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When Benedict Cumberbatch first donned the iconic deerstalker hat to become Sherlock Holmes in the eponymous BBC TV series 11 years ago, the British thespian probably had no idea how seminal the role would be for his career. Yet, his powerful modern-day portrayal of the mastermind detective mesmerised audiences around the globe, paving his way to juicier roles and, eventually, Hollywood superstardom.
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Now a bona-fide leading man, Cumberbatch’s chameleonic acting abilities have seen him cinematically embody a series of other fictional and real-life characters to impressive success: he played superhuman villain Khan Noonien Singh in 2013’s Star Trek: Into the Darkness, Smaug the dragon in The Hobbit anthology, WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange in The Fifth Estate, code-cracker Alan Turing in the WWII movie The Imitation Game (2014) and – in perhaps his biggest role to date – multiple outings as Dr Stephen Strange in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
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Having lived in the limelight for well over a decade now, pretty much every aspect of Cumberbatch’s life has received media attention. From the personal – much hubbub was made of the purportedly £300,000 engagement ring he bestowed upon now-wife, theatre director Sophie Hunter – to the professional – he was slammed for calling black actors ‘coloured’ in 2015 – you’d be forgiven for thinking that there’s not much left to learn about the Sherlock Holmes star, but the following facts make intriguing reading&#8230;
Benedict the Barrister?
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Benedict Timothy Carlton Cumberbatch was born on 19 July 1976 in London’s Hammersmith district and seemed to be destined for the big screen. After all, his parents, Timothy Carlton and Wanda Ventham, were established actors boasting countless television and stage production credits. Yet, their chosen calling encouraged the young Cumberbatch to seek a more stable profession. Speaking of his parents, who are now in their 80s, he shared: “[Acting is] a very odd, peripatetic, crazed, out-of-your-control work and social schedule. It’s very hard to plan a family life, let alone know where the next pay cheque is coming from, so they worked very, very hard as my parents, and actors, to afford me an education whereby I had the opportunity and the privilege to try and channel myself towards other goals.”
So, which profession did he have in mind?&nbsp; “For a while, I wanted to be a barrister because there’s definitely a crossover with criminal law,” he mused. “I would’ve loved the performance of court, the idea of persuading people, storytelling and all that. It parallels beautifully with acting, lots of frustrated, amateur dramatics going on in court all the time. I think lots of barristers literally perform in amateur dramatic societies and are very good actors. It’s a massive crossover.”
From Lama to Lamda
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After graduating from Harrow public school and before studying drama at the University of Manchester and then the prestigious London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (Lamda), the Dr Strange star decided to take a gap year. Unlike most of his peers, however, he chose to volunteer his time, teaching English at a Tibetan monastery in Darjeeling, India. In return, he learnt a thing or two about meditation. “I’d always been fascinated by the idea of meditation and what it meant,” he once said. “In India, I went on a retreat with a lama – several days of incantation to clear and purify the mind. It was incredible and I kind of floated out of there after two weeks.” 
Shy to be Sherlock
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Although playing ‘the world’s greatest detective’ may have catapulted Cumberbatch to the big leagues, his first inclination was to reject the part. “I heard about it and thought that it sounds like an idea to [re-franchise] something to make money. It could be a bit cheap and cheesy,” he explained. “But then I found out who was involved&#8230; My mum had done a few episodes of Coupling with Steven Moffat, and Mark Gatiss was a huge hero of mine, so I knew the stable was good. I thought I would read it, and then I fell in love with it.” 
Nearly the End?
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While filming the 2005 miniseries, To the Ends of the Earth, in South Africa – about a young man sailing to Australia on his own gap year of sorts – the actor had a frightening near-death experience. During a production break, he and two co-stars headed out to learn how to scuba dive when they had a flat tyre. “The three of us were trying to change the tyre when these six [armed] men appeared suddenly from the eucalyptus. They said: ‘Put your hands on your head; don’t look at us,’ and were frisking us for drugs, money, weapons. Then they bundled us into the car and put me in the boot,” he recalls. 
It was quick thinking on his part that probably saved his life. “I said: ‘There’s a problem with my heart and my brain. I will die, possibly have a fit, and it will be a problem for you. I will be a dead Englishman in your car. Not good.’” This impromptu warning deterred the felons from proceeding any further with their kidnapping plot. Cumberbatch and his colleagues were dumped by the roadside and left for locals to find. 
Assange Harangue
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Prior to filming The Fifth Estate, Bill Condon’s biopic about WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, the meticulous actor reached out to the man himself to prepare for the role. The response, though, was rather less welcoming than he might have hoped. While Assange stated that he would very much enjoy meeting him, the majority of his reply consisted of trying to convince the leading man not to do the movie. He said, “You will be used, as a hired gun, to assume the appearance of the truth in order to assassinate it. To present me as someone morally compromised and to place me in a falsified history. To create a work, not of fiction, but of debased truth.” 
Thankfully, Assange’s designated portrayer was not deterred. Cumberbatch declared that he “wanted to create a three-dimensional portrait of a man far more maligned in the&nbsp;tabloid&nbsp;press than he is in our film to remind people that he is not just the weird, white-haired Australian dude wanted in Sweden, hiding in an embassy behind&nbsp;Harrods, but a true force to be reckoned with, [who] achieved the realisation of the great ideal.” 
It’s this same dedication to his craft that has typified Cumberbatch’s past roles and captivated audiences the world over. And, hopefully, one of the profession’s most memorable names, and most skilled performers, will continue to bring that same commitment to his future works as well.

Strange Attractor Benedict Cumberbatch GAFENCU celebrity feature

Strange Attractor: Unfolding the life and career of Benedict Cumberbatch

Following the long-awaited releases of Black Widow and Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings over recent months, the next instalment of the wildly successful Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) is poised to enthral us. Slated to open on 18 November, Eternals depicts the travails of immortal beings who reunite after millennia of hiding on Earth to battle their archenemies, the Deviants – and it promises to be the most diverse to date.
Much has been made of the fact that its core superhero cast will feature the franchise’s first openly gay character (Phastos), that Pakistani-American actor Kumail Nanjiani’s Kingo will be its first protagonist of South Asian descent, and Don Lee – of Train to Busan fame – the first South Korean superhero. What’s more, both director (Chloé Zhao) and lead (Gemma Chan) are Chinese. Rather less noise has resonated, however, over the casting of Mexican screen-siren Salma Hayek as Ajak, the Eternals’ spiritual leader. After all, the Desperado star will become the series’ first Arab actress (Hayek actually boasts Lebanese ethnicity through her father).
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A 32-year veteran of the industry, Hayek is no stranger to breaking boundaries. She was one of the first Latina talents to make it big in Tinseltown, in no small part due to her versatility in the genres of drama, comedy, romance and action. But life hasn’t been all smooth sailing for the Frida thespian. We shine the spotlight on the soaring highs and challenging lows that she’s overcome&#8230;
Peace &amp; Pesos 
Salma Valgarma Hayek Jiménez was born far away from the shining lights of Hollywood in the southern Mexican port city of Coatzacoalcos on 2 September 1966. Her mother, Diana, was an opera singer, while her Lebanese-Mexican father, Sami Hayek Dominguez, worked as an oil executive in addition to owning an industrial equipment company. Her Lebanese surname reflects her paternal roots, while her first name ‘Salma’ means ‘peace’ in Arabic. She was fortunate to be raised in a wealthy home, which afforded her the opportunity to go to boarding school in the United States at age 12.
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Boarding School Blues 
Salma’s schooldays weren’t always easy, as she was diagnosed with dyslexia at an early age. This didn’t stop her from pranking her fellow students, however. In one interview, she recalled that her roommates – American girls – would wake early to curl their hair and put on makeup, whereas she’d rather “sleep until the last minute”. One day, she decided to turn back the clocks by an hour to mess with them. She was given detention, and ultimately kicked out of the strict Catholic boarding school in Louisiana. Despite these early hiccups and a learning disability, her innate intelligence saw her graduate from high school at just 15.
Acting Initiative 
Throughout her late teens and early 20s, her stunning looks prompted approaches from casting agents. So, halfway through pursuing a degree in international relations and political science at Mexico City’s Universidad Iberoamericana, she dismayed her parents by dropping out to pursue a career in acting. At just 23, she had her big break, landing the starring role in Teresa, a telenovela that would catapult her to superstar status in her native land. Not content to rest on her laurels, she decided to move to Hollywood to pursue bigger roles. “I wanted to do films, and at that time in Mexico, a film industry didn’t really exist,” she explains. “So where do you go to do movies? You go to the mecca. I was already famous in Mexico by then, and they were laughing at me, asking ‘Why is she doing that?’”
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Desperado Times 
At first it seemed her critics were right since Hayek struggled for four years in California, unable to land a single role. In many cases, the reason cited by studios for her rejection was that she was too Latina. It wasn’t until 1995 that she got her chance to prove her mettle in Robert Rodriguez’s Desperado alongside fellow Spanish-speaker Antonio Banderas. Then, the floodgates opened, with the actress cast in a slew of major productions before the end of the decade – From Dusk till Dawn, Wild Wild West and Dogma, to name but three of her biggest hits.
Rosy Repertoire 
In 1999, having established herself as an A-list leading lady, Hayek launched her own production company. Ventanarosa, which is Spanish for ‘rose-coloured window’, produced the acclaimed TV dramedy Ugly Betty, which would eventually garner two Golden Globes. It also helped her hit Hollywood-legend heights by producing the historic biopic Frida (2002). Hayek’s seminal portrayal of the surrealist artist Frida Kahlo saw her become only the second Latina actress to receive a Best Actress nod at the Academy Awards.
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Charity Begins at Home 
In addition to her achievements in film, she is a dedicated philanthropist and activist. Spurred by an awareness of her own fortunate circumstances and the precarious position of those in her homeland, the Salma Hayek Foundation not only raises aid and awareness for battered women in Mexico, but has branched out to help disadvantaged street children, too. Hayek has also been involved with several Unicef initiatives, including spearheading a campaign against neonatal and maternal tetanus, and was awarded the Danny Kaye Humanitarian Award by the international charitable organisation in 2018.
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Covid Survivor 
The Eternals star was recently worryingly close to death. Laid low by Covid-19, she spent seven weeks isolated in a room of the house she shares with her husband, French billionaire François-Henri Pinault (CEO of luxury group Kering), and their 13-year-old daughter. She became so ill that she was put on oxygen. “My doctor begged me to go to the hospital because it was so bad,” she reveals, “but I said, ‘no, thank you. I’d rather die at home,’” adding that she still hasn’t regained her pre-pandemic energy levels.
<blockquote>
“My doctor begged me to go to the hospital because it was so bad, but I said, ‘no, thank you. I’d rather die at home’”
</blockquote>
Auteur Ego 
In line with her go-getting spirit, though, this hasn’t stopped her from planning ambitious projects. Apart from Eternals, Hayek also appears in Ridley Scott’s biographical crime drama The House of Gucci, which was shot earlier this year, and hopes to direct a film based on a script she wrote 17 years ago. “It’s a very personal project and this is the right time. It couldn’t have gotten made two years ago or even last year [but] I don’t give up. I’ll get it made,” she says of the passion production. While she’s remained tight-lipped about any details, if her past CV is any indication, it will be an instant hit.
&nbsp;
<h6>(Text: Tenzing Thondup)</h6>

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Salma Hayek: Her journey to landing Marvels ‘Eternals’

The tide is rising in the Marvel multiverse, and there’s never been a more appropriate time to be a socially progressive fan of the superhero world.
Simu Liu, the 32-year-old Chinese-Canadian newbie actor of Kim’s Convenience fame, is shaking things at the white boys’ club. As the first Asian lead of a Marvel superhero film, he’s on the cusp of becoming the face of diversity, representing a population which isn’t all white, whilst carving out a permanent place for himself amongst Hollywood A-listers. 
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, due for release on 3 September, showcases a predominantly Asian cast, and pits superhero Shang-Chi (Simu Liu) against the terrorist group, Ten Rings, that was introduced in Iron Man. Social media sensation and Crazy Rich Asians’ actor Awkwafina also stars. 
We take a look at Liu’s rocky path to stardom, which mirrors the progress of the times.
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Canada Bound 
Born in Harbin in 1989, Liu was raised by his grandparents until the age of five. His parents had migrated to Ontario to complete their education at Queen’s University and “start a better life”. By 1995, they were financially secured for their son to join them, but the two generations of the family were complete strangers. In an open letter to his parents, Liu states, “I was excited to finally meet my real parents and start my life in Canada, but I had no recollection of you.” It was a period of resentment, tough adjustment and culture shock for the youngster. “We fought often… If I tripped on my laces, I was clumsy. If I scored below an A, I was stupid. If I wanted to hang out with my friends, I was wasting my time. I spoke dismissively about you, told you I hated you, and that I couldn’t wait to leave the house. But privately, I yearned for your love and affection.”
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From Accounting to Acting 
Like most Asian families, Liu’s highly qualified, aerospace-engineer parents raised him to pursue a career in the sciences. Little did they know destiny had other plans. After graduating from Western Ontario’s Ivey Business School by the skin of his teeth, he got an accounting job with Deloitte in its downtown Toronto office. It was crash and burn from the word go. Liu hated crunching numbers, Deloitte was not a fan, and after nine months, he was laid off. “The first round of cuts, and I was right out,” he recalls.
Ashamed and embarrassed, he considered leaping from the balcony to avoid facing his high-achieving parents. But the thing about hitting rock bottom is that you can only go up. A pink slip motivated him to try something new – performing arts – and he was instantly drawn to the world of acting.
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More than a Stunt 
Liu’s leading man status has been hard-earned. He started out as a stunt artist; Hollywood expected an Asian man in the industry to know martial arts. As a side gig, he performed stunts at birthday parties for extra cash. Serendipitously, it was a Craigslist ad directed him to his first acting role – an extra “deep, deep in the background” in the 2013 sci-fi film, Pacific Rim.
The aspiring star has always showed drive. Not one to sit back and wait for the ideal role or the perfect opportunity, he grabbed whatever came his way and gave it his all – and that tactic has paid off, big time!
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Plea to Marvel 
The struggling actor was “handing out dog-food samples on the side of the road in Toronto” when he put out this 2014 tweet, “Hey @Marvel, great job with Cpt America and Thor. Now how about an Asian-American hero?” Seven years later, he has just become one. 
Unbeknownst to him, the Marvel Cinematic Universe, often criticised for its affinity with conventionally handsome white males, was internally rebooting to stay socially and politically relevant in the #MeToo age. It was gearing up to unveil a swathe of diverse superheroes. Shang Chi, with its momentous Asian casting, promises to be one of this year’s marquee blockbuster releases. Simu Liu as a Chinese superhero has not only deepened the conversation around race and representation – the step up is also being seen as a huge leap for Hollywood – one that marks progress over profits and doesn’t reduce diversity to an act of tokenism, a stunt or a sidekick.
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Happy Convenience 
Years of toil on the acting fringes paid off in 2016 with a role in critically acclaimed Canadian sitcom Kim’s Convenience, the show about the day-to-day happenings of a Korean immigrant family. Liu plays one of the central characters, Jung Kim, in this smash hit; it quickly drew an avid following and was one of the most watched comedies on Netflix in 2018. Ironically, the show runs parallel to his own life and immigrant story.
Umma (Jean Yoon) and Appa (Paul Sun-Hyung Lee) are mellow, easy-going folk, who gradually begin to see the world beyond the prejudices that surface with each new customer. Much like Liu’s own experiences, the children in the show – Janet and Jung – learn to appreciate their parents’ struggle, live through their idiosyncrasies and find love, care and support in their largely affectionless home. In the end, despite all the ups and downs, everyone pretty much gets along. Similarly, as Liu matured, he came to see the world through his parents’ eyes. His open letter is a tribute to them: “In hindsight, I know that you were doing the best. Money was always tight. And so you worked hard and often. You pushed me as hard as you could so that I would never have to know the struggle of not knowing where my next meal would come from.”
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Familiar Face 
With more than 30 film, TV and ad credits to his name, including Fresh Off The Boat, Orphan Black, Slasher and Bad Blood, the actor is increasingly popular on both the big and small screen. But you might recognise him from somewhere else. In 2014, during his dog-food promoting days, Liu did a photoshoot for iStock images for US$120 – a quick cash solution that he, at the time, didn’t realise would be splashed all over the internet – for countless job advertisements, bus posters and even as the cover of accounting books. “That stock photo shoot always finds a way to come back and haunt me. LOL”, he shares with his fans on Instagram.
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Turning Point? 
The world in which we grew up could not imagine an Asian as the face of a Marvel movie. Representation matters when you have millions of eyeballs forming an image of what heroes look like. Simu Liu’s starring role sends a powerful message – that in 2021, race, gender and sexual orientation should not come in the way of being a hero. Hopefully, the tide will continue to rise from one studio to another until the day issues of diversity will no longer be magazine stories.
(Text: Nikita Mishra)
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First Asian superhero in a Marvel movie: Simu Liu as ‘Shang-Chi’

When Robert Downey Jr donned his now-iconic red-and-yellow armour in 2008’s Iron Man, few could have imagined that his successful portrayal of “genius, billionaire, playboy, philanthropist” Tony Stark would spawn a cinematic franchise the likes of which the world had never seen before. Indeed, since this opening instalment of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) – the massive movie franchise run by Marvel Studios, based off of characters from Marvel Comics – cinemagoers across the globe have fallen in love with Iron Man and his merry band of superhero friends, The Avengers.
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-49384" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Marvel-Cinematic-Universe-Phase-4.jpg" alt="Marvel Cinematic Universe - Phase 4" width="700" height="466" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Marvel-Cinematic-Universe-Phase-4.jpg 700w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Marvel-Cinematic-Universe-Phase-4-200x133.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Marvel-Cinematic-Universe-Phase-4-421x280.jpg 421w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Marvel-Cinematic-Universe-Phase-4-120x80.jpg 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Marvel-Cinematic-Universe-Phase-4-500x333.jpg 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Marvel-Cinematic-Universe-Phase-4-400x266.jpg 400w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Marvel-Cinematic-Universe-Phase-4-600x399.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" />
Much of this ‘Marvel-lous’ world’s success lies in its deft ability to blend jaw-dropping action scenes, poignant storylines and irreverent humour, which have pretty much become the calling card of the Marvel movie-going experience, infecting even the most cynical critics with Marvel Fever and causing them to root for such out-of-this-world protagonists as a gamma ray-infused rage monster (The Hulk), an interchangeably-sized ex-con (Ant-Man), a talking tree (Groot of Guardians of the Galaxy), and everything in between.
It is precisely this magic formula that has allowed Marvel to far outstrip any studio competitor, leading it to spin one collective story across 22 movies and three separate phases in what is colloquially known as The Infinity Saga. This superlative success has also translated into lucrative financial gains, with the Marvel Cinematic Universe having grossed over US$22 billion worldwide to date.
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-49383" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Marvel-Cinematic-Universe-Iron-Man.jpg" alt="Marvel Cinematic Universe - Iron Man" width="700" height="466" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Marvel-Cinematic-Universe-Iron-Man.jpg 700w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Marvel-Cinematic-Universe-Iron-Man-200x133.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Marvel-Cinematic-Universe-Iron-Man-421x280.jpg 421w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Marvel-Cinematic-Universe-Iron-Man-120x80.jpg 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Marvel-Cinematic-Universe-Iron-Man-500x333.jpg 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Marvel-Cinematic-Universe-Iron-Man-400x266.jpg 400w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Marvel-Cinematic-Universe-Iron-Man-600x399.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" />
However, now, with Iron Man dead, Captain America seeking post-retirement bliss and Spider-Man caught in a web of disputes that may see him exiting the MCU forever, it’s safe to assume that the recently-announced Phase Four line-up will be a very different beast from the 22-instalment saga that preceded it. While the films are almost all still in preproduction, Marvel fans the world over are already abuzz about what to expect. Kevin Feige, the franchise’s executive producer, has also added to the anticipation by dropping a few spoilers as well. So what, exactly, can we expect?
First, as confirmed by Marvel, we can expect nine different instalments – a mix of feature films and TV series – which will run from 2020 to 2022. The studio has already promised to bring back some familiar faces, including Scarlett Johansson’s Black Widow, Benedict Cumberbatch’s Doctor Strange, Chris Hemsworth’s Thor and Tom Hiddleston’s Loki, in addition to introducing several brand new characters. There have also been less-than-subtle hints that this will be the most inclusive line-up in MCU history, with its first Asian superhero, first openly-queer character and first deaf superhero, all soon to finally get their fair share of the spotlight.
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-49380" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Marvel-Cinematic-Universe-Black-Widow.jpg" alt="Marvel Cinematic Universe - Black Widow" width="700" height="466" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Marvel-Cinematic-Universe-Black-Widow.jpg 700w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Marvel-Cinematic-Universe-Black-Widow-200x133.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Marvel-Cinematic-Universe-Black-Widow-421x280.jpg 421w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Marvel-Cinematic-Universe-Black-Widow-120x80.jpg 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Marvel-Cinematic-Universe-Black-Widow-500x333.jpg 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Marvel-Cinematic-Universe-Black-Widow-400x266.jpg 400w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Marvel-Cinematic-Universe-Black-Widow-600x399.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" />
The most well-known of the next slate may well be Black Widow, set for release on 1 May 2020 as the debut Phase Four outing. Given that Natasha Romanov (aka the Black Widow) forfeited her life in the fight against supervillain Thanos, the upcoming prequel will undoubtedly indulge in Marvel’s penchant for time-travelling shenanigans, transporting audiences back to a time when she was hale and healthy. If rumours are to be believed, the movie will take place between the events of Captain America: Civil War and Avengers: Infinity War. A glimpse of the confirmed cast / character list, meanwhile, reveals that we will get a more in-depth look at the Red Room, the Russian superspy programme that spawned Romanov. Scarlett Johansson, reprising her role as the assassiness-turned-hero, will be joined by David Harbour (Stranger Things), and Academy Award, BAFTA and Laurence Olivier Award winner Rachel Weisz.
The God of Thunder also looks set to break with his traditional trope in Thor: Love and Thunder, the fourth instalment of the Thor series, which is slated for release on 5 November 2021. While the return of its star, Chris Hemsworth, and Ragnarok director Take Waititi were all but expected, the news that Natalie Portman (who acted as Jane Foster, Thor’s love interest, six years ago) would not only be reprising her role, but would take over the mantle of Thor from Hemsworth caused much uproar. Add to this the fact that Valkyrie, last seen becoming the new King of Asgard, will be looking for her Queen, and this is one movie that surely has everyone at the edge of their seats.
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-49385" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Marvel-Cinematic-Universe-Thor.jpg" alt="Marvel Cinematic Universe - Thor" width="466" height="700" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Marvel-Cinematic-Universe-Thor.jpg 466w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Marvel-Cinematic-Universe-Thor-200x300.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Marvel-Cinematic-Universe-Thor-186x280.jpg 186w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Marvel-Cinematic-Universe-Thor-120x180.jpg 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Marvel-Cinematic-Universe-Thor-400x601.jpg 400w" sizes="(max-width: 466px) 100vw, 466px" />
Meanwhile, the Sorcerer Supreme – ably portrayed by an American-accented Benedict Cumberbatch – is also set to return to theatres in Doctor Strange: Multiverse of Madness (7 May 2021). While its plot is yet to be revealed, the movie presents an exciting opportunity to introduce the MCU to the multiverse – where many universes coexist simultaneously. However, in a marked shift from the norm, Marvel has already announced that this will be the franchise’s first-ever horror film, so expect a higher-than-normal dose of spine-tingling thrills, all courtesy of the main villain, the chillingly-named Nightmare.
From here, the Marvel Cinematic Universe Phase Four line-up gets more murky, with little real information available as yet. What we do know, however, is that – come 12 February 2021 – Marvel’s first Asian superhero will be getting his very own feature film in the form of Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, starring Simu Liu of Kim’s Convenience fame as the titular character. The superhero, also known as The Master of Kung Fu, is pegged to come up against the real Mandarin (portrayed by Hong Kong’s very own Tony Leung), the villain falsely embodied in Iron Man 3 by Ben Kingsley and Guy Pierce.
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-49382" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Marvel-Cinematic-Universe-Dr-Strange.jpg" alt="Marvel Cinematic Universe - Dr Strange" width="466" height="700" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Marvel-Cinematic-Universe-Dr-Strange.jpg 466w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Marvel-Cinematic-Universe-Dr-Strange-200x300.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Marvel-Cinematic-Universe-Dr-Strange-186x280.jpg 186w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Marvel-Cinematic-Universe-Dr-Strange-120x180.jpg 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Marvel-Cinematic-Universe-Dr-Strange-400x601.jpg 400w" sizes="(max-width: 466px) 100vw, 466px" />
Another somewhat-new introduction is The Eternals, starring A-listers like Angelina Jolie, Selma Hayek and Kit Harrington. It also features the first deaf superhero, Makkari, to be portrayed by The Walking Dead’s Lauren Ridloff. While these mythical characters have been hinted at in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, they haven’t been explicitly name-checked until now. According to the comic books, though, the Eternals are a race of superpowered beings created by a group of space gods called the Celestials. Thanos, the supervillain at the heart of the franchise to date, was an Eternal, and the upcoming movie will introduce others still.
Interestingly, nearly half of Marvel’s Phase Four line-up consists of small-screen series. While the studio has had TV outings before, they’ve never been a part of its cinematic universe so far. Now, though, thanks to a partnership with the newly-announced Disney+ video on-demand service launched by Marvel’s parent company, Disney, fans can expect several of their MCU favourites to hit the small screen post-Endgame. The first of these series, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, is set to release in&nbsp; the autumn of 2020, and follows the adventures of the new Captain America, Sam Wilson, and Bucky Barnes. Loki (Tom Hiddleston), Thor’s brother and the God of Mischief, will also get his own spin-off&nbsp; show, which follows his adventures upon escaping with the Tesseract to an alternate dimension. Two other TV shows, one featuring Jeremy Renner’s Hawkeye and the other with Elizabeth Olsen’s Scarlet Witch and Paul Bettany’s The Vision, round out the list.
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-49381" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Marvel-Cinematic-Universe-Civil-War.jpg" alt="Marvel Cinematic Universe - Civil War" width="700" height="466" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Marvel-Cinematic-Universe-Civil-War.jpg 700w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Marvel-Cinematic-Universe-Civil-War-200x133.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Marvel-Cinematic-Universe-Civil-War-421x280.jpg 421w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Marvel-Cinematic-Universe-Civil-War-120x80.jpg 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Marvel-Cinematic-Universe-Civil-War-500x333.jpg 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Marvel-Cinematic-Universe-Civil-War-400x266.jpg 400w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Marvel-Cinematic-Universe-Civil-War-600x399.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" />
In all, while Phase Four of the Marvel Cinematic Universe will likely retain many of the facets that have made its movies such box-office hits, it is refreshing to see it move away from the tried-and-tested style of its predecessors. Be it through a wider array of characters or the use of mixed-media channels, it could be that this experimental style could yield even bigger profits for the studio. While it will be seven months before we can begin to see the results of this gambol, we can, in the meanwhile, contemplate the many Marvel-lous possibilities&#8230;
Text: Tenzing Thondup 
Photos: AFP

Marvel Cinematic Universe Phase Four line-up

Marvel Movies: How will the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Phase Four unfold?

With the football fever gripping the entire world, July is projected to be a bit of a slow month for movies. But if you are a movie buff, you have nothing to worry. We have a roundup of five upcoming movies in July that you shouldn’t miss.
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-37070" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/700x466-Movies_opt.jpg" alt="movies in July" width="700" height="466" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/700x466-Movies_opt.jpg 700w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/700x466-Movies_opt-200x133.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/700x466-Movies_opt-421x280.jpg 421w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/700x466-Movies_opt-120x80.jpg 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/700x466-Movies_opt-500x333.jpg 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/700x466-Movies_opt-400x266.jpg 400w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/700x466-Movies_opt-600x399.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" />
Incredibles 2
With an approving nod and a cheeky wink to feminist movements, this Incredibles sequel sees Elastigirl spring into action to save the world, while Mr. Incredible is left to face his greatest challenge yet – taking care of the children, Violet, Dash and Jack-Jack, with the latter’s startling superpowers just starting to develop! Perfect summer holiday movie with the kids!
Releasing on 19 July 2018

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Mission: Impossible – Fallout
Director Christopher McQuarrie takes up the reins again in the sixth installment of the Mission Impossible series. With Mission Impossible: Fallout, Ethan Hunt (played by Tom Cruise) and his IMF team (Alec Baldwin, Simon Pegg, Ving Rhames) have to race against time after a well-laid-out IMF plan goes awry.
Releasing on 26 July 2018

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Ant-Man and the Wasp
2018’s been an amazing year so far for Marvel fans. The trend is about to continue with yet another superhero movie coming out of the Marvel stables – Ant Man and The Wasp. In the aftermath of Captain America: Civil War, Scott Lang struggles to balance his responsibilities as a father and a superhero, when an urgent mission again requires him to suit up and learn to fight alongside The Wasp.
Releasing on 5 July 2018

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Skyscraper
Dwayne Johnson plays former FBI agent and US war veteran Will Sawyer, who is in charge of assessing security for skyscrapers. As one of the safest buildings on earth catches fire, Sawyer finds himself struggling to rescue those caught in the fire while trying to clear his name.
Releasing on 12 July 2018

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Beirut
Set in 1980s Beirut during the Lebanese Civil War, former US diplomat Mason Skiles (played by Jon Hamm) has to go back into service to rescue a colleague who is being held by a group that was responsible for his own family’s death. Critics have already described the film as “absorbing despite its flaw”, it remains to see what the audience’s verdict will be.
Releasing on 5 July 2018

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Text: Suchetana Mukhopadhyay

Reel Deal: Five upcoming movies in July

Looking for a new series to watch? Hoping to find some new inspiration for your Netflix queue? Here are the hottest new Netflix series to feed all your binge-watch cravings.
Ugly Delicious – for the epicurious foodie

Renowned chef David Chang (of Momo Fuku fame) takes you across countries and through time in search of all things food-related. Entertaining yet informative, this Netflix series is perfect for epicurious foodies. Just don’t watch on an empty stomach.
Wild Wild Country – for the documentary lover

This Netflix series follows the shenanigans of controvertial Indian guru Baghwan Shree Rajneesh, the man who inspired the construction of a ‘utopian’ cult in the wildes of Oregon. Featuring political intrigue, undercover operations and even a bioterror attack, this will have docu-lovers on the edge of their seats.
Troy: Fall of a City – for fans of mythology

Co-produced by Netflix and BBC One, this mini-series draws viewers into the ancient Greek era, tracking the romance of two star-crossed lovers that led to the downfall of an entire nation. With massive fight scenes and a love story at its heart, Troy definitely has something for everyone.
Marvel’s The Defenders – for gritty superhero lovers

First there was Daredevil, then there was January Jones, and finally Luke Cage and Iron Fist appeared on the stage. Then Marvel created the biggest TV superhero mash up with the Netflix series, The Defenders. Gritty and dark, this show is the perfect antithesis to the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s more happy-go-lucky movie fare.
The Good Place – for a laughing good time

We’ve all heard that sinners go to hell and saints go to heaven. So what happens when a sinner gets accidentally sent to the Pearly Gates? That’s the premise of The Good Place. Starring Kirstin Bell and Ted Danson, this series tackles everything from moral quandaries and soul mates to demonic plots in a fun, light-hearted manner that has charmed viewers for two seasons, and counting.&nbsp;
Images: Netflix

Tag: marvel

Strange Attractor: Unfolding the life and career of Benedict Cumberbatch

Salma Hayek: Her journey to landing Marvels ‘Eternals’

First Asian superhero in a Marvel movie: Simu Liu as ‘Shang-Chi’

Marvel Movies: How will the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Phase Four unfold?

Reel Deal: Five upcoming movies in July

Top 5 must-watch Netflix series to binge on this month

Tag: marvel

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Strange Attractor: Unfolding the life and career of Benedict Cumberbatch

Salma Hayek: Her journey to landing Marvels ‘Eternals’

First Asian superhero in a Marvel movie: Simu Liu as ‘Shang-Chi’

Marvel Movies: How will the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Phase Four unfold?

Reel Deal: Five upcoming movies in July

Top 5 must-watch Netflix series to binge on this month