Welcome back stinkers! It is just like Christmas day for us sweaty nerds! This year we were treated to our first look at Creature Commandos, which I thought was great. That might have been it for DC, but we still had Marvel to look forward to. So, today I am going to recap the Marvel Hall H (2024) panel for you guys. I’m just going to say it. I thought that Marvel just about dropped the ball on this one. Until the very end. I’m telling you; you’re going to want to read all the way through.
Captain America: Brave New World
So, we start off the presentation with Captain America: Brave New World, which was all great. The cast was then brought on stage, Anthony Mackie (Sam Wilson), Danny Ramirez (Joaquin Torres), Tim Blake Nelson (Samuel Sterns), and Giancarlo Esposito. What might be the biggest piece of news, Esposito revealed who he is going to be playing. After months of speculation, he surprised us by revealing that he is the King of the Serpent Society. Esposito is playing the character of Sidewinder. He really meant what he said. No one has guessed his character! It is definitely going to be interesting to see this character play out.
They had one more person to bring out on stage. Harrsion Ford went on stage, and even hulked out himself. They then went on to show a clip from the movie. They showed a bit of the same footage that was shown at CinemaCon, but then went a little further. Sam is approached by Thaddeus Ross, and he wants to assemble a new Avengers team. We already knew about that! That clip was then followed by Harrison Ford giving a speech at the White House. That’s when he hulks out, and Red Hulk as a whole is revealed to the public. We also learn that Adamantium is confirmed for the film. That is a very easy set up for the X-Men, with Wolverine. Captain America: Brave New World is set to come out on Valentines Day, February 14, 2025.
Thunderbolts*
Moving on to Thunderbolts*, the whole cast walk out on stage, with David Harbour wearing the new Red Guardians suit. Now I have been seeing some complaints about his new suit, but I don’t mind it. Is it better than his suit in Black Widow? No. But I think it’s starting to grow on me. The cast members that were brought out on stage consisted of Julia Louis-Dreyfus (Val), Sebastian Stan (Bucky Barnes), Wyatt Russel (John Walker), Olga Kurylenko (Taskmaster), Hannah John-Kamen (Ghost), Florence Pugh (Yelena), David Harbour (Red Guardian), and Lewis Pullman (Sentry). They were also joined by the director, Jake Schreier. The Thunderbolts* is set to release on May 2, 2025.
Thunderbolts* Trailer Footage
They then went on to show a first look of the film. Yelena pays a visit to Alexei, her dad, and he opens the door with a surprised reaction. Yelena explains to her dad that she thinks there’s something wrong with her. As she talks with Alexei, we see footage of Bucky walking into a courtroom, followed by John Walker reading an article about himself titled, “Fall of a Hero”.
We then cut to Yelena making her way down in some secret lair, littered with computers and papers. John Walker is already down there, and he starts shooting at her. Ghost and few other characters are there, and a big fight breaks out. Lewis Pullman’s character then enters the scene, stumbling out in a hospital gown. Yelena asks him who sent him here, and he replies with, “You were all sent?” The doors then shut, and it is revealed that it was a trap.
We then cut to a montage, that showed Val walking into a party that had Marvel relics like Loki’s scepter. This could possibly be Avengers tower, and Val is the one that bought it. After many years! We have finally found out who bought Avengers tower. We then go on to see shots of the team assembled in an elevator, and Yelena jump off of a building. When Florence Pugh was on stage, we learned that she did some of her own stunts. One of those stunts being, jumping off of the 2nd tallest building in the world. As the team then enters Val’s office, she says, “There are good guys, and you’re bad guys, but there are worse guys.”
The Fantastic Four: First Steps
It was at this point of the presentation that I was getting a little bit worried. Time was running out, and they’ve only talked about three movies. They brought out the director, Matt Shakman, but then surprised us with the main cast. They brought out Pedro Pascal (Reed Richards), Vanessa Kirby (Sue Storm), Joseph Quin (Johnny Storm), and Ebon Moss-Bachrach (Ben Grimm). The film hasn’t started filming yet but is set to start on Tuesday. So, they didn’t have any footage to show us, but they did have some concept art and some early test footage. There was a huge emphasis on the 60s vibe, and you can see that in the art above. Yes, Marvel even brought the Fantasticar. There was even a title change that was shown, The Fantastic Four: First Steps.
Speaking of the concept art, we see the crew suiting up about to go to space. It was described to be like the early test footage we saw of The Batman. Practically close ups on suit tests and all. There was apparently even art that showed Ben Grimm as a dating show contestant. The attendees were then treated to a first look of Galactus, peaking behind a building. Kevin Feige then ends this part of the presentation with announcing that the Fantastic Four will return for Avengers 5 and Secret Wars.
The Russo Brothers Return for Avengers!
After The Fantastic Four presentation was over, I was disappointed with the Marvel Hall H (2024) panel. Time was about up, and they’ve practically given us nothing to get excited about. Then they turned it all around. They had a huge mic drop moment! Kevin Feige invites the Russo Brothers out on stage, and it is announced that they are returning for Avengers 5 and Secret Wars. It is official! Marvel is back!!!! Now I never think they left, but they are certainly getting me more excited than ever. The Russo Brothers made some of the best Marvel movies. They’ve made some of the best comic book movies! It doesn’t end there. They gave us a new logo for Avengers: Secret Wars. They then announced the title for Avengers 5. Ladies and gentlemen, Avengers: Doomsday! Wait. There’s more.
ROBERT DOWNEY JR. AS DR. DOOM
This just about made the presentation. They saved the Marvel Hall H (2024) panel at the end! With the Avengers: Doomsday logo on the screen, people in Doom masks and cloaks walk on to the stage. That’s when the grand reveal shapes up, and Robet Downey Jr. reveals himself to be Victor Von Doom! Dr. Doom might just be the best Marvel villain out there, and RDJ has what it takes! I don’t understand the complaints at all. This isn’t going to ruin his legacy as Iron Man! What he did with Tony Stark was amazing and perfect, the best thing is that it will stay that way. With Robert Downey Jr.’s return, we can expect another great legacy for a different character. We are truly blessed with the return of RDJ, I just think that some people are being ungrateful.
Now, how does Dr. Doom play into the films, story wise? I think there’s a huge chance that we see him teased in The Fantastic Four in a post credit scene of some kind. Marvel did drop the ball with Kang the Conqueror. They would almost have to build up another villain again. Now that it’s kind of too late in the game for that, I think it was a really smart move to cast RDJ. Now I don’t know this for a fact, but I believe that this is a variant of Tony Stark. I know the Russo Brothers said that it will be Victor Von Doom. However, I think they could still make it a Tony Stark variant, who just changed his name to Victor.
There is huge narrative potential here. Just what if Tony Stark never had that in the cave moment? What if Tony Stark never broke good? He broke evil.
Marvel Hall H (2024) Panel Wrap Up
That is going to do it for my Marvel Hall H (2024) panel recap! This was about to be the lamest presentation they’ve ever done, but then they turned everything right around. How do you feel about Robert Downey Jr. being cast as Dr. Doom. I personally think that it is awesome, and it fits beautifully into the Multiverse Saga. Make sure you check out The Big Stinker Blog for more coverage on movies, TV, gaming, and everything you love. So, until next time stinkers! Bye bye.