” she explained. “And I’ve seen how this star, this symbol, has meant so much to so many people. And I would love to carry on that tradition of being able to be a part of it.”

Moreover, Larson then admitted that she’s aware the mantle of Captain Marvel will not end with her, which may simply be an indication that Iman Vellani’s Ms. Marvel is out there now or perhaps a hint that she’s open to another actress playing the role.

[But] also I understand that it’s not all mine, you know. Anyone can take that mantle,” Larson concluded. “And I also feel at peace with the fact that we’ve got this new school coming in. There’s new faces, new superheroes coming in and so I don’t know where Carol’s place is. I feel like I can rest in the fact that we got some amazing people to help take care of this universe.”

Could The Marvels really be Brie Larson’s final MCU appearance?

At present, there are no upcoming Marvel projects to have Brie Larson officially attached, although there’s obviously a big elephant in the room here — everyone’s expecting her to return for Avengers 5 (formerly known as The Kang Dynasty) and Secret Wars. Still, rumors indicate both multiversal and Multiverse Saga heroes could bear the brunt of these movies — e.g. Shang-Chi, She-Hulk, Tobey Maguire’s Spider-Man, and Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine — rather than older players like Captain Marvel and Doctor Strange.

On the other hand, in the run-up to Captain Marvel, it was reported that Larson had signed a seven-picture deal with Marvel Studios. To date, she’s only appeared in four MCU movies and one TV show, including Larson’s very brief cameos in Shang-Chi and Ms. Marvel. By that logic, even a small role in both Avengers 5 and 6 could technically conclude her contract and mean that she will not helm another Captain Marvel sequel, which would explain Larson’s reflective comments in the behind-the-scenes documentary.

It does seem almost unfeasible that we could never see Carol on our screens again, but there may be some truth to the fact that she’s closer to the end of her MCU journey than its beginning. Don’t forget, Larson was actually announced as Captain Marvel at Comic-Con 2016, and Secret Wars releases in 2027. So the actress could easily match Robert Downey’s 11-year Iron Man stretch after all.

Move aside, Scarlet Witch. See you later, Doctor Strange. The MCU has a new strongest superhero. And his name is Sentry.

Following Steven Yeun’s surprise exit, Lewis Pullman has signed up to join the cast of Thunderbolts as the aforementioned walking atom bomb of a character. Although he’s often called Marvel’s answer to Superman, in truth he’s closer to the godlike Doctor Manhattan from Watchmen, only with Thor’s luscious blond locks and without the indecent exposure. The potential for him in this franchise is virtually limitless, and maybe he could help rehabilitate another powerhouse hero who’s in need of some rescuing.

Namely, Brie Larson’s Captain Marvel. But why is Sentry the one to pair her up with next? Don’t tell, Disney Plus, but Apple TV Plus holds the answer…

Lessons in Chemistry could teach Marvel a thing or two about pairing up Captain Marvel and Sentry

The curious thing about Lewis Pullman’s casting — apart from the fact he’s one of half a dozen Top Gun: Maverick actors to appear in the Marvel multiverse — is that he’s only just shared the screen with an established MCU icon. Pullman appeared opposite Larson in Lessons in Chemistry, the period drama miniseries, in which the pair play scientists who embark on a complex and tragic romance.

If you haven’t seen the show yet, do yourself a favor and fix that ASAP as Larson and Pullman each turn in one of the finest performances of their career and they enjoy a scintillating, well, chemistry of their own. It’s honestly enough to make you want to see the duo reunite in the MCU. Especially as Captain Marvel and Sentry coming together would make them Earth-616’s ultimate power couple.

Sentry’s whole deal is that he struggles to get a handle on his immense abilities — which is refreshing as that tends to be a flaw reserved for Marvel’s female characters (see Jean Grey, Scarlet Witch, etc). In The Marvels, Carol Danvers went on an important journey of learning to accept the responsibility she bears and also to reach out to others instead of closing herself off. She would be the perfect person to help the Sentry heal and grow as a hero.

In another sense, pairing Captain Marvel with Sentry would be a smart way to revitalize the heroine given that the failure of The Marvels means we’re unlikely to have her team up with Monica Rambeau and Kamala Khan again. I’m not saying they have to make Carol and Robert Reynolds a romantic couple — we all know she belongs with Valkyrie — but some kind of unlikely partnership between the Avengers’ two biggest assets could cause a chemical reaction that might just reinvigorate the MCU.

Here endeth the lesson.

Spoiler Warning: This article contains spoilers for the novel version of Lessons in Chemistry and possibly spoilers for Apple TV Plus’ limited series. 

If you’ve been on BookTok (a TikTok sub-community dedicated to book lovers) at all between 2022 and 2023, then you’ve heard about Lessons in Chemistry. 

The debut novel written by Bonnie Garmus became an overnight sensation and an instant New York Times Bestselling upon publication in April 2022. It spent 56 weeks on the NYT Bestselling list, was named one of NYT’s notable books of the year, and was chosen as Good Morning America’s book club pick.

It was also read and enjoyed by over three-quarters of a million readers on Goodreads, was named the platform’s Best Debut Novel of 2022, and was adapted into a limited series on Apple TV Plus. 

What you need to know going in

Trading her Marvel superhero costume for a lab coat, Brie Larson stars as Elizabeth Zott, a brilliant and unrelenting chemist at Hastings Research Institute navigating the 1950s patriarchy. Although her contributions to abiogenesis (the theory that life rose from non-life forms billions of years ago) blow that of her male counterparts out of the water, Elizabeth’s credibility is questioned at every corner. 

Along the way, Elizabeth meets and falls in love with Calvin Evans (played by Lewis Pullman in the limited series), a famous and renowned scientist with whom she works at Hastings. Because of her male-dominated field, Elizabeth dodges accusations that she’s “sleeping her way to the top.”

In reality, Calvin sees Elizabeth for the intelligent, funny, and opinionated chemist she is, and eventually, they have a daughter together, Madeleine Zott, or Mad Zott for short. 

Unfortunately, Elizabeth and Calvin never marry, so Mad being born out of wedlock becomes the crux upon which Hastings Research Institute hinders their decision to fire Elizabeth. Eventually, she is approached by Walter Pine, a television producer at KCTV who offers her a job as host of a daytime cooking show called Supper at Six.

Elizabeth accepts because she needs the income to support her family. She loves to cook, after all, and she’s great at it. She proceeds headfirst into the venture, but her adamant demand that she be able to incorporate chemistry into the gig goes overlooked by Walter until the cameras start rolling and it’s too late to stop her.  

Before long, Supper at Six becomes a national sensation, and Elizabeth is its unsuspecting star. All the while, Elizabeth works overtime to continue her chemistry career, even remodeling her home kitchen into a science lab. Supper at Six is fine and dandy, but chemistry is her passion.

She belongs in the lab, not the kitchen, and she will do anything in her power to get back to Hastings Research Institute, or any science lab for that matter. 

Still, there’s no denying Elizabeth’s magnetism. Women all around the world tune into Supper at Six religiously, keen to absorb any bits of advice Elizabeth imparts, which nine times out of ten contain a chemistry flair. Meanwhile, KCTV’s executive producer Phil Lebensmal loathes everything about Elizabeth’s unruly nature.

All he wants her to do is stick to the teleprompters, promote their sponsors, and smile. But Elizabeth marches to the beat of her own drum.

How does Lessons in Chemistry end?

By the time we near the third act of Lessons in Chemistry, an entire subplot has been co-existing alongside the nationwide uproar about Elizabeth’s tenure on Supper at Six. Mad, Elizabeth’s genius daughter, is on the hunt to learn more about her father, Calvin Evans. 

Now, one thing we didn’t state earlier that must be said now is that Calvin is accidentally killed early on in the book. We’re burying this detail in case the average reader wishes to experience that bombshell on their own. Nevertheless, his death creates ripples throughout both Elizabeth’s and Mad’s life. 

Determined to learn about her father, Mad buries herself in research at the library where she eventually crosses paths with Reverend Wakey, who, it just so happens, was once pen pals with her father. Mad is drip-fed various facts about Calvin from Wakey, her neighbor-slash-family-friend Harriet, and research of her own finding.

Over time, she learns that Calvin was an orphan at All Saints Home for Boys in Sioux City. His love for science took root after a mysterious man associated with a foundation began donating science books to the orphanage. 

Meanwhile, Supper at Six experiences a massive surge in ratings after Walter Pine takes over for Lebensmal as executive producer of KCTV. This came after Lebensmal’s attempt to physically and sexually assault Elizabeth for disobeying orders (an occurrence Elizabeth is unfortunately all too familiar with). As a result of Supper at Six’s uptick in popularity, Elizabeth is approached by Franklin Roth, an award-winning journalist, looking to conduct an exclusive interview for Life Magazine.

Elizabeth is accustomed to turning down these kinds of interviews because usually, all they want is an inside scoop into her relationship with Calvin Evans. This time, however, she’s reassured that the article will focus solely on her professional career. 

It does. The article is immaculate and peels back the curtain into Elizabeth’s career triumphs and tribulations. Unfortunately, that’s not the article Roth’s editor at Life wants to publish, so what goes out into the world is a superficial cover that glosses over any and all of Elizabeth’s accomplishments. Just like that, she is tossed back into the box society demands she live inside and her chemistry career is ruined. 

Elizabeth plunges into a deep depression that spans several months. Then, out of the blue, her former colleague at Hastings, Miss. Frask — who once co-conspired to get her fired —  reveals that she was so incensed by Life’s article that she wrote to complain.

As it turns out, the Parker Foundation — the foundation that funds research at Hastings — got hold of this letter and conducted an investigation into the unethical behavior at Hastings and its head honcho, Dr. Donatti. Frask now works as head of personnel and she wants Elizbeth to join her as head of chemistry. 

It’s all too good to be true, though. Elizabeth soon discovers that Avery Parker, the woman behind the Parker Foundation is actually Calvin’s biological mother. Knowing the turmoil Calvin endured at All Saints orphanage, Elizabeth is reluctant to pay Avery any mind, let alone accept the job as head chemist. However, Avery quickly explains the whole story.

It turns out that, like Elizabeth, Avery got pregnant and gave birth to Calvin before she was married. Worse, she was a teenager, and because of that, she was forced to give Calvin up for adoption. When she was old enough to seek Calvin out, she sent her lawyer Mr. Wilson to inquire after Calvin at All Saints. In the hope of squeezing some pity money from Mr. Wilson, the bishop at All Saints lied and said Calvin had died.

The bishop’s plan backfired, however, because the Parker Foundation traded money in favor of science book donations in Calvin’s honor. 

When Calvin eventually became famous for his contributions to science, Avery tried tirelessly to contact him. Under the assumption that she was a random lady seeking his money, though, Calvin ignored her. By the time she tried to seek him out in person, it was too late. 

Now, Avery is hoping to become a part of Elizabeth and Mad’s life, both professionally as the private funder of research at Hastings and personally as Mad’s grandmother.

No longer constrained by the obligations of the cooking show or prejudice in the workplace, Elizabeth resumes her abiogenesis research at Hastings, and the novel ends with her inviting Avery into her home for — you guessed it — supper. 

Despite a terrible showing at the box office, The Marvels is pretty popular among viewers.

It sports a surprisingly high score, over on Rotten Tomatoes, even as it claims the title of the MCU’s biggest bomb so far. The late 2023 release is far and away superior to Quantumania, and its quality is so far above Secret Invasion the two can’t even be compared, but that doesn’t change the fact that the Brie Larson-helmed release made less upon release than The Flash. Talk about embarrassing.

Still, its clear that viewers are interested in the film, even if they aren’t willing to pay for it. Reviews for The Marvels praise the flawless chemistry between its leading ladies, sheer entertainment value, and overall fun and funny nature of the film, and showcase just how much audiences enjoyed it. Even those who’ve yet to witness Larson’s second solo (or semi-solo) flick are intrigued, but they’re happy to wait until its free to watch on streaming before giving into their curiosity. Thankfully, that day is right around the corner.

The Marvels digital release

The first official outing of the Marvels — comprised of Brie Larson’s Captain Marvel, Teyonah Parris’ Monica Rambeau, and Iman Velani’s Ms. Marvel — is headed to digital in mid-January. The Marvels will come available to purchase on Apple TV Plus and Prime Video on Jan. 16, just over two months following its initial theatrical release.

The Marvels physical release

If you’d prefer a physical copy of The Marvels, the wait is a bit longer. You still won’t be far into 2024 before owing your own version of the MCU flick, however, as its slated to release on DVD and Blu-ray on Feb. 13, right around a month after it comes available on digital platforms.

The Marvels streaming release

Eventually, all MCU fans know The Marvels will additionally land on Disney Plus. Its headed to join its MCU peers there eventually, but Disney and Marvel likely intend to put some distance between its digital and physical release and its eventual streaming drop. That gives the film a bit more time to pull in the cash it lost at the box office before we all start streaming it for free. Once we have a concrete release date on Disney Plus, we’ll update this article.

The Marvels hasn’t been the grand return for Captain Marvel that we were hoping, thanks to its calamitous box office performance. But at least Carol Danvers is still the strongest Avenger. Right? Right??

Well, for now, maybe, but it’s just possible that Brie Larson’s cosmic heroine won’t be able to hold onto her title forever. We all know that the battle to be named the most powerful MCU hero is a two-horse race between Carol and Elizabeth Olsen’s Scarlet Witch. Due to the difference in their power sets — they’re essentially science vs. magic — it’s been tricky to work out exactly who is the strongest. But generally, Marvel has told us it’s Captain Marvel.

Unfortunately for Carol, the studio could be about to change its mind in an upcoming project. According to scooper MyTimeToShineHello, a “Scarlet vs Captain Marvel” fight is coming to the MCU at some point in the near future. What’s more, they’re even giving away who wins: spoilers, it’s apparently Wanda.

In some ways this shouldn’t be a surprise, as Wanda Maximoff made short work of Maria Rambeau’s Earth-838 Captain Marvel in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. However, with Larson’s Carol being the prime variant of the character, it was possible the battle would go another way. But, if we are to believe this rumor, which you can feel free not to, it won’t.

This rumor doesn’t specify a project this fabled fight could appear in, but Avengers: Secret Wars springs to mind as the most obvious contender. Remember, Scarlet Witch is officially dead in the MCU following Doctor Strange 2, so it would take some multiversal mayhem to bring Olsen back into the fray.

As for Brie Larson, The Marvels‘ much-lamented release has called the existence of Captain Marvel 3 into question, but something tells us Carol Danvers is not done in the MCU yet. Even if she does one day lose to Scarlet Witch, she remains one of the franchise’s heaviest hitters, so don’t bet against her just yet.

Starring in the number one film in the world has a way of relieving a bit of the pressure and scrutiny from the darkest corners of the internet.

Rachel Zegler, who plays the female lead in the new Hunger Games prequel movie and became the primary target of TikTok and X’s ever-growing hate train in 2023, knows a little something about that. And so does Brie Larson.

Why do Rachel Zegler and Brie Larson get so much hate?

Both actresses have been the stars of huge box office hits (Larson’s Captain Marvel grossed over $1.1 billion in 2019), and have been simultaneously lucky and cursed to cross paths with some of the largest and most sensitive fandoms in the world, Marvel and Disney. Their crimes, for which they were branded “most annoying person on earth,” “stand-offish,” or a myriad of other exacerbated nasty descriptors, were as simple as having opinions. Shocking thing for a woman to have, isn’t it?

The tide seems to have turned just slightly for Zegler, thankfully, as her performance in The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, and the genuine way in which she communicates with fans of that franchise, has made her a hit online again. For a while there, though, you couldn’t search up “Rachel Zegler” on X or TikTok without coming across the most inflamed, senseless rants you had ever seen.

Much like Larson before her, Zegler made comments about the state of the art when it comes to female representation in Hollywood and large franchises. In 2019, Larson was chastised for saying the industry needed a more diverse pool of critics (yes, we know, what a ludicrous thing to say…), and her reputation hasn’t fully recovered since. The sequel to her record-breaking Marvel debut, 2023’s The Marvels, had the worst opening weekend ever for any film in the superhero universe at $47 million, thanks partly to boycotting and smear campaigns against Larson and female-led comic book properties.

As for Zegler, it was her audacity to call Snow White (the Disney princess to which she will be giving life in the upcoming live-action adaptation) outdated that got her into trouble. For reference, this character’s most famous iteration stems from 1937 where she is essentially a housewife to seven men. In August, clips from old interviews made the rounds online. In one, the Golden Globe-winning actress stated that her version of the inaugural Disney princess was “not going to be saved by the prince, and she’s not going to be dreaming about true love.” Instead, the new film will portray Snow as a “leader,” and will not focus on the love story.

“We have a different approach to what I’m sure a lot of people will assume is a love story just because we cast a guy in the movie,” Zegler said in another interview, adding that Prince Charming was a bit of a stalker in the original film.

The actress’s worst crime of all, however, was saying that she had only watched the 1937 film once before landing the role because she used to be scared of it as a child. That instantly turned devout Disney fans against her, claiming she was undeserving of the honor and was playing a character she didn’t even like, while simultaneously wanting to change her into something she is not. Mind you, Zegler had no part in writing, directing, or producing the flick.

Some of the fairer criticism came from those who said it is not anti-feminist to want true love, and that even if the film had stuck with its original “true love’s kiss” narrative it would still be representative of women who do want to be housewives and aspire to a relationship above anything else. While there is truth to that, it is also just as valid to want to re-contextualize this early 20th century princess story to a world where women do have the choice to want more than that.

Why the hate train against Rachel Zegler and Brie Larson needs to stop

Above anything else, it is factual that nothing that Rachel Zegler or Brie Larson ever said warranted the kind of vitriol they were both subjected to and that perhaps there’s a bigger, underlying reason why two outspoken women have been so poorly received by audiences. Ironically, two actresses who have dared to confidently state their (rather harmless) opinions, instead of being excessively grateful and submissive to the Hollywood machine, ended up being harassed for force-feeding “woke”-ism into media that has thrived on tradition and conservatism their entire existence.

Naturally, fans of properties like Marvel and Disney, large vehicles for All-American culture, were probably not ready to have their visions of the world threatened by two women who simply dared to express their beliefs in an unabashed manner. In Larson’s case, the primarily male Marvel fandom didn’t appreciate her criticism of the lack of diversity in the taste and opinion makers surrounding the franchise. As for Zegler, the family-oriented Disney demographic was uncomfortable with her dismissing their domestic way of life.

After all, breaking the status quo has never come without making a few enemies, and we’re grateful people like these award-winning professionals have not been discouraged by the hatred of those who are terrified of change. If anything, these reactions are evidence they’re doing something right. If anything, they prove that we still live in a world where saying minorities should get to express their opinions about culture as much as white men and women can be leaders instead of just wanting a boyfriend still makes you the internet’s number one target.