Entertainment

Marvel unleashes RDJ’s Doctor Doom, Galactus, and the Red Hulk

The next phase looks HUGE

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Image source: Marvel/Disney

Gone are the glory days of monumental Hall H. Formerly ground zero for the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s biggest announcements, the iconic venue has lost much of its luster over the years. Until this past weekend.

Rekindling the nostalgic hype of awaiting news for upcoming movies, Marvel has allotted three spots to wow fans during this year’s San Diego Comic Con, including its most shocking announcement, to date.

The return of the king

Let’s get the biggest news out of the way, shall we? After controversies rocked Jonathan Majors’s acting career, Marvel Studios has now allowed the Multiverse Era’s Kang to fizzle out. Avengers: The Kang Dynasty has been taken out of the release schedule.

Instead of the multiverse-hopping villain, Marvel has gone to a familiar face to bring the Earth’s Mightiest Heroes together for its next massive team-up movie — Victor von Doom, otherwise known as Doctor Doom.

Oh, and let’s be clear; it’s a very familiar face. Robert Downey Jr. is returning to the Marvel Cinematic Universe as the villain, sparking a controversial wave of both doubts and excitement. You can almost hear a foul-mouthed merc muttering, “…’til you’re ninety” over and over again.

RDJ isn’t the only returning alumni, either. Avengers: Doomsday, coming in 2026, will be directed by the Russo Brothers, who previously helmed Infinity War and Endgame. Avengers: Secret Wars is still coming as the follow-up to the retitled fifth film.

Introducing the First Family

Though the world already knows quite a bit about the return of the Fantastic Four to the MCU, Hall H teased the upcoming film even further. All four members of Marvel’s First Family showed up for the event. The studio also revealed the film’s definitive title — The Fantastic Four: First Steps.

The title does thematically share in the familial nature of the superhero team. However, it also has a sense foreboding, especially since we already know that Doctor Doom is coming. It’s pretty much confirmed that Galactus is the film’s big baddie, too. There’s no rest for the Fantastic Four in the cinematic future.

The Fantastic Four: First Steps premieres on July 25, 2025.

Painting the town red

Finally, Marvel teased the next film after Deadpool & Wolverine. Spinning off from the Disney+ series, Captain America: Brave New World will see the cinematic debut of Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie) as the new Captain America.

Once again tapping into political intrigue, the upcoming film features two villains. One is played by Giancarlo Esposito. Finally, Hall H revealed who the talented actor is playing. He will play Sidewinder, the leader of the Serpent Society.

The event also unleashed Harrison Ford as Thaddeus Ross, taking over from the late William Hurt. This time, Ross won’t just be hiding behind the American government. He’ll get his hands dirty as The Red Hulk.

Captain America: Brave New World premieres on February 12, 2025.

Entertainment

Netflix: Kris Aquino makes on-screen comeback with fictional role

Long-time TV icon named “C.H.I.K.A.” of Netflix

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Long-time popular Philippine TV icon Kris Aquino has made her on-screen comeback as Netflix’s fictional C.H.I.K.A., or “Chief Head of Insights and Kontent Analysis.”

Netflix initially teased the campaign through a post mentioning that they were “hiring” for the said position.

The post also contained a bullet list of descriptions that served as clues. Not long after, the streaming giant bared the former presidential daughter and presidential sister has made her comeback.

A teaser has likewise been released. The fun skit features Aquino in this new fictional role, giving her signature witty commentary inside the Netflix editing room to ensure that the production of local entertainment content is of topnotch quality.

Two more episodes will be rolled out on August 14 and 20.

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Entertainment

New Yorkers compete in Ted Lasso lookalike contest at Apple Fifth Avenue

Futbol is life!

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Apple Fifth Avenue or Nelson Road? New Yorkers gathered at the iconic flagship store as it transformed into a slice of AFC Richmond for a Ted Lasso lookalike contest celebrating the return of the hit Apple TV+ series.

Dozens of fans arrived in Ted’s signature look, complete with mustaches, visors, blue sweaters, and khakis. Inside the store, the AFC Richmond takeover continued with themed photo opportunities and hidden Easter eggs for longtime fans to discover.

The celebration continued across Midtown and Central Park, where brand ambassadors spread kindness with “Believe” signs, complimentary coffee and tea, a tunnel of cheering Teds for runners, and the Goldfish Zone, where visitors symbolically let go of worries by dropping paper fish into a fishbowl.

Photo by Apple

The takeover marked the return of Ted Lasso, which premiered its fourth season on Apple TV+ on Aug. 5, which arrives more than three years after Season 3 concluded in 2023.

Jason Sudeikis returns as the relentlessly optimistic coach, this time leading AFC Richmond’s newly formed women’s team while reuniting with familiar faces.

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Entertainment

Street Fighter special look: Blanka vs. Ryu

Jason Momoa, Andrew Koji’s characters face off

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Paramount Pictures has released a new special look for Street Fighter featuring Jason Momoa and Andrew Koji.

The short, minute-long clip shows the actors’ respective characters, Blanka and Ryu, in battle.

It opens with a chained prisoner struck by extreme electrical charges, transforming into the green-skinned, electricity-infused Blanka.

He unleashes a fierce roar. Meanwhile, Ryu drops into a fighting stance, but tells Blanka he does not want to fight him.

Forced to defend himself, Ryu then fires a signature Hadouken fireball towards Blanka, as the teaser cuts to the Street Fighter title card.

Street Fighter debuts in cinemas starting October 14. It is directed by Kitao Sakurai and stars an ensemble cast that includes Noah Centineo as Ken Masters, Callina Liang as Chun-Li, Joe “Roman Reigns” Anoai as Akuma, and Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson as Balrog, among others.

The film is set in 1993 when estranged Street Fighters Ryu and Ken Masters are thrown into combat when Chun-Li recruits them for the next World Warrior Tournament.

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