The MCU may have let Mahershala Ali slip through its fingers with vampire hunter Blade, but Luke Cage showrunner Cheo Hodari Coker revealed why he didn't "fumble the bag" with the Oscar-winning actor for his turn as iconic crime boss Cottonmouth.

"I didn’t fumble the bag the first time," Coker wrote on Twitter in response to a fan suggesting Marvel fumbled Ali twice.

Ali played Cornell Stokes, AKA Cottonmouth, in the first season of Luke Cage and instantly became one of the standout characters in a packed roster of Marvel's Netflix TV outings.

Cottonmouth's death in the show may have come as a shock – and opened up a power vacuum at Harlem's Paradise – but came about due to Ali's packed schedule. In a moment of serendipity, Ali departing Luke Cage also allowed him to film Green Book, a film for which he won Best Actor.

"He took the role because it was a limited appearance. He was always going to die in episode 7, by design. He made Luke Cage, Hidden Figures, and Moonlight simultaneously. He was killing it on Luke Cage and Marvel TV and the other actors begged me to change my mind, which would have locked him into a long term contract (and cost him the Green Book Oscar) but I kept my word to him on a handshake. That’s why we’re friends to this day. Always keep your word."

Unlike Luke Cage, Ali's other experience with Marvel is less straightforward.

Ali was attached to Blade, first announced at 2019's San Diego Comic-Con. Multiple directors and writers attempted to get the project off the ground, with Ali first portraying Blade in a voice cameo in 2021's Eternals.

Ultimately, Blade went nowhere. Ali voiced his frustrations in an interview with GQ earlier this month.

"No offense to them. I’ve been doing this professionally for pushing 30 years now, and one thing I've learned is that what is for you is for you and what is not is not. For whatever reason, that project is not for me. If they wanted to do it, we would've done it. So I have to move on, and I have moved on," Ali said.

For more, check out the upcoming Marvel movies currently in the works, as well as all the latest news on Marvel Phase 6.

VisionQuest star James Spader says Ultron's been up to some pretty normal, nonvillainous stuff since he was defeated in Avengers: Age of Ultron.

"He's had access to the internet, television, history, and he’s just been consuming... and he’s been painting," Spader tells Rotten Tomatoes, in conversation with co-star Paul Bettany. "[Ultron and Vision] have a sort of father-son-therapist-psychopath relationship."

Even though his last conscious body was destroyed by Vision, Ultron is still technically Vision's creator (or peepaw, as he calls himself in the trailer) and therefore has a permanent place in Vision's mind. After the events of WandaVision, the magic version of Vision has since faded away, and all that's left is the rebuilt version that is colorless in appearance and has no memory of Wanda or his past. The upcoming series sees Vision grapple with his own identity, while also welcoming Ultron into his home for some reason. We love a family reunion.

"He lives in this kind of fantastic prison loft and I go to him for advice," Bettany says. "He's just been imprisoned for... by now it would be 14 years or something."

Created by Terry Matalas, the cast includes Bettany as Vision, with Orla Brady as Friday, Emily Hampshire as E.D.I.T.H., T'Nia Miller as Jocasta, James D'Arcy as Jarvis (yes, that Jarvis), and Ruaridh Mollica as Tommy Maximoff.

VisionQuest is set to hit Disney Plus on October 13. In the meantime, check out our guide to all the most exciting upcoming Marvel movies and shows for everything else that's in the works.

Just weeks after Marvel TV show Wonder Man was scrapped, new figures show that season 1 was the second most-watched original series on Disney Plus during the first half of 2026, making its cancelation even more confusing.

As per new figures shared by Luminate Data, Wonder Man was the second-most-streamed original TV show on Disney Plus in the US during the first six months of 2026. Wonder Man season 1 clocked in at 1.9 billion views after hitting the streamer on January 27. The show sits behind Daredevil: Born Again season 2, which is the most-streamed show of the year so far at 2.3 billion views, after premiering on March 24.

The rest of the top ten includes Percy Jackson and the Olympians season 2 at 1.8 billion views, Daredevil: Born Again season 1 at 1.3 billion, Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord at 1.1 billion, The Mandalorian season 1 at 887.9 million, Percy Jackson and the Olympians season 1 at 798.7 million, The Mandalorian season 3 at 790.2 million, Phineas and Ferb season 5 at 776.2, and in tenth place is The Mandalorian season 2 with 728 million.

With that, it looks like many viewers were rewatching shows like The Mandalorian in preparation for The Mandalorian and Grogu, and Percy Jackson season 1 before season 2 dropped this summer. Wonder Man and surprise Star Wars hit Maul – Shadow Lord are the only brand new shows to break into the top 10 list, which is pretty impressive.

However, both Daredevil: Born Again and Maul – Shadow Lord currently have new seasons in the works. So why was Wonder Man scrapped before its second season? Despite being renewed for season 2 in March, Marvel Studios and Disney pulled the plug on Wonder Man in July, seemingly out of the blue. In fact, not even showrunner Andrew Guest saw it coming, as the scribe had already started writing Wonder Man season 2.

Right now, the only new live-action show in the works at Marvel TV (that we know of) is VisionQuest. However, other popular series continue to grow, with Your Friendly Neighbourhood Spider-Man season 2, Daredevil: Born Again season 3, and X-Men '97 season 3 (and 4) all on the way.

For more on Marvel Phase 6, check out our guide on how to watch the Marvel movies in order and keep up with upcoming Marvel movies and shows.

Following Marvel Studios showing off its upcoming movie slate at San Diego Comic-Con 2026 and D23, you may have noticed that the studio failed to announce any new shows. However, it sounds as though the superhero studio has a few projects up its sleeve.

According to Puck's What I'm Hearing, there are multiple live-action Marvel series in development over at Disney Plus, with official announcements set to arrive soon.

Now, we don't know what the new projects are, but more may be revealed at New York Comic Con 2026. The Marvel Television and Marvel Animation panel takes place at NYCC on Thursday, October 8th. The listing reads, "Join special guests for an inside look at Marvel Television and Marvel Animation’s most anticipated upcoming series on Disney Plus."

The only new live-action TV show Marvel has on the way is WandaVision spin-off VisionQuest, welcoming back Paul Bettany as the hero in his own solo adventure. In terms of renewals, we know that season 2 of animated show Your Friendly Neighbourhood Spider-Man is set to hit Disney Plus in January 2027. Daredevil: Born Again season 3 and X-Men '97 season 3 (and 4) are currently in development too.

However, Marvel TV has had a bit of a shakeup this year. The studio decided to cancel original superhero show Wonder Man after previously renewing it for a second season. Plus, at SDCC 2026, Marvel head Kevin Feige confirmed the upcoming Nova project, which was previously announced as a TV show, is now going forward as a movie.

Marvel movies, on the other hand, are flourishing. Last month, Spider-Man: Brand New Day hit screens to record-breaking box office takings, and Avengers: Doomsday is set to hit screens this December. More sequels are on the way too, including Avengers: Secret Wars and Black Panther 3. Aside from follow-ups, Marvel announced its upcoming Ghost Rider movie at SDCC and revealed the cast of Marvel's X-Men at D23.

The next Marvel project set to hit screens is TV show VisionQuest on October 14, 2026, on Disney Plus. For more, check out our guide to watching the Marvel movies in order, and keep up with new Marvel movies and TV shows.

The first trailer for VisionQuest has arrived at D23, and it's a wild trip into Vision's glitchy mind.

The trailer, which you can watch above, is the climax of the WandaVision trilogy, which continued with 2024's Agatha All Along. Seemingly set in the mind of White Vision, where Vision's human avatar lives out a colorful life alongside a host of Marvel universe AI characters, it's also set to reintroduce a teenage Tommy Maximoff (aka Speed). Perhaps most excitingly of all, James Spader is back as the genocidal Ultron, who seems to be taking over Vision's mind. Check the trailer out above.

Paul Bettany returns as Vision, with the rest of the cast including James Spader as Ultron, Orla Brady as Friday, Emily Hampshire as E.D.I.T.H., T'Nia Miller as Jocasta, James D'Arcy as Jarvis, and Ruaridh Mollica as Tommy Maximoff.

"I think that Terry [Matalas, showrunner] realized, and agreed with me, that I feel like Marvel gets rewarded when it takes really big swings," Bettany has previously said of the show.

"And I think that he just understood in his bones who Vision is. And Vision is for the kid that I was when I was a kid – the kid that felt like an outsider and felt like they had no community that they fit into. And he knew who these stories are for and who Vision is for. And I think we made a really fun and entertaining show about a guy who's an outsider and trying to find out who he is."

VisionQuest arrives this October 13, and from October 14 in the UK. In the meantime, check out our guide to all the most exciting upcoming Marvel movies and shows for everything else that's in the works.

You can also keep up to date with our D23 liveblog.

An actor behind cancelled Marvel TV show New Warriors has revealed a treasure trove of behind-the-scenes images from the MCU project, as well a heartfelt tribute to the series-that-never-was.

Derek Theler, who was set to play Mr. Immortal in the New Warriors pilot, took to Instagram to explain more about the show, which featured the unlikely C-list team of Squirrel Girl, Night Thrasher, Speedball, Microbe, and Debrii protecting Cleveland, Ohio, of all places.

"The concept was hilarious," Theler wrote. "A group of young adults with superpowers trying to figure out how to actually become superheroes, all while being followed by a documentary camera crew. Basically, Marvel meets The Office."

Despite filming a pilot that, according to Theler, was well-received, the show eventually fell by the wayside.

Theler wrote, "Eventually, the show disappeared into Hollywood limbo. No dramatic cancellation. No real explanation. We just never came back."

While it joins the long list of other scrapped superhero projects, from Marvel or otherwise, Theler has at least shared clips and photos from production, including Milana Vayntrub's Squirrel Girl in costume – which you can see below.

"We were FORBIDDEN from taking photos or videos on set… but there was no chance I was letting my introduction to the MCU go completely undocumented," Theler said. "So I secretly captured some BTS footage. As far as I know, it’s the only footage from our shoot outside whatever Marvel has locked away in a vault."

Theler even shared his own personal thoughts on the project's termination. He wrote, "Every once in a while, I wonder what could have been. Would people have loved it? Would we have gotten multiple seasons?"

New Warriors, though, has shown no signs of life since. Squirrel Girl's actor Milana Vayntrub went on to voice the character in Marvel Rivals, however.

Marvel Studios has pared back on its television output, too, with Daredevil: Born Again season 3 and VisionQuest among its very few MCU projects on Disney Plus in the next 12 months.

For more, check out our guide to upcoming Marvel movies.

A new look at VisionQuest has debuted at D23 and it's seemingly revealed a major new character. Shared on social media by attendees, the promotional art shows a figure on fire, surrounded by flames.

Plenty of Marvel fans on Reddit have already put two and two together and think this may be the Original Human Torch. The character has a fascinating history in the comics. Real name Jim Hammond, he first appeared back in 1939 as part of Timely Comics, Marvel's predecessor.

He was an android created by a scientist under the watch of Victor Timely (who we met in Loki season 2) and had the ability to control flames. He was one of the three main original heroes, alongside Captain America and Namor, before he fell mostly into obscurity and was repurposed into a member of the Fantastic Four in the '50s.

However, it's his connection with Vision that will likely be the most fertile ground for the upcoming TV show. In an Avengers storyline from the '70s, it was revealed that Torch's body was used to create Vision by none other than Ultron, who we know will play a key role in VisionQuest.

We have seen Vision's origins in the MCU already in Avengers: Age of Ultron. He was created by Ultron combining a vibranium body, synthetic tissue, and the Mind Stone. Tony Stark, Bruce Banner, and Thor intercepted the transfer, uploading J.A.R.V.I.S. to him, making the Vision we know and love, played by Paul Bettany. This could be expanded in VisionQuest though, especially if the show dives into Ultron's origins of creating Vision.

This also isn't the first time that we've had a nod to Hammond in the MCU either. Back in Captain America: The First Avenger, Howard Stark's Stark Expo showcased an android in a glass case. Called Phineas Horton's "Synthetic Man", this was a nod to the original Human Torch. It will be interesting to see that Easter egg finally expanded in the MCU, almost 15 years later.

VisionQuest releases on October 14, 2026 on Disney Plus. This makes it the next MCU project ahead of Avengers: Doomsday in December. For more upcoming superhero movies, check out our guide to all the new Marvel movies and shows you need to know about.

Sadly, X-Men '97 season 2 has come to an end, and with it has taken one of our favorite mutants. But, according to producer Jake Castorena, that death may not be as permanent as it looked.

Warning, the following contains major spoilers for X-Men '97 season 2 episode 9, so turn back now if you haven't caught up. But first, read our spoiler-free X-Men '97 season 2 review.

During the action-packed X-Men '97 season 2 finale, a couple of characters met their end in the battle against Apocalypse. However, the biggest death has to be Nightcrawler, real name Kurt Wagner. The blue-skinned mutant sacrificed himself to the Celestial in order to save his sister Rogue. You can read more about that in our X-Men '97 season 2 ending explained.

However, we may see Wagner again. In an interview with ScreenRant, Castorena was asked whether Nightcrawler and other mutants who died earlier in the season could return. "First and foremost, I will say: is anyone ever really dead in comics? Is anyone ever really dead?" said the producer. "Make no mistake, Nightcrawler is dead, you'll just have to watch season 3 to see how it all may play out. That's what I can say."

That's a little confusing, but what it sounds like Castorena is saying is that even though certain mutants may have died, they can always be brought back. It wouldn't be the first time a mutant had been revived in the animated series. In season 2, Gambit was resurrected by Apocalypse after being murdered in season 1. Maybe we will see Nightcrawler in X-Men '97 season 3, which is expected to premiere sometime in 2027.

However, Marvel fans will get to see another version of Nightcrawler again very soon. Original Nightcrawler star Alan Cumming is set to return as the mutant in Avengers: Doomsday alongside some of his Fox-era X-Men co-stars, including Patrick Stewart's Professor X, Ian McKellen's Magneto, James Marsden's Cyclops, and more. Cumming notably played the character in the 2003 movie X2: X-Men United.

X-Men '97 season 2 is now streaming in full on Disney Plus. For more, check out our guide on how to watch the X-Men movies in order, and keep up with upcoming Marvel movies and shows on the way.

X-Men '97 season 3 could arrive sooner than you think. The third season of Marvel's animated revival is currently scheduled to release in 2027, and seasons 4 is already confirmed as well. With a certain telekinetic mutant having just made her deubt in Spider-Man: Brand New Day, it's a great time to be an X-Men fan.

X-Men '97 season 2 went back to the very beginning, depicting how first mutant Apocalypse became a time-travelling tyrant hell-bent on wiping out the X-Men. Season 3 can't possibly get (much) bigger than that. But the addition of a long-awaited, blue-skinned shapeshifter has put season 3 near the top of our most anticipated list, even if the show sits outside of MCU continuity on the list of upcoming Marvel movies and shows.

Below, you'll find everything we currently know about X-Men '97 season 3, including release date speculation, educated plot theories, cast we expect to return, and more. Season 2 spoilers follow, so make sure you're up to speed before reading on. For the full deep-dive, check out our X-Men '97 season 2 ending explained.

X-Men '97 season 3 release date speculation

X-Men '97 season 3 will release in 2027, according to Marvel Studios Head of TV and Streaming Brad Winderbaum, who confirmed the (wide) release window to Collider just ahead of the season 2 finale. At the same time, Winderbaum also revealed that season 4 will follow one year later in 2028, making the two-year wait between seasons 1 and 2 a thing of the past.

Producer Larry Houston previously claimed that the two-year gap between seasons 1 and 2 wouldn't happen again, as the production problems that caused the delay were a "one-off," backing up Winderbaum's release plan. For now, we don't have a more specific date than next year, but don't be surprised if it debuts in the summer.

Is there an X-Men '97 season 2 trailer?

There is no X-Men '97 season 3 trailer just yet, though given that Marvel Studios Animation is no doubt deep into production on season 3, it's possible we may get a glimpse of the upcoming season sooner than later.

The trailer for X-Men '97 season 2 was first shown behind closed doors at New York Comic Con in October 2025, but wasn't released online until May 2026, over 7 months later. If Marvel follows the same schedule, we could have a bit of a wait on our hands for the trailer.

X-Men '97 season 3 plot speculation

While there are no official plot details about X-Men '97 season 3, we can make an educated guess about what might happen following the season 2 finale and that exciting X-Men '97 season 2 post-credits scene.

X-Men '97 season 2 ends with Apocalypse defeated, Gambit back in the land of the living, and even Rogue safe and sound, despite making a deal with a Celestial to exchange her life for Remy's. Turns out there has been a sacrifice – Nightcrawler paid the life debt, and is revealed to have died so that Rogue may live. *sniff*

The fallout of this sacrifice will no doubt figure into season 3. But far more significant in terms of future setup is the X-Men '97 season 2 post-credits scene. In her office, X-Factor operator Val Cooper is watching Graydon Creed being sworn in as president. Given he ran on an anti-mutant platform, this doesn't bode well. Only, this isn't Val; it's Mystique in disguise, who it's revealed has killed the high-ranking official. Again, this does not bode well. As Mystique flips through her file, it reads "Mystique determined to attack the US." "I'll say," quips Mystique in response. Needless to say, US soil isn't safe with Mystique on the loose.

As for the rest of the X-Men, Cyclops and Jean still have unresolved issues with their now grown-up son, Nathan (aka. Cable), particularly after he betrayed the X-Men in order to take down Remy-Apocalypse. There's also the small matter of X-Force still working to round up mutants that the government takes against. Charles may have exploited a loophole and relocated the X-Men to a rebuilt Genosha in the form of X-Corp, but this arrangement clearly doesn't have a long-term future following the attack on the X-Corp building by X-Factor in the season 2 finale, and the small matter of Mystique secretly replacing Val...

X-Men '97 season 3 cast

X-Men '97 is a show that loves to kill off beloved characters, so there are some major mutants we're not expecting to return in season 3. Though given that Gambit is now alive and kicking after being bumped off in season 1, and that time travel is an everyday occurrence, a miraculous resurrection is never out of the question.

We'd expect new characters to be introduced in future episodes, but here's where the season 3 cast stands, based on who survives season 2:

• Ray Chase as Scott Summers / Cyclops
• Jennifer Hale as Jean Grey / Phoenix
• Ross Marquand – Professor Charles Xavier
• Allison Sealy-Smith as Ororo Munroe / Storm
• Cal Dodd as Logan / Wolverine
• J.P. Karliak as Morph
• Lenore Zann as Rogue
• George Buza as Beast
• A.J. LoCascio as Remy LeBeau / Gambit
• Holly Chou as Jubilee
• Isaac Robinson-Smith as Bishop
• Gui Agustini as Sunspot
• Chris Potter as Nathan Summers / Cable
• Gates McFadden as Rachel Summers / Mother Askani
• Catherine Disher as Valerie Cooper
• Mystique

X-Men '97 is streaming now on Disney Plus. For more, check out our guide on how to watch the X-Men movies in order.

Filming on Daredevil: Born Again season 3 has wrapped – but Marvel fans are worried about the future.

News recently broke that Wonder Man season 2 was cancelled, despite the show being previously officially renewed. That, combined with the fact that there are no live-action Marvel shows on the release slate past Born Again season 3 next year, has fans thinking the age of MCU TV might be coming to an end.

"I have a feeling this is the last season because S2 didn't have as [many] viewers as S1 did... and after Wonder Man you never know," says one fan.

"I really hope this season won't be the last time we see everyone," says someone else. "Man, please don't be the last," asks another fan.

"Crazy how it's looking like Daredevil Born Again S3 will be the last season of live action Marvel television for a while… An end to a very interesting era in the MCU," is another person's thoughts.

"I hope it's not the last one," says another person. "Probably the final season," predicts another person.

"I think it's gonna wrap up in the 3rd one, and honestly, as long as there's something for the future of the Defenders and a big role in the next MCU movies, I'll be satisfied," says another fan.

"Sorry it took so long to say, but THAT'S A WRAP on production for Season 3 of Daredevil Born Again," showrunner Dario Scardapane wrote on his Instagram story. "Thank you to Marvel and the magnificent cast and crew that made this season something very, very, very special. I'm humbled daily by the talent I get to work with. Cannot wait for you to see what all these twisted minds have come up with. #BestCrewEver"

It's unclear at the moment whether this really is the end of the road for Daredevil. What is clear, though, is that Wonder Man season 2 definitely isn't happening.

"I love that show to death. If it were up to me, we would be making that show," co-creator Destin Daniel Cretton said recently. "And I do believe that if – and I know this sounds weird – but if it were up to Kevin [Feige], we would be doing that show."

Daredevil: Born Again season 3 arrives next March. While you wait, check out our guide to all the most exciting upcoming Marvel movies and TV shows.

Disney Plus Wonder Man series co-creator Destin Daniel Cretton says he's just as confused and heartbroken as the rest of us over the show's cancellation... but that it wasn't Marvel boss Kevin Feige's decision.

"I love that show to death. If it were up to me, we would be making that show," Cretton told TheWrap. “And I do believe that if – and I know this sounds weird – but if it were up to Kevin, we would be doing that show.”

Continued Cretton: "I'm just talking; I don’t fully understand the business of streaming, but if the business was right, we would be making that show because I know Kevin loves that show as much as I do. It's a bummer. I’m heartbroken about it. But I need to fully understand the why."

The statement comes just a day after co-creator Andrew Guest confirmed that the cancellation was "not a marketing stunt" and that "there is no movie in the works." He also clarified that there were no issues with anyone's schedules, including Cretton's (who has a lot on his plate after directing Spider-Man: Brand New Day).

Wonder Man follows Simon Williams (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II), a struggling actor with secret superpowers, as he auditions for the lead role in a superhero movie. He crosses paths with the rather eccentric Trevor Slattery (Ben Kingsley), and the two strike up an unlikely friendship. The series currently sits at a Rotten Tomatoes score of 91%, and a rather impressive audience rating of 88%. A second season was announced back in March (and I am still really, really sad about this).

For more, check out our list of all the upcoming Marvel movies and shows in 2026 and beyond.

Iron Fist star Jessica Henwick has revealed she had conversations with Marvel about returning as her character Colleen Wing in Daredevil: Born Again season 3.

But while Jessica Jones and Luke Cage returned in season 2 – and Danny Rand will be back in season 3 – Colleen will not be making an appearance.

"I've said multiple times over the years, I would love to come back. I know that everyone is back this season. I'm not in this season," Henwick told Inverse. "We did have discussions about whether I should go back this season. But for me, her story ended with her going off into the sunset. She has the Iron Fist. She's got Misty by her side. Daughters of the Dragon is happening. She ended on a really great note."

However, that doesn't mean the door is permanently closed. "I'm just not interested in bringing her back unless it's worth sort of unpicking that happiness, because obviously she can't be happy on a TV series. If she's back, something's gone wrong," Henwick explained. "I would absolutely love to come back, but it would just really have to be the right story."

It sounds like Marvel was in agreement. "They were like, 'Yeah, we don't want to bring you back, and then you just [stand] in the back of the shot.' So hopefully soon, but I don't really know," she added.

One character who is returning for season 3 is Elodie Yung's Elektra, and we've already had a look at her comeback thanks to a set video.

Daredevil: Born Again season 3 arrives in March 2027. While you wait, check out our guide to all the upcoming Marvel movies and shows for everything else that's on the way.

It wasn't just fans who had the rug pulled from under their feet last week when Marvel cancelled Wonder Man out of the blue just months after it had been renewed for season 2, as even showrunner Andrew Guest was shocked about the decision.

"I just want to say that I've been listening. I appreciate you all. I feel how you all feel, and I just want to clear up what I can here," said Guest over on TikTok just days after the news broke online. "This is not a marketing stunt. There is no movie in the works, and Destin's schedule... no one's schedule was an issue."

Many presumed that the enormous success of Spider-Man: Brand New Day had something to do with the cancellation. Directed by Destin Daniel Cretton, Brand New Day, which hit screens last Friday, July 31, is projected to earn close to $1 billion worldwide. Fans thought this meant Marvel had cancelled Wonder Man, which was directed by Cretton, in order to move the filmmaker onto bigger projects.

However, Guest says that both Cretton, stars Yahya Abdul-Mateen II and Sir Ben Kingsley, and himself "all loved making this show," and "felt passionately about continuing to do it, and were eager to." However, something changed higher up. "There was a decision made internally between Disney and Marvel that this didn't make sense for them, even though a few months ago it did. That's all I really know."

In fact, the team had already been making major moves toward the sophomore season. "Contracts were signed, schedules were clear, the writer's room was supposed to start this month, production was supposed to begin early next year," said Guest. "I had written the first episode of season 2, and we had it outlined for where the season would go, and everyone felt really good about it. It was going to be a really incredible season that hopefully surpassed season 1."

It is not clear why Marvel and Disney decided to scrap the show, which was met with largely positive reviews and stands at an impressive Rotten Tomatoes score of 91%. However, Guest wants fans to continue to share their opinions on the matter. "I think there are important conversations being had online about the kind of stories that we're prioritising and the kind of shows platforms want to make."

For more, check out our guide on how to watch the Marvel movies in order, and keep up with all the upcoming Marvel movies and shows in 2026 and beyond.

Wonder Man season 2 has been canceled, which means Marvel Studios' TV presence is getting pretty sparing. As one MCU fan has noticed, there are now only two Disney Plus shows in production, and they both release in the next eight months.

As it stands, VisionQuest, which ends the WandaVision saga, and Daredevil: Born Again season 3 are the only remaining live-action shows in the Marvel line-up. There are a few more in development on the animation side, including X-Men '97 season 4 and Marvel Zombies season 2, but it certainly seems that the strategy is shifting at Marvel HQ.

Kevin Feige spoke recently about the decision to not release any Marvel movies between Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars. "A lot of it is a strategy we've talked about for a while, of focusing on quality," Feige told Empire magazine. "We always try to focus on quality, but when quantity is so much, you get spread thin. We didn't want to be spread thin, and the Avengers is as important as it comes."

It seems they're now planning a similar approach to TV shows, streamlining the narrative of the MCU projects once again. I was a big fan of Wonder Man and would have enjoyed seeing it return, but I've got to admit that I'm relieved by this seeming shift in strategy.

Marvel has been having a lot of problems since releasing Avengers: Endgame. Mainly referred to as superhero fatigue, it's been a case of casting too wide a net. Films have introduced endless new characters who we've never seen again (Eros who?) and brought the MCU in exceedingly far-reaching directions.

While it's been fun to try out new genres, it's all gotten a bit muddled. Realigning the MCU back around its tentpole Avengers movies and the upcoming X-Men film feels like a smarter choice. It also means we'll hopefully have fewer announcements of projects that never materialize (a Blade movie, Shang-Chi 2, and Armor Wars to name a few).

I'm hoping that the restructuring of Marvel's upcoming releases will mean a bit more focus on what the universe is planning to create. At the very least, it seems to be an admission that something needs to change for the MCU going forward to allow it to last as long as Feige plans (up to at least 2042, according to his recent comments). That in itself feels like progress.

For more on the MCU, check out our list of all the upcoming Marvel movies and shows on the way as well as our Spider-Man: Brand New Day review.

Marvel has switched up its upcoming releases, and Wonder Man season 2 is one of the major casualties. Months after a second season was confirmed, the Disney Plus show is no longer moving forward.

Star Yahya Abdul-Mateen II has now responded to the news in a statement on Instagram, thanking fans for following the show. He wrote: "Word just dropped that Wonder Man won't be coming back for Season 2. (And if you don't knowww, now ya knoww!) That's life, right? Everything will shake out."

The Watchmen star continued: "I wanted to say thank you to everybody who WATCHED the show, ENJOYED the show, and SHARED that they enjoyed the show in some way or other. The show worked. And that's my favorite thing about it. I can see in the messages I get saying how the show reminded some of you not to give up, and I feel it in the genuine love shared when I bump into some of you all during the day."

Wonder Man was a big hit with fans and critics alike. Rotten Tomatoes is usually a good indicator of how a show resonated with fans and the MCU series scored well, with a 91% critics score and 87% from fans. This makes it one of the highest-rated MCU projects in recent years, even topping Spider-Man: Brand New Day's glowing reviews.

The door is open for Marvel to bring Simon Williams back in the future, but right now Abdul-Mateen II shared his focus on the upcoming awards season. "I'm glad we got to be a part of something cool. Thank you for watching... And uhh... See you at the EMMYS." He's nominated for the Outstanding Lead Actor In A Comedy Series at the 2026 awards.

As for what is still on the slate for Marvel, check out our guide to all the upcoming Marvel movies and shows on the way. We've also got a breakdown of how to watch the Marvel movies in order for your next rewatch.

Wonder Man will not be returning for season 2, despite Marvel giving it the green light back in March.

The series, created by Spider-Man: Brand New Day director Destin Daniel Cretton and Hawkeye writer Andrew Guest, follows Simon Williams (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II), a struggling actor with secret superpowers, as he auditions for the lead role in a superhero movie. He crosses paths with Trevor Slattery (Ben Kingsley), and the two strike up an unlikely (and rather chaotic) friendship. It also garnered around 550 million minutes watched in its first 10 days on Disney Plus, and was officially renewed for a second season back in March.

According to Variety, a writer's room was never opened despite the renewal. On a brighter note, the report also states that "the characters featured in the series could still appear in other Marvel projects in the future." The series currently sits at a Rotten Tomatoes score of 91%, and a rather impressive audience rating of 88%.

It took a bit for the show to get off the ground, as 2023 strikes delayed production and poorly received audience test screenings called for reshoots. Cretton and Guest even gushed about their potential season 2 plans just last month.

If you haven't seen Wonder Man, I recommend giving it a watch on Disney Plus. If you liked the different, refreshing creative direction that Prime Video took with Spider-Noir, you'll love the weirdness of Wonder Man. It's a bright spot on the Marvel timeline, and I'm sad to see it go.

For more, check out our list of all the upcoming Marvel movies and shows in 2026 and beyond.

This week, we're anticipating a hefty Avengers: Doomsday news dump on the horizon, what with the Latverian leader set to make his presence known at SDCC this weekend.

One other MCU legend that could also be making an appearance, though, is the lawyer-turned-lawbreaker, Matt Murdock (Charlie Cox) aka Daredevil. After the events of season 2 and behind-the-scenes footage of Élodie Yung back in action as Elektra, it's clear that the Devil of Hell's Kitchen will have a lot on his plate when he's back on our screens, and we might see some this weekend. If you can't wait that long, well, don't worry. The snoops of the internet have revealed more leaked images hinting at how he'll be looking when he returns.

A batch of images of gifts the crew was given on production have appeared online, with the most noticeable item showing Matt dressed the same way he was when he was put in prison during comic writer Chip Zdarsky's run from 2020. That artwork, from Marco Checchetto and Matt Wilson, can be seen on a poster for the show's SPFX department, who are also labeled the "Gate Keepers of Cell Block D," referencing the Ed Brubaker-penned arc from 2006. Besides wielding a great, big bushy beard and the traditional orange prison jumpsuit, Matt also dons an orange rag to make a balaclava similar to the black one we first saw Cox wear in the original Netflix series.

For the more keen-eyed fans, though, there's an even greater detail to take away from these photos, and it's the one spread across Charlie Cox's back. The T-shirt he's wearing for Born Again season 3 shows the "Daredevil" lettering, which is composed of various different comic book issues, some of which seem crucial to next season's story.

Firstly, there's a Zdarsky issue, followed by "Defenders" #2 from 2017 (no surprise there given the gang are getting back together). There's also an image of the female Muse, Morgan Whittier, from "Daredevil: Unleash Hell" #1, who was the inspiration for Matt's unhinged ex, Heather (Margarita Levieva), and her trajectory in the show's next chapter. In the comics, that Muse also went up against Elektra when she took on the mantle of Daredevil herself. Could this suggest that two of Daredevil's very lethal exes are going to throw down with one another while Matt is behind bars? If so, then perhaps it's better that our legendary lawyer stays there and lets his former lady friends air out their issues. That is, as long as an old fan-favorite assassin doesn't get to one of them first.

Perhaps the most noticeable comic issue on this t-shirt is in "Daredevil" #181, which any fan of old Hornhead will know saw Bullseye (played by Wilson Bethel) kill Elektra with her own sai.

Regardless of seeing Poindexter head off to parts unknown at the end of season 2, leaks confirm that Bethel will be back in an upgraded costume that looks more in line with the very set Bullseye wears in the comics when he kills Elektra. With that in mind, could Yung's return to Hell’s Kitchen be a brief one?

We're really going to have to wait and find out when Daredevil: Born Again returns next year. Should he make an appearance at SDCC this weekend, we'll be sure to update our live blog here.

Somehow, Kang returned. The time-traveling supervillain – last seen in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania – has a surprising appearance from one of his most prominent (and popular) variants in X-Men '97.

The third episode of X-Men '97 season 2 charts the origins of Apocalypse, then known as En Sabah Nur, in Ancient Egypt circa 3000 B.C.

En Sabah Nur rises up against a familiar leader, a Pharaoh with technology far beyond his current time. In actuality, he is Rama-Tut, a younger variant of Kang the Conqueror.

While X-Men '97 is under the Marvel Studios banner, it's not part of the MCU or the Sacred Timeline (in fact, a separate live-action X-Men movie is on its way in the near future).

However, Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania's post-credits scene revealed the Council of Kangs and a congregation of almost every Kang in the multiverse – including Rama-Tut.

The kicker there is they all resembled actor Jonathan Majors, who was dropped from the role after being charged and later convicted of third-degree assault and second-degree harassment.

Ever since, the MCU has clearly been reluctant to re-introduce Kang, even going so far as reworking Avengers: The Kang Dynasty into Avengers: Doomsday, starring Robert Downey Jr. as Doctor Doom.

Rama-Tut's appearance in X-Men '97, though, is worlds away from Majors' take. The episode, a loose adaptation of the Rise of Apocalypse comic, may open the door ever so slightly for Kang's return in the future. After all, the multiverse is a rich space with infinite possibilities. Kang may have been conquered by Paul Rudd's Ant-Man, but more can live on – with a different face – and still prove popular. X-Men '97 might be the first step towards bringing the supervillain back into the fold.

For more, check out the X-Men '97 release schedule, or check out our spoiler-free X-Men '97 season 2 review, for our verdict on the first four episodes.

X-Men '97 season 2 is almost upon us, and we can definitely expect another high-stakes, heartbreaking, and action-packed season.

After the X-Men were left stranded across time at the end of season 1, a new threat was introduced: Apocalypse. The ultra-powerful mutant is robotic in appearance but god-like in his abilities, to the point where it almost hits immortality. How did we get here? Well, a lot happened in X-Men '97 season 1. And, if you don't have time to go back and watch all 10 episodes, we've made a handy-dandy list of the most important things to know before diving into season 2.

Scroll on down for the five biggest things to remember before watching X-Men '97 season 2, but be warned: there are massive spoilers for X-Men '97 season 1 below.

1. The X-Men are stuck in three different timelines

And it's all because of Magneto. It's also why everyone on Earth thinks that the X-Men are either dead or missing. At the end of X-Men '97 season 1, Magneto manages to wipe out all of the Prime Sentinels (while killing thousands of people in the process) and retreats to his little mutant haven, an orbital space station known as Asteroid M. Bastion, still yet to be defeated, decides to crash Asteroid M into the earth... which would effectively blow up the planet. Xavier manages to help Magneto launch the asteroid into space, but it still explodes, and presumably takes the X-Men with it.

A six-month fast-forward shows us that Bishop and Forge are still in 1997, but Nightcrawler, Beast, Xavier, Magneto, and Rogue are sent to somewhere in Ancient Egypt circa 3000 B.C., while Cyclops, Jean Grey, Storm, and Morph are sent to a dystopian future circa 3960 A.D. X-Men '97 season 2 picks up right where season 1 left off.

2. Scott and Jean sent their son Nathan into the future because of his condition

In the X-Men '97 season 1 finale, when Cyclops and Jean are sent to the future, they meet a mystic mutant named Mother Askani, who is leading a desolate planet of hopeless people. This also just so happens to be the same future that their son, Nathan, was sent to as an infant. Shortly after he was born, Sinister injected him with a techno-organic virus with the intention of making him immortal, but it ended up almost killing him.

Realizing that there is no cure on Earth, they send him into the future with Bishop in the hopes that they can find a timeline with a cure. In the finale, Nathan is a teenager and seems pretty healthy... though we know that his cyborg-esque mutation remains, given that he eventually becomes the X-Men hero known as Cable. It's Cable who appears in X-Men '97 season 1 episode 5 and tries to warn them about Bastion's genocidal attack on Genosha.

It's important to remember that Nathan eventually becomes Cable, though it's a little confusing that Cyclops and Jean go into the future and encounter a teenage Nathan, rather than an adult Cable – meaning they've entered an alternate timeline of sorts.

3. Gambit died in the Battle of Genosha

I'm still not over it, but Gambit died during the Battle of Genosha in X-Men '97 season 1 episode 5. He throws Rogue out of harm's way before launching himself at Master Mold, the most powerful of the Prime Sentinels, which explodes and takes Gambit with it. Because of Marvel Cinematic Universe rules (though X-Men '97 is not canon to the main Earth-616 storyline), a lot of us sat and waited for him to miraculously return someway or another... but he still, sadly, seems pretty dead.

A popular theory among fans is that the show will take a page out of the comics and see Gambit brought back from the dead to become one of Apocalypse's Four Horsemen. The X-Men '97 season 1 post-credits scene gives this further credibility, with the final moments of the season seeing Apocalypse pick up one of Gambit's playing cards in present-day (1997) Genosha.

X-Men '97 season 2 episode 8 is titled, 'The Dead Man's Hand,' and I'm pretty sure that's a reference to Gambit... so we'll just have to wait and see.

4. Magneto pulled the adamantium out of Wolverine

Though Wolverine seems alive and well in the X-Men '97 season 2 trailer, it's important to remember that he was on his deathbed when the first season ended. In case you forgot, X-Men '97 began with the X-Men and the world assuming that Xavier had died as a result of Gyrich's assassination attempt (which happened in the series finale of X-Men: The Animated Series, which aired on TV in, you guessed it, 1997). In his last will and testament, Xavier leaves the X-Men and the X-Mansion to Magneto, which causes a rift amongst the entire group.

Magneto tries his best to be an upstanding citizen, but is captured by Bastion. It's Dr. Cooper who finds Magneto and unleashes him, figuring that he's the only being powerful enough to kill Bastion and the Prime Sentinels. She's right, but it destroys most of the world in the process. After Magneto flees to Asteroid M, Xavier, alive and well after hiding out on an alien planet, finds him and tries to get into his mind. Magneto retaliates by almost killing Xavier, which prompts Wolverine to attack. Magneto then uses his freaky-deaky magnet powers to rip all of the adamantium from Wolverine's skeleton, leaving him in a half-dead, feral state where he can really only use his bone claws. X-Men '97 season 2 episode 5, titled 'Weapon X, Lies, and DVDS,' will likely focus on Wolverine.

5. The future where Apocalypse reigns is inevitable

I can't tell you exactly why this is important to remember, other than that Apocalypse is the primary focus of X-Men '97 season 2, but you'll just have to trust me on this one. In the X-Men '97 season 1 finale, we meet not one, but two versions of Apocalypse. In Ancient Egypt, where Xavier, Magneto, Rogue, and Nightcrawler are trapped, they encounter a mutant named En Sabah Nur. En Sabah Nur is the birth name of Apocalypse, and this particular timeline is one where he hasn't transformed into a supervillain just yet. We see Apocalypse in his present-day form in the post-credits scene, when he picks Gambit's playing card up off the ground.

In the season 2 trailer, Apocalypse makes it clear that his mission is to destroy the X-Men... in every timeline. It's important to note that he more or less can't be killed, which is what makes his reign of terror inevitable throughout time.

X-Men '97 season 2 hits Disney Plus on July 1, with the first three episodes in tow. For more, check out our X-Men '97 season 2 review, and never miss an episode with our X-Men '97 season 2 release schedule.

Good news Marvel fans, it sounds as though you won't have to wait two plus years for X-Men '97 season 3, as you did for season 2.

"Luckily, the production problems won’t occur again. There was a huge gap of time between [season] one and two. They’ve learned their lessons," said producer Larry Houston in an interview with The Direct. "So with [seasons] three and four, that won’t happen again… That was a one-off."

Season 1 landed on Disney Plus in March 2024 to glowing reviews, scoring a pretty much perfect 99% score on Rotten Tomatoes. In our X-Men '97 season 1 review, we awarded the freshman season 4.5 out of 5 stars, calling it "a seamlessly connected revival season that serves as a near-perfect reintroduction to one of Marvel’s best superhero teams."

The animated show was quickly renewed after that. But X-Men '97 Season 2 won't air until July 2026. That's over two years to wait for an animated series. However, Houston, who directed the original X-Men animated series back in the '90s, says the wait will be well worth it. "Trust me, as a fan, you will enjoy it," stated the producer. The second season has not hit Disney Plus just yet, but we have awarded it 4 stars in our X-Men '97 season 2 review.

Picking up from season 1's cliffhanger, X-Men '97 season 2 finds Cyclops, Jean Grey, Rogue, Beast, Nightcrawler, Charles Xavier, and Magneto scattered across time. But as the mutans must find a way home, back in the '90s, suspicious foes and new strains of mutant intolerance are on the rise in the wake of the X-Men's absence.

Beyond that, season 3 is already in production, and X-Men '97 season 4 has already been greenlit. But how quickly will Marvel be able to deliver the new seasons to the small screen? Whilst on The Escape Pod earlier this year, Head of Marvel TV Brad Winderbaum confirmed that both X-Men '97 and Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man will get new seasons "every year moving forward."

X-Men '97 season 2 arrives on Disney Plus on July 1. For more, check out our guides on how to watch the X-Men movies in order and how to watch Marvel movies in order.

Almost 10 years after we last saw her on screen, Elektra is officially back, as the first look at star Élodie Yung's big return in Daredevil: Born Again season 3 has leaked online.

The video, posted on Instagram by JP Photography, shows Yung in what looks to be an updated version of her usual black and red get-up, with a black robe. The star wields Elektra's signature blades before entering a building. Marvel has yet to comment on the leak, but it looks legit, and JP Photography has posted set images before.

It is not clear if the shot is from a scene or if it is just Yung practising her moves. But fans are certainly glad to see her back. "Dude, my goat is back," said one fan on Reddit, and another added, "She heard of Karen and Heather catfighting about Matt and immediately came home to show them what a real demon looks like."

Yung made her on-screen Marvel debut in the Daredevil Netflix series, but the character died at the end of Daredevil Season 2. However, after being resurrected by The Hand, Elektra returned in The Defenders series. But after a building collapsed onto her, her fate was left open-ended. Well, it looks like a few bricks were not enough to stop the ninja, as Elektra is back, and it looks like she is still up for fighting crime.

Elektra is the latest character from the original Netflix series to join the MCU show. Picking up years after the main show ended, Born Again continues Matt Murdock's tale as a blind lawyer by day and vigilante by night. Alongside Charlie Cox as Daredevil, the spin-off has brought back Elden Henson as Foggy Nelson (albeit briefly), Deborah Ann Woll as Karen Page, Wilson Bethel as Bullseye, and Jon Bernthal as Frank Castle.

Then, Daredevil: Born Again season 2 saw the return of Defenders star Krysten Ritter as Jessica Jones. But Elektra isn't the only Marvel hero from the Netflix days to be making a comeback. Earlier leaks from Born Again season 3 confirm that Defenders stars Mike Colter and Finn Jones will be returning as Luke Cage and Danny Rand.

However, it will be interesting to see what part Elektra plays in the upcoming season. Will she act as an ally to Murdock, or will we stir up more trouble as she has done in the past? We will just have to wait and see.

Daredevil: Born Again season 3 is expected to hit Disney Plus sometime in March 2027. For more, check out how to watch the Marvel movies in order, and keep up with Marvel Phase 6 with our guide to upcoming Marvel movies and shows.

Wonder Man is one of Marvel's most delightful surprises, and the cast has teased what they would like to see when the story continues in season 2 – and director Destin Daniel Cretton and writer Andrew Guest have also hinted at what to expect.

The Disney Plus show revolves around the odd couple friendship between Ben Kingsley's Trevor Slattery and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II's Simon Williams, and it sounds like that will continue to be at the forefront of Wonder Man season 2.

"There's so much fun to be had in whatever crazy journey they're going to go on next together," Cretton says in a video shared to Marvel's Twitter account. "But I also think there's a deep well, both in Simon Williams but also Trevor Slattery, to get to know them more and to understand their past."

While that sounds like a very grounded extension of the first season, Kingsley has a different idea for Trevor. "I would love Trevor's story to go into outer space," he shared. "But I probably find that a bit of a stretch." Later in the video, he adds: "But I'd love to have him visit other planets."

Guest, creator, writer, and executive producer, says: "More Simon and Trevor, more entertainment stories, and also, some new things that we didn't quite get to explore. And I know I'm being vague, but I don't want to get in trouble with any of my bosses."

X Mayo, who plays Janelle Jackson, had one particular open plot thread in mind. "One thing that I'm excited is to see, where is Josh Gad? Where is he? He's somewhere just floating. So, I'm excited for that, and to see how Simon's character, Wonder Man, progresses."

"Truthfully, if you are going in to watch this show expecting a superhero show that is typically like something you've seen before, I think you will not like the show, if that's all you want," Cretton previously told us. "But I also think you'll probably, if you watch it all the way through, surprisingly, fall in love with these characters and find that this show, even though it's not a typical superhero show, to me, uses the genre in a way that is so much more exciting and interesting than just watching two people fight."

Wonder Man season 2 doesn't yet have a release date. While you wait, check out our guide to all the upcoming Marvel movies and shows for everything else that's on the way.

Spider-Noir is out now, and if you've seen the alt-universe Spider-Man show (in black and white or color), you'll know that the eight-episode series leaves the door open for further cases. Whether there will be a Spider-Noir season 2 is the greatest mystery of all, however, as even star Nicolas Cage isn't sure if he'll return as The Spider.

“I do not know,” Cage told Variety when asked if Spider-Noir season 2 was on the cards. “But I would say that whether it happens or not, all of us achieved what we set out to do, and it works on its own. We’ll see what happens.”

That uncertainty isn't a huge surprise in this metrics-driven streaming era. Spider-Noir has been out for less than a week, so it's still too early to say if the show has lived up to expectations. But given recent reports that the first season's budget may have been as high as $400 million, there's no question that Spider-Noir needs to hit big to justify a second season.

As for what a Spider-Noir season 2 could look like, showrunner Oren Uziel dropped a bit hint while talking to SFX Magazine last month. "One thing I love about the genre is that when you have a private detective, all it takes is a knock on the office door and a new client walks in… Whether it’s New York or a different setting, I really feel like this is a great jumping-off point to expand your story," Uziel said. "Obviously, as time passes from 1933, we’re heading towards not just trouble in the financial markets in New York, but also a geopolitical struggle that would be an amazing canvas for any future storytelling."

Elsewhere in his conversation with Variety, Cage also addressed the decision (spoiler alert!) Reilly makes at the end of Spider-Noir's first season to no longer pursue Cat, and fully embrace the mantle of The Spider once more. “Is it being selfless or is it just being real and letting her go?" Cage said. "He wanted to forget about it and to put it away because he feels he failed the love of his life. Here he is, this person with powers, and he couldn’t save his favorite person, Ruby, so what’s the use? He has great remorse. But he has a higher calling, and he’s owning it.”

Spider-Noir's first season sees private investigator Ben Reilly assume the identity of The Spider once more to stop mob boss Silvermane and his superpowered henchmen from taking over New York. Our Spider-Noir ending explained answers every burning question you might have about the show. As for what's next in the Spider-Verse – Spider-Man: Brand New Day hits theaters in less than two months.

Spider-Noir is streaming now on Prime Video. For more, check out our Spider-Noir review, or if you're still confused about how Spider-Noir is connected to the Spider-Verse movies, we've got the answer.

Nicolas Cage has revealed his favorite live-action Spider-Man... and it's probably not who you were expecting, either.

"I thought Andrew Garfield was a really great Spider-Man," Cage told Complex. "I thought he did a terrific job. He's a marvelous actor. For all the younger Peter Parker Spider-Men, he was the one that I thought was really quite something to watch. I would put Garfield as, in my view, the best Spider-Man in cinema." You can watch the clip below.

Personally, I love Garfield's Spider-Man... I just think most people tend to list Tobey Maguire as the GOAT when it comes to the current lineup of live-action Spideys, with Tom Holland coming in second. It's also a surprising pick given how universally hated The Amazing Spider-Man 2 seems to be (with Invincible creator Robert Kirkman even going as far as to trash the movie during press for the Prime Video show's latest season).

Cage has always had a deep love for superheroes, starting with legally changing his name from Nicolas Coppola to Nicolas Cage, after Marvel superhero Luke Cage. After his Tim Burton Superman dreams were dashed, he went on to play Ghost Rider across three pre-MCU movies, and now plays two different iterations of Spider-Noir, one in the animated Spider-Verse series and one in the new Prime Video show of the same name... which is so, so good.

The Amazing Spider-Man and The Amazing Spider-Man 2 are streaming now on Disney Plus. You can stream all of Spider-Noir on Prime Video now. For more on the show, check out our Spider-Noir ending explained or our guide on how to watch Spider-Noir in black and white.

12 years ago, Charlie Cox was officially announced as Daredevil, and Marvel fans are celebrating the occasion.

The Marvel Twitter account shared the news on May 28, 2014. All these years later, Cox has appeared in multiple seasons of the Netflix show, two seasons of Daredevil: Born Again (with Daredevil: Born Again season 3 on the way), She-Hulk, and Spider-Man: No Way Home.

"12 years ago today, Charlie Cox was officially announced as Daredevil One of the best castings in superhero media," said one fan on Reddit, which kicked off a celebration.

"Time flies. He is so awesome as Daredevil," said one person, while another said: "Top 5 casting in the MCU for me. He owns this role for life."

"S-Tier comic book casting," said another fan. "Matt Murdock is one of the more complicated roles in the MCU to play and Charlie nails everything about him to perfection," agreed someone else.

"12 years later and he is still giving us phenomenal acting moments in the role that blows me away," said another person. "One of the Marvel [goat]s for sure"

Daredevil: Born Again season 3 doesn't yet have a release date, but Bullseye actor Wilson Bethel has recently teased his new suit.

"There will be a small time jump, but it's not too significant. It's not like we're jumping ahead five years or anything," Marvel TV boss Brad Winderbaum has said of the upcoming third season. "We're probably jumping ahead a year or so, kind of like the real-life distance between seasons."

While you wait, check out our guide to all the upcoming Marvel movies and shows for everything else that's on the way.

Spider-Noir star Nicolas Cage never planned on venturing into TV, but one of the greatest shows ever made convinced him to give it a shot.

Cage plays '30s private detective (and web-slinging hero) Ben Reilly in Prime Video's Spider-Noir, which might not have happened had Breaking Bad not convinced him television was worth trying.

"I was adamant about not doing television, because I didn't want to do anything that was too homogenized or that was like everybody else," Cage told Variety. "And my son sat me down during COVID, and he showed me Breaking Bad.

"I began to see that the actors in that show were afforded the luxury of time to tell their story," he continued. "I saw Bryan Cranston staring at a suitcase for what seemed like minutes. I couldn't take my eyes off him, and all he was doing was staring at a suitcase, and it occurred to me that you can't do that in movies: You don't have the time. I thought, maybe with an eight-hour narrative I can start planting seeds for a character that can bloom into something that I don't have the luxury of time to do in a movie. That was the main attraction."

Luckily, Spider-Noir seemed like the right project. "I waited for something that I thought would be special, and I can tell you that with Spider-Noir, the vision that I had in my imagination manifested in the exact way that I'd hoped," Cage explained. "And it was scary, and it was risky. I was constantly worried that I was going to get fired, because I was doing this thing of channeling old actors and colliding it with Stan Lee's masterpiece that is Spider-Man to create this Roy Lichtenstein pop-art sensation of sorts. I didn't know until I finally saw the eight episodes whether it was going to work."

Spider-Noir currently sits at a near-perfect score of 91% on Rotten Tomatoes, and our own 3.5 star Spider-Noir review says: "A delightfully camp, low-stakes romp through 1930s New York City that proves Nicolas Cage is still cooler than all of us. Though it doesn't feel as big as most Marvel shows, or even Spider-Verse, and suffers from predictable plot turns that even the characters don't seem fazed by... it wants to cure your superhero fatigue, and it's even better on the second watch."

You can stream all of Spider-Noir on Prime Video now. For more on the show, check out our Spider-Noir ending explained or our guide on how to watch Spider-Noir in black and white.

Spider-Noir is a departure from the Spidey we know and love, which is only possible through the multiverse.

But, while we first saw Spider-Noir in Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, this isn't the same version of him (even though they're both played by Nicolas Cage). That version of Spider-Noir was an alternate Peter Parker, but this version is Ben Reilly, a private detective in the '30s.

In the first few moments of the new show, Reilly says: "Someone once asked me what universe this was. A strange question that stuck with me all these years later. All I could say for sure was it was the only one I knew of."

Could this be a shoutout to Spider-Verse? It's not totally clear, since this version of Spider-Noir has never met Miles Morales. Instead, it seems to be a reference to something else entirely.

"Likely Miguel [O'Hara] trying to recruit him, yeah?" questions one fan on Reddit, though another points out: "Different Noir. This is the live action one. Just like they had live action Donald Glover appear in Spider-Verse. There are live action multiverses."

"See, comments like this make me wonder why they didn't just have this Noir be the same one from the Spider-Verse movies. They even share the same actor, for crying out loud!" says someone else.

"I don't think it was meant to be any deeper than just a way to tell the audience this was an alternate version of Spider-Man by dropping a line that reminds them about alternate universes," argues another fan.

"Might be an Easter egg for a crossover that hasn’t happened yet," speculates another person, while another says: "I imagine it was probably a dimension hopper who got sent there by accident and left quickly after. Maybe it was America [Chavez]?"

One fan, though, has a pretty great theory. "A random idea that occurred to me (and obviously unrealistic due to rights issues), but it would be funny if it was some TVA agent, who, given how they always dress, would blend in well with the show's aesthetic, who was classifying the universes," they say.

Whatever happened, it's clear Ben Reilly at least has an inkling that the multiverse exists – so, maybe we'll see Cage's live-action version of the wallcrawler appear in a future crossover project.

You can watch all episodes of Spider-Noir on Prime Video now. For more, check out our Spider-Noir review or our Spider-Noir ending explained, or our guide on how to watch Spider-Noir in black and white.

Daredevil: Born Again star Wilson Bethel has posted a first look at Bullseye's new suit for season 3.

Warning: there are Daredevil: Born Again season 2 finale spoilers ahead!

Bethel took to Instagram to post a video of his gloved wrist, which is all black and bears the Bullseye logo. He simply captioned it, "Stepping out. #S3" You can check it out below.

Throughout his time on Netflix's Daredevil and Born Again, Bullseye has donned a modern version of the classic blue supersuit. Some fans are hoping that the new suit is more comic accurate, with the logos on each glove, and potentially the logo on the forehead part of the mask with some added stripes. Bethel previously stated we could expect a more comic book accurate Bullseye... which is interesting given his rather ominous send-off in the Daredevil: Born Again season 2 finale (which saw him getting on a plane with the mysterious Mr. Charles to God knows where).

"The past now being behind him in the way it is, I think it opens up a whole slew of interesting new storytelling possibilities," Bethel previously told The Direct. "Especially for those who are excited to see some version of Bullseye that resembles the comic book version a little bit more, because maybe he's just a fucking mean ass gun for hire right now, and there are a lot worse ways to experience Bullseye."

Added Bethel: "And it's one of the things that's super cool about this character, just because he's one way right now at the end of season 2, don't expect him to be there at the beginning of season 3."

All episodes of Daredevil: Born Again season 2 are streaming now on Disney Plus, and Daredevil: Born Again season 3 is set to premiere in March 2027. For more, check out our guide to the Daredevil: Born Again season 2 ending explained.

The first trailer for X-Men '97 season 2 has arrived... and we're ready for an intergalactic battle through time starring our favorite supergroup.

In the brief clip, which can be viewed above, we pick up right where season 1 left off with the X-Men scattered across space and time. Jean Grey and Cyclops are stuck in 3960 A.D., with Rogue, Nightcrawler, and Beast in Ancient Egypt circa 3000 B.C. Logan also appears to be alive and well, despite having had his adamantium skeleton ripped apart by Magneto in the season 1 finale. We met a young Apocalypse in the season 1 finale, but according to the trailer, it looks like present-day Apocalypse is ready to destroy the X-Men throughout every single timeline.

We also get two very cool Easter eggs: Morph shapeshifting into Deadpool (see below), and the final shot of the trailer paying homage to the cover of Wolverine Vol. 1.

Per the official synopsis, Season 2 "continues with the heroic mutant team of X-Men, divided and thrown across different eras in time as they struggle to navigate their return home. Meanwhile, back in the 1990s, suspicious foes and new strains of mutant intolerance are on the rise in the wake of the X-Men’s absence."

The returning voice cast includes Ross Marquand as Professor X, Matthew Waterson as Magneto, Ray Chase as Cyclops, Jennifer Hale as Jean Grey, Alison Sealy-Smith as Storm, Cal Dodd as Wolverine, Lenore Zann as Rogue, and George Buza as Beast.

X-Men '97 season 2 is set to hit Disney Plus on July 1, with nine episodes airing weekly. For more, check out our guide to all the upcoming Marvel movies and shows for everything else that's on the way.

Spider-Noir is now out on Prime Video as Nicolas Cage makes his TV debut. Billed as a standalone show in the Spider-Man universe, the series is loosely connected to the Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse character that Cage voiced in those animated movies. However, this new live-action reimagining takes his story further, building on his origin story in a show heavily inspired by his Marvel comic history.

One fun quirk of the new series is that it can be watched two ways. You can stream it in full color (billed as 'True-Hull Full Color'), just as you would any other Marvel show, or you can watch it in 'Authentic Black and White.'

The entire series is now on Prime Video, and it allows you to choose which way you want to see it. However, after some users reported that it wasn't showing up on their devices, we've compiled this guide on how exactly you can switch between them.

How to watch Spider-Noir in black and white on Prime Video

Once you've decided which way you want to stream Spider-Noir, head to Prime Video. If you're on the desktop version, you can click through to the show's landing page. At first, it will seem like you can only stream the full-color version, as this is what shows when you're looking at the episode lists. However, when you click on the episode, it will then give you the option of how you want to watch it, in 'True-Hue Full Color' or in 'Authentic Black and White'.

If you're watching on a mobile device or your in-TV app, the process is the same. It's worth noting that on the TV app, you do have to make your selection within 10 seconds, or it will pick it automatically for you.

If you want to switch between the modes when you're watching, scroll down or press the settings options on your TV and there should be something called 'Alternate Versions'. Give this a press to switch to the other streaming option.

Just a note, if any of these options are not appearing for you, give your app an update and see if it helps. Several users on Reddit have reported that this helped them access both versions when they were having issues.

Happy streaming!

For more on the new show, here's our Spider-Noir review and our breakdown of the Spider-Noir ending explained.

Spider-Noir has arrived, and it stars Nicolas Cage as a down-on-his-luck detective who doesn't really want to use his spider powers anymore... until a case comes across his desk that more or less forces him to do so.

We were first introduced to the character of Spider-Man Noir in the animated movie Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, who was also voiced by Cage. Does this mean the new Prime Video show is connected to Sony's Spider-Verse movies?

We've broken it all down, spoiler-free, below. For even more, you can check out our guide on whether you should watch Spider-Noir in black and white or in color; or read our full Spider-Noir review.

How is Spider-Noir connected to the Spider-Verse movies?

As of right now, the answer is not at all: Spider-Man Noir and Spider-Noir are two different characters.

In Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, Kingpin builds a collider with the intent to kidnap alternate versions of his wife, Vanessa, and son, Richard, from another universe. Because of the collider, Miles Morales ends up meeting a bunch of Spideys from different universes. One of these Spideys is Peter Parker, aka Spider-Man Noir.

Now, while Nicolas Cage does voice Spider-Man Noir in Into the Spider-Verse and will reprise the role for Beyond the Spider-Verse... Spider-Man Noir and Spider-Noir are two completely different characters. In Spider-Noir, Cage plays Ben Reilly, not Peter Parker. In the comics, Ben Reilly was created as a clone of Peter Parker and became the Scarlet Spider.

In the Spider-Man Noir comics, Spider-Man Noir is a version of Peter Parker who is a young adult in 1930s New York City and is dealing with a Depression-Era Norman Osborn/Green Goblin. But before you get confused: Spider-Man Noir in Into the Spider-Verse is a Peter Parker variant, and the Spidey in the live-action Spider-Noir is a Spider-Man variant named Ben Reilly.

"It's a different flavour of that character, even though it’s still Nick’s voice," showrunner Oren Uziel told Empire. "It's not a continuation of Into the Spider-Verse. Once Phil and Chris introduced the idea of the multiverse, I think you’re allowed to take things and make them your own."

Whether the live-action show does end up having its own surprise twist that connects to Into the Spider-Verse remains to be seen... but we'll keep you posted.

Spider-Noir premieres on MGM Plus in the US on May 25, before arriving on Prime Video globally on May 27. In the meantime, check out our guide to the other best new TV shows on the way in 2026.

Spider-Noir has arrived, with the eight-episode live-action Spidey series hitting MGM Plus first in the United States. Before you begin your Memorial Day binge-watch, however, you might be a little bit confused as to how you should watch it.

The new superhero show was filmed in color, but on streaming has the option for viewers to select between "Authentic Black and White" and "True-Hue Full Color." This is because Spider-Noir takes place in 1930s New York City, and is inspired by the black-and-white, mystery noir movies of the time. Nicolas Cage stars as Detective Ben Reilly, who has since retired from his days as the city's resident superhero, the Spider. When an exceptional case comes across his desk, however, he's forced to become the Spider once more.

If you're wondering which is the best way to watch the series, we've broken it down for you below. No spoilers, just vibes. For even more, you can check out our full Spider-Noir review.

Should I watch Spider-Noir in black and white or in color?

There's no right or wrong answer! The show was filmed in color, as Amazon was (according to star Nicolas Cage) nervous about filming in black-and-white. It was Cage who ultimately persuaded the studio to do both, telling Esquire that color would appeal to a younger audience, and that black-and-white might lead them to go out and revisit the pulp movies of the 30s and classic noir of the 40s and 50s.

If you decide to watch the show in "Authentic Black and White," it really does transport you to a different time and bring out those old-school vibes. It also adds to the mystery element, making the stakes feel just a bit higher.

If you decide to watch in "True-Hue Full Color," you do get to see the bright, comic-book-esque colors used throughout the series – from Robbie Robertson's flashy suits to Cat Hardy's stage makeup and glittery lounge singer attire.

Both options are pretty great. My personal recommendation is to start off in black and white, switch to color for the second episode, and then continue to switch back and forth. You could very well end up wanting to watch all of it in black and white or all of it in color, and that's totally up to you! I think switching between the two gives it a nice mix.

Spider-Noir premieres on MGM Plus in the US on May 25, before arriving on Prime Video globally on May 27. In the meantime, check out our guide to the other best new TV shows on the way in 2026.

Spider-Noir is about to swing onto screens, but the live-action Spider-Man show has a more complicated release schedule than you might think, which is why we've channeled our inner Ben Reilly to crack the case of where and when you can watch the new series.

Starring Nic Cage as the titular web-slinger, Spider-Noir puts a prohibition-era spin on superhero storytelling. Centered on a gumshoe detective who also happens to be his universe's Spider-Man, Spider-Noir sees the fedora-sporting superhero come trade blows with Brendan Gleeson's mob boss Silvermane, and his superpowered henchmen.

We've got everything you need to know about the Spider-Noir release date and time right here, including where to watch and how many episodes to expect. And before you watch, be sure to check out our spoiler-free Spider-Noir review.

Spider-Noir release date and streaming time

If you want to see Spider-Noir at the earliest opportunity, you need to be in the US, where the entire first season will air back-to-back on MGM+'s linear channel on May 25 at 11:30am PDT / 2:30pm EDT. That's right: all 8 episodes will air across just over 6 hours, finishing at around 5:40pm PDT / 8:40pm EDT. It won't be available on demand right away, so a marathon binge, as it airs live, is your only option if you want to watch on Memorial Day.

What you're probably more interested in is when Spider-Noir hits Prime Video. The entire first season of Spider-Noir drops as a binge release on Prime Video on May 27 at 12am PDT / 3am EDT. That's 8am GMT in the UK. At that point, every episode will be available to watch on demand through Prime Video, assuming you're subscribed.

Where to watch Spider-Noir

Thanks to the rather confusing collaboration between Amazon-owned platforms MGM+ and Prime Video, there are actually two places to watch Spider-Noir.

On May 25, you'll be able to watch the entire first season of Spider-Noir on MGM+'s linear channel, but only live as it airs. Crucially, it will not be available to stream on demand via MGM+.

From May 27, Spider-Noir will be available on Prime Video as an on-demand binge release. Of course, you'll need a subscription to MGM+ or Prime Video to watch on either platform.

Spider-Noir episode count

There are 8 episodes in the first season of Spider-Noir, each clocking in around the 42-minute mark, just like the good old days of network TV. None of these bloated 60+ minute episodes here!

That means, if you want to binge the entire first season in one sitting, it'll take you just over five-and-a-half hours. Keep the Spider-snacks handy…

For more, check out our guide to all the upcoming Marvel shows. Or dive into our guide breaking down all the characters in Spider-Noir.

After being much-rumored in the MCU, Mephisto was finally introduced at the end of Disney Plus show Ironheart. Played by Sacha Baron Cohen, he appeared in a series of flashbacks before making a deal with Riri Williams in the show's final episode, giving us a glimpse of his persuasive powers.

However, despite Kevin Feige teasing his return almost immediately, there have been no updates about where the character could end up in the MCU next. Now Cohen has weighed in, giving some hope for his return in the role.

Speaking to Screen Rant, he was asked if audiences will see Borat or Mephisto again first. "I think Mephisto," he replied. "I don't think Borat will ever return." It's not an awful lot to go on, but it does make it seem like conversations are happening behind closed doors for his potential return.

Fans have been reacting to the news on the Marvel subreddit, with one even speculating when Mephisto may be coming back.

"My theory is he is the climax of the Wanda, Vision, Agatha, and Billy and Tommy saga," one wrote, suggesting VisionQuest could be next for him. "Right now, he is 'teamed up' with Riri, who at this point is both magic and machine (Wanda and Vision). What the story is after this, I don't know. Probably an arc where the twins bring Riri back to the good side and Agatha is a wild card."

Another suggested: "It's most likely that the original plan was for him to appear in the Strange Academy series, which was going to be a direct sequel to both Multiverse of Madness, as well as Ironheart with Wong, America, Zelma and Parker (The Hood) as the leads. Maybe Riri would have been the antagonist of that series, controlled by Mephisto. I still think this show will happen even though it's on ice, last we heard."

Meanwhile, a third commented: "Really wish they make him have a role in Daredevil, and also act as a story tool to introduce the existence of hell and demons into the MCU."

Whatever is next, we'll have to wait and see. In the meantime, check out our guide on how to watch the Marvel movies in order, as well as our breakdown of the Marvel timeline.

Nicolas Cage says it was his idea to film new superhero series Spider-Noir in both color and monochrome in order to appeal to a wider audience.

"I'm all about the black and white. I designed my performance for black and white, and I'm glad I saw it that way," Cage said on the red carpet at the Spider-Noir premiere.

"It was actually one of my ideas to shoot it in color, because I am aware of teenagers, and I'm aware they don't have that much experience with black and white. So the dream is that they watch it in color, then they check it out in black and white and learn something and they go, 'Hey, I wanna see some of these movie references,' and then they just open a treasure trove of wealth of great American cinema."

Cage plays Ben Reilly, AKA The Spider, an older, alternate version of Spider-Man in '30s New York City. He's a jaded, down-on-his-luck private detective who reluctantly returns to being a superhero after a personal tragedy. Cage played an animated version of The Spider in Into the Spider-Verse, and he'll reprise the role in 2027's Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse.

In the show, the Cage's Spidey will come up against a rogues gallery that includes Jack Huston's Sandman, Brendan Gleeson's Silvermane, and Li Jun Li's Cat Hardy (AKA Black Cat).

Spider-Noir premieres on MGM Plus on May 25 before hitting Prime Video on May 27. In the meantime, check out our guide to the other best new TV shows on the way in 2026.

Jon Bernthal wouldn't mind putting the ol' skull logo shirt back on, as long as he has a hand in crafting the story around it.

"I'm really down to keep doing more, but I think I have to be the one that's making it," Bernthal told Esquire when asked about the Punisher's future following his appearance in Spider-Man: Brand New Day.

Bernthal, who's played the Marvel vigilante since 2016, co-wrote The Punisher: One Last Kill with director Reinaldo Marcus Green. The 48-minute special is easily one of Marvel's grittiest and most violent releases, placing a PTSD-stricken Frank Castle in the center of a hyper-violent area of New York City. As he walks aimlessly, unfazed by the carnage happening around him, he's confronted by Ma Gnucci (the legendary Judith Light), who arrives to take revenge after the Punisher killed her family one by one (which was more or less warranted, given that the Gnucci family ordered the Central Park Massacre, where Frank's wife and children were killed).

The special takes place after Daredevil: Born Again season 2 and just before Spider-Man: Brand New Day, filling audiences in on what Frank's been going through and what leads to his return to vigilantism. In addition to starring and co-writing, Bernthal brought in Marine veterans as consultants to help illustrate Frank's mental state and keep the portrayal of trauma as authentic as humanly possible (H/T Entertainment Weekly). There's no word yet as to whether Frank will return for Daredevil: Born Again season 3, and he isn't part of the Defenders lineup either (as he only appeared in Netflix's Daredevil before getting his own standalone show), so there are no guarantees. However, Bernthal's comment makes me think that something else might just be in the works at Disney Plus.

The Punisher: One Last Kill is now streaming on Disney Plus. For more, read our breakdown of The Punisher: One Last Kill ending and our verdict on the special with The Punisher: One Last Kill review.

The next Marvel TV show is VisionQuest, and it's coming very soon. Thanks to D23, we finally have a trailer, too, meaning we got another glimpse at Paul Bettany's synthezoid and his android pals.

The show brings the WandaVision trilogy to a conclusion, which kicked off in 2021 with the flagship show, and continued in 2024's Agatha All Along. Now, we'll pick up with White Vision, who gained the memories of the old Vision, but is seemingly struggling to find his place in the world.

Terry Matalas is showrunner, with James Spader's Ultron, Ruaridh Mollica's Tommy Maximoff, and James D'Arcy's Jarvis rounding out the cast. Below, we've rounded up everything else there is to know about the Marvel Phase 6 series, so you can get up to speed at a glance. So, to get up to speed on VisionQuest, look no further than our guide right here.

VisionQuest release date

VisionQuest will be released on Disney Plus on October 13, 2026 in the US, and on October 14 in the UK.

It's not clear how many episodes will be released on this date, but given previous Marvel releases, it's likely the show will come out weekly. There will be eight episodes in total, meaning that it may lead up to just before the release of Avengers: Doomsday on December 18, 2026.

This all means that VisionQuest will be the second-to-last MCU project out in 2026, following the release of X-Men '97 season 2 and Spider-Man: Brand New Day.

Who is in the VisionQuest cast?

VisionQuest will, of course, be led by Paul Bettany, who has played the role since 2015's Avengers: Age of Ultron (and has been part of the MCU since 2008). He'll be joined by several returning stars, including most notably James Spader as Ultron, who will be appearing in both human and robot form. Several other stars will also be back, as well as plenty of newcomers. Check out the full confirmed cast below:

• Paul Bettany – Vision
• James Spader – Ultron
• Todd Stashwick – Paladin
• Ruaridh Mollica – Tommy Maximoff / Speed
• Faran Tahir – Raza
• T'Nia Miller – Jocasta
• Emily Hampshire – E.D.I.T.H.
• Orla Brady – F.R.I.D.A.Y.
• Henry Lewis – D.U.M.-E
• Jonathan Sayer – U: A
• James D'Arcy – J.A.R.V.I.S.
• Lauren Morais – Lisa Molinari
• Diane Morgan
• Cristian Lavin
• Mary McDonnell

Now, this is Marvel, so there are almost as many rumored cast members as there are confirmed ones for the upcoming show. One persistent rumor is that Chris Pratt could appear in VisionQuest as Star-Lord. The character was last seen at the end of Guardians of the Galaxy 3, when it was teased that he would return. This theory revolved around some concept art featuring his character, but has been debunked by Pratt himself, per The Direct. However, this would not be the first time a Marvel actor has covered up a cameo.

Is there a VisionQuest trailer?

Yes! We finally got the first VisionQuest trailer at D23, and it is a long one. You can watch it for yourself above.

The teaser is just over two minutes long and offers a hint of the show's story, which revolves around Vision reclaiming his memories and reconnecting with his son. However, not a lot of the story is teased here just yet. At least the series looks great, so there is still plenty to get excited about so far, folks.

What is the VisionQuest plot?

The official plot synopsis for VisionQuest is still locked up tightly in Marvel's vaults, but we do know quite a few details about what the MCU show will be about. First up, we know that White Vision is the protagonist.

We last saw him in WandaVision when he was resurrected in a new form and given all of the memories of the original Vision. We meet him at the start of this series as he attempts to connect these memories of his family with a lack of human emotions.

He'll be joined by James Spader's Ultron on his journey to find meaning. From the first footage, which debuted at a recent Disney panel in May 2026, it was confirmed that Ultron will appear in both human and android form. Per The Wrap, he'll be there to "help him – and taunt him".

Speaking on the Happy, Sad, Confused podcast, Paul Bettany teased that this relationship is at the heart of the new series. "He's so funny in this," he said of his co-star Spader. "The story largely revolves around that relationship, it's real fun."

It turns out that Ultron has been living a simple life since the events of Age of Ultron, too. "He's had access to the internet, television, history, and he's just been consuming... and he's been painting," Spader told Rotten Tomatoes. "[Ultron and Vision] have a sort of father-son-therapist-psychopath relationship."

We also know that Tommy Maximoff will also be a key part of this story too. Introduced first in WandaVision alongside his brother Billy, he was teased at the end of Agatha All Along. If you'll recall, we found out that Billy's soul had been placed in the body of William Kaplan and that Tommy had entered another teenager's body. We now know that the teenager in question will be played by Ruaridh Mollica. He appeared in the New York Comic-Con trailer for the show too.

Beyond this, there are several intriguing plotlines set up by the cast included in the show. It seems like we'll be seeing all other versions of AI that Tony Stark created as Vision comes to terms with his place in the universe. Faran Tahir is also returning, 17 years after we last saw him in Iron Man as Raza Hamidmi al-Wazar, the 10 Rings leader who kidnapped Stark (and was seemingly killed off).

We also know that Vision will be pursued by a bounty hunter called Paladin. Played by Todd Stashwick, he's been described by showrunner Terry Matalas as "sort of the Boba Fett of the Marvel Universe."

Will Wanda Maximoff appear in VisionQuest?

The simple answer at the moment is no. There is no suggestion that Elizabeth Olsen will return as Wanda Maximoff in VisionQuest. Despite being a key part of Vision's story, technically she's potentially, maybe dead currently in the MCU.

Now, there are several ways that the show could bypass that. First of all, Wanda could not be dead after all. Stranger things have certainly happened in the MCU and Olsen has spoken repeatedly about wanting to return as the beloved character.

Another option could be some uh, visions of Wanda. Maybe she could appear in a previously unseen memory or as an apparition to Vision?

Finally, there were even some rumors that she could play an entirely different role in the show. Screen Rant has a theory based on a comic book run about when Vision created his own synthezoid family that she could play his wife, Virginia Vision.

Whatever the answer, Olsen is playing coy about the possibility. Speaking to Inverse last year, she said that she hadn't heard much about it. "I didn’t know anything about it until [Paul Bettany] and I spent some time with each other just the other week, and he’s so proud of it," Olsen said. "It really sounds like a trifecta between Agatha All Along and his show and what we made with WandaVision, so I'm excited to see that."

We do know that even if the actor does not return though, Wanda will have a presence in VisionQuest. I'm sure we'll see Vision reliving memories with her in the new show and she will be a key figure in the character's self reflection. Watch this space.

VisionQuest will be available exclusively on Disney Plus. For more on the MCU, check out our guides to upcoming Marvel movies and shows and how to watch the Marvel movies in order.

Cheo Hodari Coker, creator of Netflix's Luke Cage TV show, says The Punisher: One Last Kill suffers from its short runtime.

"The problem with One Last Kill is it's too short," Coker wrote on Twitter. "That's who Frank Castle is. No mercy. Very much like the comics. It needed more space to breathe. But Bernthal is the best Punisher by far and RMG did a great job directing. About to watch it again."

The Punisher: One Last Kill, directed by Reinaldo Marcus Green and co-written by Jon Bernthal, follows a PTSD-stricken Frank Castle who has all but completely lost touch with reality. But things get pretty real after he crosses paths with Ma Gnucci (the incredible Judith Light), who is there to take revenge after the Punisher killed her family (though it's the Gnuccis who were responsible for the death of Frank's wife and children in the first place).

The special has a runtime of around 48 minutes, and the action doesn't really begin until around 30 minutes in. The first 30 minutes set up the absolutely desolate area that Frank lives in, his hallucinations, his immense guilt over being unable to protect his family, and introduce main villain Ma Gnucci. Truthfully, it could've benefited from being broken up into a four-episode miniseries of sorts, rather than cramming Frank's return to vigilantism into 45 minutes... but I digress.

The Punisher: One Last Kill is now streaming on Disney Plus. It's not an easy or fun watch (and includes the phone numbers for some helpful support hotlines at the end), so discretion is advised! For more, read our breakdown of The Punisher: One Last Kill ending and our verdict on the special with The Punisher: One Last Kill review.

Disney has confirmed that audio issues for The Punisher: One Last Kill have been identified and are on the way to being fixed.

In reply to a (admittedly, very NSFW) rant about sound in The Punisher special, the Disney Plus Help Twitter account wrote, "Thank you for reaching out and letting us know you're experiencing no audio while watching The Punisher: One Last Kill. The good news is that our team knows about this particular issue and is working on a solution as we speak."

There have also been other reports of inaudible conversations, poor audio mixing, and general quality across social media, but it appears to be getting amended.

The other Punisher snafu has been explained away, however. Fans roundly mocked a shot of Jon Bernthal's Frank Castle falling out of a building, with some comparing it to PS3 graphics or a GTA cutscene.

According to sources that spoke to The Hollywood Reporter, it was all a real shot, but with Bernthal's face swapped in to replace a stuntman – hence the uncanny effect. So, that's that.

After his violent detour on Disney Plus, The Punisher is next set to appear on the big screen in Spider-Man: Brand New Day.

Speaking to The Direct, The Punisher: One Last Kill director Reinaldo Marcus Green hinted that the special would bridge the gap to Frank Castle's awkward team-up with Spidey.

"We [now] know his psychological state before he goes into Spider-Man. I couldn't have asked for better timing for us," Green told The Direct.

The Punisher: One Last Kill is now streaming on Disney Plus. For our verdict, be sure to read The Punisher: One Last Kill review.

All wrapped up? We have a full, bullet-strewn spoiler breakdown of The Punisher: One Last Kill ending.

The Punisher: One Last Kill director Reinaldo Marcus Green says they quite literally doused Jon Bernthal in flames for one wild stunt.

"Legit flames, legit practical flames, and everyone was trying to walk him off the ledge, myself included," Green told ScreenRant. "I'm like, 'You sure you want to do this? But if you want to go back, we're going to go back for you to do this.' But it's not for the faint of heart to put yourself through that kind of experience, but to watch Jon, the preparation for doing that, but he didn't do it to look cool. I think that's what makes Jon so special. He did it because it was important to the story, it was important to the character."

We won't spoil you too much, as you should definitely go check out the special for yourself, but it's a pretty pivotal scene involving gasoline, an apartment building, and attempted arson. It's also immensely cool seeing Frank Castle literally walk through fire, proving to himself and everyone around him that he's back.

Continued Green: "It's one of my favorite sequences in the piece, but again, it's for the story point that it makes. It's the first time in our piece that our unreliable narrator is now real. That's real fire, and Jon is awake, and now the beast is unleashed, so to speak, in that moment."

The Punisher: One Last Kill, co-written by Bernthal, follows a PTSD-stricken Frank who has lost touch with reality. But things get pretty real after he crosses paths with Ma Gnucci, who is there to take revenge after the Punisher killed her family (though it's the Gnuccis who were responsible for the death of Frank's wife and children in the first place).

Bernthal is set to appear Spider-Man: Brand New Day, and I'm so curious as to how his dynamic with Tom Holland's Peter Parker will play out...

The Punisher: One Last Kill is now streaming on Disney Plus. For more, read our breakdown of The Punisher: One Last Kill ending and our verdict on the special with The Punisher: One Last Kill review.

Marvel has finally revealed the VisionQuest release date – and offered up an exciting glimpse at the WandaVision spin-off behind closed doors.

During Disney’s Upfront presentation on Tuesday, the studio confirmed that the live-action series will premiere on October 14.

According to The Wrap's description, the first-look footage sees Paul Bettany's titular character watching his memories play out in front of him like a film, following the disillusion of Wanda's Hex, which imagined the pair as suburban parents. He's human in the scene, and he's not the only one, either: he's joined later by a flesh-and-bone version of Avengers' AI villain Ultron. As the publication states, this Vision is a far-cry from the one that reminded Wanda (Elizabeth Olsen) that grief is just love persevering, and suggests the show will center on him trying to reclaim some sense of feeling.

Given how Agatha All Along wrapped up back in late October 2024, with Ghost Agatha and Billy Kaplan/Maximoff (Joe Locke) vowing to find the latter's long-lost brother, it seems safe to assume that a key part of Vision's emotional journey will be him trying to catch up to his estranged son Tommy. That's not just a hunch, either, Scottish actor Ruaridh Mollica has been cast as the grown-up, reanimated speedster – and is reportedly seen very briefly in the aforementioned teaser.

Other actors set to appear across the show include Todd Stashwick (Star Trek: Picard), Emily Hampshire (Schitt's Creek), and T'Nia Miller (The Haunting of Bly Manor).

Vision Quest will premiere on October 14. While we wait, check out our guide to all the upcoming Marvel movies and shows set to make up the rest of Marvel Phase 6.

Punisher: One Last Kill is here, and while the special is fairly standalone, director Reinaldo Marcus Green has revealed the key way it sets up Frank Castle's appearance in Spider-Man: Brand New Day.

"I love it. I mean, I feel like we're coming in at the right time," Green told The Direct, when asked about Spider-Man. "I think, just as a fan of The Punisher and a fan of Jon [Bernthal], I want to see him more on screen. That trailer looks amazing. [Destin Daniel Cretton] is an incredible filmmaker. So just to know that I got Frank first, which is cool to get there before everybody else did, which, selfishly, is really great, and set him up... And we [now] know his psychological state before he goes into Spider-Man. I couldn't have asked for better timing for us.

"So I think it's just, it's a lot of fun," he continued. "I think people who are fans and people who are non-fans can still appreciate the special. You know, someone like my mother has never seen The Punisher, I think she can appreciate where Frank is in his headspace, and then maybe she'll become a fan and then go watch Spider-Man. So I'm hoping that we can get some new audience members."

Not much is known about Frank's appearance in Brand New Day yet, though we did glimpse him in the first trailer running over Spidey and then shooting him through the windshield. Uh oh…

Spider-Man: Brand New Day arrives this July 31. In the meantime, check out our guide to all the upcoming Marvel movies and shows for everything else that's on the way.

Update: Sources close to The Hollywood Reporter claim that the widely ridiculed shot was, in fact, mostly captured in camera, with the fall performed by a real stunt double. Though the stunt performer's face was digitally swapped with Bernthal's. Coupled with the slightly uncanny slow-mo, it seems the result is something potentially very real appears like it's been rendered by the Havoc engine. You can't trust your own eyes, nowadays.

A noticeable CGI mistake in The Punisher: One Last Kill has got everyone talking – for all the wrong reasons.

The moment in question sees Jon Bernthal's Frank Castle chased by Ma Gnucci's men and pushed out of a building. Eagle-eyed viewers may have noticed the impact of the fall resembling some slightly wonky VFX that won't look out of place in a PS3-era cutscene. See it for yourself below.

As you can imagine, the reactions have been brutal. While it's not quite The Walking Dead's CGI deer or the infamous 'Jeans Guy' from The Mandalorian, it's still an embarrassing moment for Marvel Studios to put something clearly unfinished out there for all to see on Disney Plus.

"It genuinely looks like a GTA cutscene man," one viewer remarked. Another added, "It looks like a test version of some Joel cutscene for The Last of Us."

"Still can't believe that made the cut," a fan commented, echoing the views of many – causing the clip to go viral.

The Punisher: One Last Kill, co-written by Bernthal, follows the gun-toting vigilante in the wake of the events of Daredevil: Born Again's first season. Soon, he finds himself in the crosshairs of Ma Gnucci, eager for revenge against Frank for the death of her family.

Next up for Frank – if he recovers from being turned into smooth pixels, that is – is an appearance alongside Tom Holland's Peter Parker in Spider-Man: Brand New Day.

The Punisher: One Last Kill is now streaming on Disney Plus. For more, read our breakdown of The Punisher: One Last Kill ending and our verdict on the special with The Punisher: One Last Kill review.

Jon Bernthal makes his triumphant return as Frank Castle in new Marvel special The Punisher: One Last Kill. Telling a standalone story, it acts as a reintroduction of the Defenders character, now that the superheroes have made the jump from their Netflix universe into the MCU.

The TV special kicks off with Frank trying to leave his life as a vigilante behind as demons from his past continue to haunt him. However, he soon finds himself thrust back into the world of crimefighting when he becomes a target of the Gnucci family.

Despite being self-contained, this isn't just an individual story for Bernthal's ultra-violent character. It takes place at a crucial moment on the MCU timeline and has links to some major future projects. So if you're wondering how exactly it slots in, read on for our complete breakdown below.

When is Punisher: One Last Kill set on the Marvel timeline? *SPOILERS*

It's not explicitly mentioned in the special when Punisher: One Last Kill takes place on the Marvel timeline, but Daredevil: Born Again showrunner Dario Scardapane recently confirmed that it happens "before and during" the events of season 2 of that show.

"I don’t know a ton about what goes on in Brand New Day, and I know very well where we left him at the end of Punisher Season 2," he told Variety. "I think this tells the story of what happened next after Punisher and before and during the events of [Born Again] Season 2."

This means it takes place after Frank Castle escaped from Wilson Fisk's vigilante prison at the end of season 1 of Born Again. It makes sense as a timeline point as when the special begins, there are riots going on in Hell's Kitchen, as we saw in Born Again season 2.

However, Frank's story is limited to Little Sicily and characters don't cross over between the projects. Karen Page does appear as a cameo, but she is just a figment of Frank's imagination here.

Punisher: One Last Kill also takes place before the events of Spider-Man: Brand New Day. We know that Frank appears in that upcoming movie, and we've seen him in action in the trailer in his full Punisher regalia, which is how we leave him at the end of this special. As we know, Brand New Day is the last project releasing before Avengers: Doomsday.

Is Punisher: One Last Kill related to the Netflix show?

Just like Daredevil: Born Again, The Punisher: One Last Kill takes place after the events of the Netflix series that Frank Castle appeared in. There are some linking factors, including Frank's origin story, which we see a bit more of again here, as well as actors like Deborah Ann Woll returning as Karen Page.

However, you don't need to have seen the Netflix shows to understand what's going on here. This 45-minute special acts as a neat reintroduction to The Punisher, giving him more room to battle his demons than in his brief appearance in Daredevil: Born Again season 1.

The Punisher: One Last Kill is on Disney Plus now. For more on the MCU, here's a list of all the upcoming Marvel movies and shows you need to know about.

Frank Castle is back on our screens, beating up bad guys and battling his inner demons in The Punisher: One Last Kill. The new Marvel special reintroduces the character following on from his brief appearance in Daredevil: Born Again season 2, ahead of his upcoming appearance in Spider-Man: Brand New Day.

The TV movie tells a standalone story as we get deeper into Frank's past as he faces a new enemy. However, given that we're only a few months away from Spider-Man 4, you might be wondering if there's any set-up in the new release. Well, we get into the details of all of that below in our spoiler-filled guide.

Make sure you're up to date before reading on – and check out our breakdown of where Punisher: One Last Kill sits on the Marvel timeline too while you're here.

Does Punisher: One Last Kill set up Spider-Man: Brand New Day?

The answer to this one is a little complicated. There is no explicit set-up of Spider-Man: Brand New Day in the Marvel special. Tom Holland doesn't appear in a cameo role, nor do any of the other main characters in the franchise. There's also no explicit mention of Spider-Man or the wider MCU or any shared villains.

However, the special does fill in the gap between the Frank Castle we saw at the end of Daredevil: Born Again season 1 and the one we saw in the trailer for Spider-Man: Brand New Day. The former was reluctantly going back to his vigilante ways while the latter seems to be in full superhero mode in his Punisher costume.

The Punisher: One Last Kill documents this journey for Frank. At the beginning of the special he tries to leave his past behind him. However, when Ma Gnucci threatens him and his neighborhood, he answers the call and defends those around him, including some innocent civilians.

One particular person who makes a big impact on him is a young girl who reminds him of his daughter. After he saves her family, Frank goes to his daughter's grave and decides he wants to become the Punisher once again. He then returns to the streets of Hell's Kitchen and dishes out some justice on the thug who killed a dog at the beginning of the special.

This is the Punisher we expect to meet in Spider-Man: Brand New Day. From what we've seen in the trailer, he's fully back in action as the vigilante, driving a tank through New York City. Just expect him to be slightly less sweary and brutal in the upcoming Marvel movie.

Speaking about the connection between the two, Bernthal recently spoke to Kelly Clarkson about bridging this gap between the two projects. "With Spider-Man, I think what was most important, because, obviously, tonally it's different and such an honor to be a part of it, especially with my dear friend Tom Holland," he said per Comic Book Resources. "It was important to us that one Punisher could walk off one set and walk onto the other. Tonally, they couldn't be more different, but I hope we were able to achieve that – it's very important."

The Punisher: One Last Kill is on Disney Plus now. For more on the MCU, here's our breakdown of how to watch the Marvel movies in order ahead of Spider-Man: Brand New Day's arrival in theaters on July 31, 2026.

The Punisher: One Last Kill director says he and Frank Castle star Jon Bernthal don't want to stop at a TV special – the pair wants to make a Punisher movie next.

"I don't know what the plans are for the future of the Punisher," Reinaldo Marcus Green told The Direct. "The only thing that we hope that we were able to accomplish is the demand for more. Hopefully, Jon [Bernthal] and Marvel will come together to make something worthy of what the audience would want to see out of that character. Moving forward, I know Jon and I would love to make a movie, something that could go worldwide and be on screens everywhere. But, obviously, that’ll be Marvel’s decision."

After his absence from Daredevil: Born Again season 2, however, Bernthal is about to make his big-screen MCU debut this summer in Spider-Man: Brand New Day. The Punisher will join forces with Tom Holland's web-slinger in the new film, which picks up four years after Doctor Strange's spell wiped Peter Parker from the world's memories in Spider-Man: No Way Home.

"Just as a fan of the Punisher and a fan of Jon, I want to see him more on screen. That trailer looks amazing," Green added of the upcoming Spidey fourquel. "Destin [Daniel] Cretton’s an incredible filmmaker. [It's] cool to get there before everybody else did, which, selfishly, is really great [to be able to] set him up, and we know his psychological state before he goes into Spider-Man… I couldn't have asked for better timing for us."

The Punisher: One Last Kill hits Disney Plus on May 12. For more on Marvel Phase 6, check out our guide to the other upcoming Marvel movies and shows.

Daredevil: Born Again season 2 may be over, but we're returning to the world of the Defenders already. This time, Frank Castle (who was notably absent from season 2) takes center stage in a new TV special, The Punisher: One Last Kill.

Co-written by Punisher star Jon Bernthal, the special sees Frank try to give up vigilante life and let go of his need for revenge, only to be drawn into a new conflict with a criminal empire. It's set to fill in the gaps between Daredevil: Born Again season 2 and Spider-Man: Brand New Day, which will see the Punisher share the screen with the web-slinger.

We've got everything you need to know about The Punisher: One Last Kill release date and time right here, including where to watch and how many episodes to expect.

The Punisher: One Last Kill release date and streaming time

The Punisher: One Last Kill releases on May 12 at 6pm PT/9pm ET. That's 2am on May 13 if you're in the UK.

Where to watch The Punisher: One Last Kill

The only place to watch The Punisher: One Last Kill is Disney Plus, so you'll need a subscription to tune in.

The Punisher: One Last Kill episode count

There's only one episode in The Punisher: One Last Kill, as it's a standalone TV 'special presentation'. Still, it has links to the wider MCU, so you'd be wise to catch up on Daredevil: Born Again beforehand and to tune in before Spider-Man: Brand New Day.

For more on Marvel Phase 6, check out our guide to the other upcoming Marvel movies and shows on the way in 2026 and beyond.

Fresh off the release of the Daredevil: Born Again season 2 finale, Marvel's new Punisher special is out this week. Early reactions from critics to The Punisher: One Last Kill have been trickling in – and it's fair to say they're pretty mixed.

The standalone story sees Jon Bernthal return once again as Frank Castle after the events of the first season of Daredevil: Born Again season 1. The story sees him trying to live a life free of revenge as the rise of a new criminal empire pulls him back into the fight.

Critics and early viewers have been praising the action in the new special, calling it "raw" and "brutal". However, early critiques focus around the Disney Plus film retreading old ground for the character who already starred in a two season origin story on Netflix.

One writer Cody Leach wrote on X: "#ThePunisherOneLastKill delivers on Frank Castle laying waste to bad guys and Bernthal is awesome as always. That said, I don’t understand the point of this as a 45 min standalone. We re-explore his origin and set him up to now be in full Punisher mode. We’ve done this already…"

Meanwhile, Comic Book Movie's Josh Wilding compared it to Gareth Evans' beloved action hit The Raid writing that it's "a relentless, no-holds-barred exploration of grief and PTSD, and an ultra-violent pitch-perfect take on #ThePunisher. This is @jonnybernthal's magnum opus as Frank Castle. Marvel meets The Raid."

Collider's Maggie Lovitt added that it's a "true" return to character for Frank Castle. "The special is a heavy, introspective look at where Frank's head is as of late – and while it does retread some narrative beats that the Netflix run handled well, what Jon and Reinaldo Marcus Green have done here is really special," she wrote on X. "Bernthal's Frank Castle has always been more emotional, and seeing him process big emotions while also fighting for his life is always a good time."

Check out some more first reactions below.

The Punisher: One Last Kill arrives on Disney Plus on May 12 in the US and May 13 in the UK. This marks the last time we'll see Bernthal on screen until the release of Spider-Man: Brand New Day in July. For more on the MCU, here's our guide to how to watch all the Marvel movies in order.