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7 MCU Movies That Would Have Been Better As TV Shows

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7 MCU Movies That Would Have Been Better As TV Shows

There are currently 34 Marvel Cinematic Universe films (and counting), and a majority of those films have done some incredible numbers at the box office. As many who cover the film industry know, great box office returns don’t always equate to a good movie, and there are certainly some MCU films that would have served the franchise better as a TV show than a theatrical production.

RELATED: 7 MCU Villians That Deserve Solo Movies

This doesn’t mean that the film is bad in a cinematic sense. However, some films could stand a bit more character and story growth, which is where television has an advantage over movies.

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Guardians of the Galaxy

This film was a critical and box office success, but if seen from today’s eyes, one could come away with the realization that the characters powering 2014’s Guardians of the Galaxy were tailor-made to be a Disney Plus series.

It would have fleshed out the interesting characters and brought a new, compelling story that viewers could follow every week, much in the same vein as The Mandalorian or WandaVision.

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Ant-Man

Ant-Man was an interesting character for Marvel to bring to the big screen. It was a gamble, for sure, but the gamble paid off to the tune of over $500 million at the box office in 2015. Given the plot of the film, Ant-Man could have also been easily created as a television series.

With Netflix ready to bring Marvel to life on the small screen at the time, Ant-Man could have been that A-listed superhero to go along with the franchise B-listed heroes that would categorize the Netflix Marvel shows. Ant-Man may have played a role in the MCU movie franchise, but Marvel missed an opportunity to expand the lore on television.

Eternals

Eternals was supposed to be a huge cinematic event, but it turned out to be kind of a dud. The film received mixed reviews and reactions from critics and audiences alike. Watching Eternals, one can’t help but think, “This could have been better as a Disney+ show.”

RELATED: 10 MCU Villians Most Likely To Win Squid Game

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The storyline, about a group of superheroes who finally come and save the Earth from the Deviants, would have been better strung together in a six-to-eight-part mini-series on the streaming network. Marvel missed the mark with this set of heroes.


Captain Marvel

Relative to other Marvel movies, 2019’s Captain Marvel has a slightly complicated backstory. The film finds Carol Danvers (played wonderfully by Brie Larson), who tries to balance her Kree side with her human side and, eventually, becomes Captain Marvel, who has to save the world from a war between two alien races, both of whom are using Earth as a giant punching bag.

Despite the mixed reviews the film got, it was a nice entry into the MCU and fitted the Avengers story arc well. However, the story of Captain Marvel could have benefited more from being its television series. A Captain Marvel show on streaming (either on Netflix or Disney+) could have been a huge success and went deeper into the lore of one of the MCU’s strongest superheroes.

The Incredible Hulk

The Incredible Hulk is the only MCU film that has had a television adaptation before, not once but twice. The first, and more successful series, ran on CBS for five seasons between 1977 and 1982. 14 years later, Hulk would be back on TV in animated form, but the cartoon only ran for two seasons on the low-rated UPN Network. The Hulk has been on the small screen, but an MCU TV series of the character could have been something unique.

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RELATED: 10 MCU Characters That Deserve More Screen Time

Despite being an integral part of the Avengers, the Hulk’s MCU storyline always felt on the backburner, and Bruce Banner having his television series (again) would have been a better medium to explore his character. However, his importance in the Avengers, and being a huge box office draw, practically required him to be on the big screen in all his green, angry glory. A Hulk Disney+ series set in the multiverse would make for must-watch streaming, and Marvel should seriously consider thinking about that.

Captain America: The First Avenger

Have you ever watched a film and thought to yourself, “That would have been better as a television show?” If so, that film probably was Captain America: The First Avenger. Granted, it was a decent movie that did its purpose to introduce the first Avenger into the MCU, but The First Avenger would have been better as a TV series. It would have been interesting watching Steve Rogers explore 2011 America, and defend the Earth from disasters of cataclysmic proportions.

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Back in 2011, Netflix was just entering its streaming prime. If Marvel would have focused on the streaming medium as hard as it did the theaters back in 2011, a series revolving around Captain America would have been an instant hit.

Black Widow

Black Widow will be a big part of the MCU going forward, but the film that debuted her character into this sprawling superhero world felt more like a standalone film than one that integrates itself into the MCU. Given that thinking, Black Widow may have been better off on Disney+ as a limited series in the same vein as WandaVision.

The story of the Black Widow is too sprawling to be condensed into 134 minutes, and it could have benefited better from having an eight-episode arc that would have told the Black Widow story, and established her as an integral part of the MCU as it moves into its multiverse phase. It just seemed like another missed opportunity by Marvel.

NEXT: The Normal, Power-Less People of the MCU, Ranked

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Wait, Is Warner Bros Scrapping Its $70 Million Batgirl Movie? Rumors Are Swirling

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Wait, Is Warner Bros Scrapping Its  Million Batgirl Movie? Rumors Are Swirling

After years of anticipation from DC fans, Warner Bros finally found a way to introduce Barbara Gordon to live-action, announcing a solo movie for the hero with the developing Leslie Grace-led film. Batgirl, which finished filming earlier this year, has been scheduled to hit HBO Max sometime this year, however according to a number of new reports, Warner Bros doesn’t want Batgirl to see the light of day. Outlets are reporting that $70 million project is being scrapped after test screenings scared off the studio on the movie. 

Batgirl has been called “irredeemable” by a reported “top Hollywood source” found by The NY Post. Per the report, the movie will be “shelved,” but it has yet to be confirmed by the studio if it’s purely a rumor or a bombshell piece of news for one of Warner Bros’ upcoming DC movies.  

The Wrap backed up this report, sharing it had additionally heard via insiders that the movie “did not work” for studio executives – made by Bad Boys For Life and Ms. Marvel directors Adil El Arbi and Billal Fallah for a reported budget of over $70 million (though it may have ultimately cost the studio $90 million by the time cameras finished rolling). 

The news could perhaps be the product of the recent change in Warner Bros’ leadership, with CEO David Zaslav becoming the new big boss since WB merged with Discovery. There was some rumored talk of the previous WB chair Toby Emmerich considering Batgirl for a theatrical release rather than a HBO Max exclusive, however, but the new reports suggest the film isn’t testing to the level of a big-screen project and may be removed from getting any kind of release. 

Batgirl would not only introduce Leslie Grace’s Barbara Gordon, but is features a stacked cast including the return of Michael Keaton as Batman and J.K. Simmons as James Gordon. Brendan Fraser plays the film’s villain, Ted Carson a.k.a. Firefly. It’s arguably unheard of for a project as high-profile as this one to lose any form of avenue for distribution. 

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Apparently, a move like this is not uncharacteristic for Warner Bros’ new CEO, however, who previously shut down the failed streaming service CNN+ weeks after it launched (it reportedly cost $300 million to put together). There is some restructuring of DC projects currently underway behind the scenes, with David Zaslav on the search for a someone to fill a role much like Marvel boss Kevin Feige has at Marvel Studios. 

Coming off San Diego Comic-Con late last month, Marvel Studios announced and showcased a lineup of projects planned until 2025 including two more Avengers films, whilst DC did not bring anything from Batgirl to its panel. Instead, Warner Bros chose to only focus on Shazam! Fury of the Gods and Black Adam, both of which have set release dates later this year. Warner Bros. Discovery is set to report its earnings for this past business quarter on Thursday; it’s possible we’ll learn more then. 

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High School Musical: The Musical: The Series: 5 Feelings I Had While Watching The Season 3 Premiere

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High School Musical: The Musical: The Series: 5 Feelings I Had While Watching The Season 3 Premiere

What time is it? Summer time!

Well, that’s what the students of East High are saying in High School Musical: The Musical: The Series. I know, the name is a mouthful, but honestly, this show is a whole lot of fun and if you haven’t watched it, you definitely should. The first two seasons were great, from the songs in Season 1 to the drama in Season 2, and when it was announced that the series would be getting a Season 3 and 4, I was all on board. 

Now that I have watched the first episode of Season 3, I am even more excited for the next episodes to come, and that premiere has me all in my feelings – specifically these five. 

Nostalgic  

Man, this show makes me so nostalgic for when I was younger. 

Don’t get me wrong, I would never travel back in time to then, just because I was so young and didn’t know half the stuff I know now, but there is just something about listening to the soundtrack of some of these original songs from the High School Musical movies that just get me. While we don’t get many songs in the first episode, we get the classic, “What Time Is It” from High School Musical 2 within the few three minutes of the show and ugh, the memories. 

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If you were a tween or kid back in 2007 and watched HSM2 when it premiered on Disney Channel, you know this song just as well as I do. And for years, I sang this song on the last day of school – heck, I still sing it now whenever warm weather comes around and I’m two years out of college. I love this music, and I can already tell from just this first episode that this season is going to make me so nostalgic. 

Curiosity

I’m really curious to see what they’re going to do with this camp in High School Musical: The Musical: The Series. 

For those who don’t know, the first two seasons of this series were pretty much based around the first film’s premise. The show takes place in a world where the movies exist, but instead of the actors from the High School Musical cast that we’re familiar with, we are introduced to students who are auditioning for those iconic roles. And over the last two seasons, we’ve watched them grow into brilliant performers while singing in productions of both High School Musical and Beauty and the Beast, with covers and original songs all along the way. 

But the whole entire point of the first two seasons was that this show took place in the same high school where the movies were filmed. So it’s only natural to think that the second season might end up happening at the country club that was in High School Musical 2, but nope – we are at a summer camp, something that was never talked about in the original movies. 

The arrival of everyone coming to this summer camp is fun, but it makes me wonder how they’re going to include the songs from High School Musical 2 into this season when it’s not at the same location as the film, but it’s still interesting to watch, nonetheless. 

Proud 

Dude, I love Olivia Rodrigo – and I mean that. This girl has done so much these last two years and watching her in High School Musical: The Musical: The Series is always a joy. 

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But what really makes me so proud of her is that I’m not even just proud of the actress, but the character as well. Nini is this young star who is a little afraid to take these big risks but she does so anyway, knowing that she has this big break she can’t lose, which was the big theme of this first episode. She goes away on this road trip with a producer over the summer so she can record songs, giving her that shot, and I am so proud of her for doing that. 

Olivia Rodrigo plays her perfectly, and while I know that her character was demoted to a guest role thanks to Rodrigo’s budding music career, I can’t help but be proud, because wow, she has blown up. It makes me want to watch her documentary on Disney+ again

Eagerness 

I know I said earlier on that I was curious as to how they’re going to really change up this season with this new location. But, about twenty minutes in, I genuinely was feeling eager to see where this show would go – specifically the dynamics of new characters. 

For two seasons, we have pretty much been surrounded by the same characters, and while we have grown to love them, I think this season was the one where we truly needed a change in not only scenery, but characters as well. And this first episode brought a ton of them in. 

One of the scenes that got me really eager to see what happens with these new characters was when Gina, Ashlyn and Kourtney, three clear as day theater kids, find out they have to share a cabin with Gadget (a new character) and two other girls – and you can clearly tell at first that they are not feeling the vibe, and you can almost smell the problems from a mile away. 

That screams great television, and it’s got me wondering how much more drama this show is going to produce over the next episodes with these new dynamics. I’m so eager to see. 

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Excitement

Seeing Corbin Bleu in the premiere episode made me very excited to see where this fictionalized version of him is going to go next. 

Usually, when it comes to the original members from the High School Musical movies, we’ll get some pictures from them from the old high school – like Vanessa Hudgens and Zac Efron both recently taking pics there in 2022 – but I didn’t think anyone would come back to the show. We had Lucas Grabeel and Kaycee Stroh in Season 1 but no one in Season 2, so I’m super pumped to see Corbin Bleu back for this season.

Not only that, but Jason Earles. Do you guys know who he is? The moment I saw him as Dewey, the director of Camp Shallow Lake, I practically screamed. This man is Disney Channel royalty. He was not only a co-star on Hannah Montana but also on Kickin’ It and I can’t believe he is in another Disney show and it has me so excited. 

I’m not sure how often he and Bleu are going to be on the show, but I know for a fact that those two appearing on that stage has me excited for what this season holds and I can’t wait to see what’s next. Could Zac Efron be next?

What are you guys looking forward to with Season 3 of High School Musical: The Musical: The Series? All I know is that if I don’t get a cover of “Fabulous” by Carlos in this season, I will riot. I demand it, Disney+!

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The School For Good And Evil: 6 Quick Things We Know About The Netflix Movie

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The School For Good And Evil: 6 Quick Things We Know About The Netflix Movie

Book adaptations of big-time novels always seem to go over well with audiences, and have for plenty of years, with movie sagas such as Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings taking over the box office. But, a newcomer is arriving on the movie scene, one which should have been adapted almost as soon as it came out, if you ask me.

The School for Good and Evil, an amazing addition to the fantasy genre, is finally getting its own adaptation into the film world – but not in theaters. However, it will be appearing as a Netflix movie, on the popular streaming website. However, what else do we know about this upcoming film? What is it going to be about? Who is going to be in it? There are plenty of things that you might not know, but we do. Here are some quick things we know about the upcoming Netflix film.

(Image credit: Netflix)

The School For Good And Evil Release Date Is Set For October 21

Mark your calendars, fantasy lovers, as The School for Good and Evil is going to be coming out as part of the 2022 movie release schedule! Announced with the official poster from the Netflix Twitter page, it was confirmed that The School for Good and Evil would release on the popular streaming platform in Fall 2022, specifically on October 21. 

Talk about a great addition to all the fun Halloween movies we’ll be watching during that time of year – I can always use a little good and evil in my life. 

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Sofia Wylie in The School for Good and Evil.

(Image credit: Netflix)

The School For Good And Evil Has A Star-Studded Cast

With an adaptation like The School for Good and Evil, we all knew that the cast needed to be amazing. And, luckily, there’s no shortage of amazing additions to this Netflix movie. First, let’s take a look at the two leads characters of the film, Sophie and Agatha, where the story begins. These two roles will be played by Sophia Anna Caruso, known for her role in the Broadway musical Beetlejuice, and Sofia Wylie, who stars on a Disney+  show you really should watch, High School Musical: The Musical: The Series.

Wylie is especially excited for her role in The School for Good and Evil. In an interview with MTV, she talked about her part as Agatha and how she’s excited to “bring some realness” to the character that hadn’t been seen before. She described Agatha’s struggles with internal and external beauty through her own experience, saying that it’s something she can relate to and that it’s an important message to teach.

That’s something that I personally can really relate to, that voice inside of your head, how much power it has. I deal with those doubts and those insecurities. And I think I can really bring some realness to Agatha in that sense because I know, as a teenage girl, it can be very difficult to overcome that voice.

Adding on to this cast, Deadline reported that two megastars, Charlize Theron and Kerry Washington, signed on for two of the main roles in the upcoming film. Theron is set to play Lady Lesso, and Washington will portray a teacher at the school, Professor Dovey.

In addition to these two, in another article, Deadline reported that Laurence Fishburne, known for his roles in The Matrix trilogy and many other films, as well as action star Michelle Yeoh, from movies such as Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, Everything Everywhere All At Once, Crazy Rich Asians, and her TV role in Star Trek: Discovery, have stepped up to be in The School for Good and Evil. Fishburne will play the Schoolmaster – a role that sounds quite fitting for someone of his talents, and Yeoh will portray another teacher, Professor Anemone.

Also for the film, Demi Isaac Oviawe, Kaitlyn Akinpelumi, and Freya Theodora Parks will play Anadil, Dot and Hester, three young women who are a part of The Coven in The School for Good and Evil, as confirmed by a behind-the-scenes look with the author of the original novel, Soman Chainani on YouTube.

Already, this film is shaping up to be filled to the brim with some of the Hollywood elite. I, for one, can’t wait to see what they do with the material they are given, because it’s about to get magical.

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Charlize Theron in The School for Good and Evil.

(Image credit: Netflix)

The School For Good And Evil Will Follow The Bestselling Book Series

For those who don’t know, The School for Good and Evil is composed of several novels in a series. Netflix confirmed that this new movie will be based on the series by Soman Chainani, and from the premise of the film, it’s looking to be exactly like the first novel.

As confirmed by the description from the trailer for the new movie on YouTube, The School for Good and Evil is going to follow two best friends, Sophia and Agatha, who are swept into a world of trying to balance both good and evil when they are given different roles, but this in turn causes their lives to turn upside down. 

I’m already on board for a story like this. Two opposing personalities who end up being trained in styles that they thought they weren’t aligned with? Thrown into unlikely situations? Fantasy elements? My god, I can almost feel the franchise coming. Netflix has a great addition with this one.

Bridesmaids Director Paul Feig Is Directing The School For Good And Evil

I don’t think there could have been another perfect choice for the director for The School for Good and Evil than Paul Feig. The legendary director has produced some of the biggest comedic hits in the last ten years. For example, Feig directed the smash-hit Bridesmaids back in 2011, the 2016 remake of Ghostbusters, the Emilia Clarke Christmas comedy Last Christmas, the comedy thriller, A Simple Favor, and so many others.

Besides movies, Paul Feig has also directed multiple episodes of several incredible sitcoms, such as The Office, Arrested Development, Parks and Recreation, and 30 Rock. The School for Good and Evil novels have an amazing comedic element to them, and I can only imagine what a comedic director like Paul Feig will bring to the table in this new film.

The castle in The School for Good and Evil.

(Image credit: Netflix)

Finding Neverland Screenwriter David Magee Wrote The Screenplay For The School For Good And Evil

When it comes to an adapted screenplay, you always have to make sure that you find the right person to do it, because with novels, there are so many details that need to somehow make it into the movie. The School for Good and Evil found its screenwriter in David Magee.

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Magee is a perfect choice, because not only has he been around the business for some time, he’s had plenty of experience in writing fantasy, working on films such as the Academy-Award winning Life of Pi, the Disney sequel Mary Poppins Returns, and wrote the screenplay for Finding Neverland, the story of the author who created the legendary character, Peter Pan. Truly, he has great experience up his sleeves, and I’m eager to see what he’ll do with the fantastic story that is The School for Good and Evil.

The bit apple in The School for Good and Evil.

(Image credit: Netflix)

The School For Good And Evil Has Finished Filming 

As you can expect for a film that already has a trailer, The School for Good and Evil finished production for their film not too long ago. From a tweet on Twitter from Netflix Geeked, it was confirmed back in July of 2021 that filming had wrapped on the film and was entering into the post-production phases. 

Watch The Trailer For The School For Good And Evil 

If you haven’t yet seen the trailer for The School for Good and Evil, be sure to watch it now, as you won’t want to miss out on the magic. 

With an amazing cast, awesome story, and some really cool looking set pieces featured in the trailer, The School for Good and Evil is looking to be an amazing addition to Netflix’s original film line-up. I can’t wait for this movie to pop up as part of the 2022 Netflix movie schedule. I’m practically counting down the days. 

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