The MCU trolled the fan theories amazingly with the final episode of Loki! They set up the new phase of movies perfectly and left the door open for at least one more season of the Disney+ series. I'm excited to see where this leads.
Disney+ has officially renewed Loki for season two.
The announcement was made during the end credits of the sixth episode and season one finale Wednesday. The credits revealed a case file with a red stamp reading, "Loki will return in season 2." No additional details about the upcoming season were shared.
The live-action Marvel Cinematic Universe series stars Tom Hiddleston reprising his role as the fan-favorite Avengers villain Loki. The storyline picks up after the events of Avengers: Endgame and follows Loki, the God of Mischief, as he steps out of his brother Thor's shadow. Owen Wilson, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Sophia Di Martino, Wunmi Mosaku and Richard E. Grant also star in the show.
In June, Business Insider reported that Disney CEO Bob Chapek called Loki been Disney+'s biggest premiere yet. The MCU show also makes history with Marvel's first openly bisexual lead character.
In episode three of Loki, Hiddleston's titular character opened up about his sexuality during a conversation with a female timeline-hopping variant named Sylvie. While discussing romantic partners, Sylvie asked the villain: "How about you? You're a prince. Must've been would-be princesses. Or perhaps another prince."
Following the episode's release, series director Kate Herron confirmed and celebrated on Twitter that the scene established Loki as the MCU's first openly bisexual character
"From the moment I joined @LokiOfficial it was very important to me, and my goal, to acknowledge Loki was bisexual," she wrote. "It is a part of who he is and who I am too. I know this is a small step but I'm happy, and heart is so full, to say that this is now Canon in #mcu."
Season 1 of Loki is now streaming on Disney+.
Jason @BeardedOverland www.beardedadv.blogspot.com
All 6 Loki Episodes Are Infinity Stones: Ending Theory Explained
A popular Marvel Cinematic Universe fan theory claims all of the Loki episodes are based on Infinity Stones, and it may spoil part of the ending.
WARNING: This article contains major spoilers for Loki episode 5.
A Marvel Cinematic Universe fan theory suggests the six Loki episodes in season 1 are based on the six Infinity Stones, and it may spoil part of the ending. In Loki episode 5, Sophia Di Martino's Lady Loki learns that Tom Hiddleston's Loki was sent to a void at the end of time after Gugu Mbatha-Raw's Ravonna Renslayer pruned him. Thinking the villain behind the Time Variance Authority is hiding beyond the Void, Lady Loki prunes herself and joins Loki. In the Void, the pair meet a multitude of other Loki variants, including Kid Loki (Jack Veal), Classic Loki (Richard E. Grant), and Alligator Loki.
Loki shows the power of the TVA and why Lady Loki wants to bring it down. The TVA ruins people's lives, making them adhere to its Sacred Timeline and arresting anyone who doesn't. Stepping off the TVA's timeline is almost certainly a death sentence, as the agency prunes variants and sends them to the Void. The agency also wields far too much power. Within the TVA's confines, even Infinity Stones are useless. The TVA has junk drawers full of them.
A fan theory may show the Infinity Stones are more important than the TVA makes them seem. According to the popular theory (via TikTok), each episode represents a different Infinity Stone. The Loki premiere has a lot of orange tones and shows Loki has a soul, so the first episode is the Soul Stone. Episode 2 features the color red and shows Loki questioning what's real and who to trust, so it represents the Reality Stone. Episode 3 takes place on Lamentis-1, a purple-looking moon, which stands for the purple Power Stone. The episode also showcases Loki's and Lady Loki's powers. Episode 4 shows yellow tones to represent the Mind Stone, and Loki also changes Mobius' mind about the TVA. Loki episode 5 adds even more evidence to the theory, showcasing the Time Stone's green hues with all of the Loki variants. Loki also sees himself at different times in his life through the variants.
If the theory holds up, the last episode should represent the Space Stone. As such, fans should expect blue tones in the Loki finale. The Space Stone, which is Loki's Tesseract, has the power to create portals and travel throughout the universe. With this in mind, the finale could showcase portals being opened to various branches in the timeline. With Loki likely setting up Marvel's Multiverse, a finale that opens up avenues to branch timelines would make sense. Also, the Tesseract is the reason the Loki series began in the first place. Loki is only arrested by the TVA because he steals the stone and escapes from the Avengers. It's fitting that the Tesseract would close out the first season of the show.
While the theory has a lot of evidence, it still requires a bit of squinting. Each episode obviously includes a variety of colors, and they don't always nod to a specific Infinity Stone. Even if true, it's not clear that the theory will have a major impact on Loki. Aside from loose associations, the stones don't seem to direct the overall plot of the episodes. However, the Loki fan theory could still prove to be a bit of a spoiler, perhaps showing the Infinity Stones aren't so useless after all.
Marvel Confirms Kathryn Hahn's Agatha Will Return to the MCU
Richard Nebens
WARNING: This article contains spoilers for the MCU's Phase 4, including Black Widow.
Marvel Studios' Phase 4 has set up exciting new stories from every corner of the MCU both on Disney+ and in theaters, already introducing characters that fans want more of in the future.
As it turns out, Marvel Studios' leader wants her character to come back into the fold as much as anybody.
AGATHA ALL ALONG...AGAIN!
Marvel
Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige spoke with Rotten Tomatoes about a potential return for Kathryn Hahn's Agatha Harkness after her debut in 2021's WandaVision.
When asked when fans can expect to see Hahn again, Feige revealed that it will be "someday soon." Not giving any specifics, the MCU's top executive admitted that her comeback "can't come soon enough:"
"Someday. Someday soon. You will see Kathryn Hahn in Knives Out 2 next, then maybe an assortment of other things. But within the MCU, it can't come soon enough. Let's put it that way."
While Harkness is definitively alive by the end of WandaVision, there's no telling where she may return unless she finds a way to regain her magical abilities and find her way out of New Jersey. However, there seems to be a good chance that she'll have a fairly substantial role in whatever project she returns in considering Hahn's star-power and fan appeal.
The biggest question that remains is this: where exactly could Agatha Harkness show up next?
With her magical abilities and clear ties to Wanda Maximoff, the Scarlet Witch could decide to bring her back for a chance at redemption in next year's Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. Although she's already finding plenty of firepower with the Sorcerer Supreme and America Chavez, amongst possible others, Agatha is quite the powerful ally should she find herself on the right side of the fight against Shuma Gorath.
All 13 Marvel TV Shows Releasing After Black Widow
Here's every upcoming MCU TV show releasing after Black Widow, from Marvel's What If...? on Disney+ in August 2021 to Ironheart, Armor Wars, and more!
Here's every Marvel TV show set to release on Disney+ after Black Widow. The Marvel Cinematic Universe has seen an incredible rise since its beginning in 2008. Well over 20 movies and billions of dollars later, there's no sign of things slowing down. Indeed, the expansion has only just begun: as well as a raft of movies planned for the next few years, there'll also be a lot of TV shows coming as well.
Marvel has of course dabbled in TV before, but with mixed results. Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. was inconsistent and then largely ignored, Agent Carter was short-lived, and Netflix's Defenders experiment mostly failed, despite some strong individual seasons. None of those shows appear to be considered part of the MCU canon anymore though, and what matters now is the output on Disney+, which comes under the purview of Marvel Studios and Kevin Feige. There, things are already faring better.
So far, Marvel has released WandaVision, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, and Loki. While the quality of each has fluctuated, they've all been buzzy hits that prove Disney+'s model is working. The release of Black Widow turns attention back to the cinematic branch of the MCU for the first time since 2019, but the future remains on the small screen just as much as it is the big one.
What If…?
Marvel has already started to explore the MCU's multiverse and ideas of multiple versions of existing characters with Loki, but it'll take an even deeper dive into it with What If…?. Essentially an alt-history of the MCU, What If…? will imagine a number of very different scenarios to the one viewers know. This will include Peggy Carter, not Steve Rogers, receiving the Super Soldier serum; T'Challa becoming Star-Lord instead of Peter Quill; various heroes becoming Marvel Zombies, including Captain America; and the Guardians of the Multiverse teaming-up. All of this action will be overseen by Uatu, the Watcher from Marvel Comics, voiced by Jeffrey Wright. Almost every What If...? character is voiced by their MCU actor, and the show releases on Disney+ on August 11, 2021. The first season will consist of 10 episodes, with season 2 already in development.
Hawkeye
Warning: This section contains SPOILERS for Black Widow.
Much of the MCU's Phase 4 is about passing the torch and new heroes taking up the mantle, and that will be particularly evident in Hawkeye. The TV show will see Jeremy Renner return as Clint Barton, this time to team-up with and serve as a mentor to Kate Bishop, his MCU replacement, who'll be played by Hailee Steinfeld. Hawkeye's cast also includes Vera Farmiga as Eleanor Bishop, Kate's mother; Tony Dalton as Jack Duquesne, aka, Swordsman, Clint's former mentor; and Alaqua Cox as Maya Lopez, aka Echo, a hero who can copy other's movements.
The show looks to be giving a more comic-accurate take on the character, including a more traditional purple costume for him to wear, while it's also been confirmed that Clint will be deaf in Hawkeye. Further plot details are under wraps, but most intriguingly it will include Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh), building on Black Widow's post-credits scene, which sees Hawkeye set up as her next target by Contessa Valentina Allegra de Fontaine (Julia-Louis Dreyfus). Hawkeye doesn't yet have a confirmed release date, but filming wrapped in April 2021 and it will arrive on Disney+ later in the year.
First there was Captain Marvel, and now there's Ms. Marvel, the teenage superhero who takes her inspiration from Carol Danvers. Ms. Marvel, real name Kamala Khan, was only introduced to Marvel Comics in the last decade, but has already become a popular figure, something that should continue in her own TV show. In the comics, Kamala has shapeshifting powers, which will be translated to the Disney+ series in some way, though it's unclear if the origin of them will be changed (there, Ms. Marvel is an Inhuman, getting powers after being exposed to the Terrigen Mists, a storyline Marvel may wish to avoid after past Inhuman failures).
That aside, this Ms. Marvel looks to be a faithful take: she'll be played by Iman Vellani, who, like Kamala, is of Pakistani descent. The overall tone looks to be extremely fun and in keeping with her character too, as set photos have indicated that Ms. Marvel will very much reference other heroes, in particular Captain Marvel. That makes sense, since after her show Kamala will go on to appear in 2022's The Marvels, alongside Brie Larson's Carol Danvers and Teyonah Parris' Monica Rambeau. Ms. Marvel doesn't have a firm release date yet, but the show is expected to release on Disney+ before the end of 2021 and contain six episodes.
Moon Knight
Moon Knight is a character many Marvel fans have long wanted to come to the MCU, and that's finally going to happen in 2022. Disney+'s Moon Knight will star Oscar Isaac as the titular hero, who is essentially Marvel's take on Batman (a rich crimefighter with a penchant for gadgets, and who is a skilled detective, whose stories often get pretty dark). What sets Moon Knight apart, though, is that his alter-ego, Marc Spector, has dissociative identity disorder, with each of his identities essentially being their own character. Production started on Moon Knight in April 2021, and while plot details are scarce, it's already clear that Isaac is training hard to nail the martial arts skills of the character, which should lead to Moon Knight having some incredible and brutal action sequences and fight scenes. Moon Knight's cast also includes Ethan Hawke in an as-yet unknown role (though he's expected to play the villain), along with May Calamawy. Moon Knight is slated for release on Disney+ in 2022, and given its production timeline it will likely come earlier in the year. Like many other shows, it's expected to have six episodes.
She-Hulk
Complicated rights issues prevented Hulk from ever getting his own solo movie in the MCU, but the character's cousin will be getting an individual outing. She-Hulk will follow Jennifer Walters, a lawyer who, after an accident, receives a blood transfusion from her cousin Bruce Banner, which leads to her gaining the ability to transform into a green goliath of her own. She-Hulk isn't quite as all-out powerful as the Hulk, but she's also not as out of control either. Tatiana Maslany will star in the titular role, with Mark Ruffalo also set to reprise his role as Bruce, while Tim Roth is expected to return as Abomination as well (following on from his appearance in Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings.
She-Hulk's main cast is rounded out by Ginger Gonzaga as a friend of Jennifer's, Renée Elise Goldsberry as a character called Amelia, and Jameela Jamil as villain Titania, a common foe of Jennifer from the comics. She-Hulk will offer up a blend of legal drama and comedy, with the character confirmed to break the fourth wall in the show, giving it a different dimension to most of Marvel's other series. Like Moon Knight, She-Hulk started filming in April 2021, so can be expected to release on Disney+ in the first half of 2022.
I Am Groot / The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special
Disney+ will be getting a double-dose of Guardians of the Galaxy goodness, keeping fans occupied before Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 releases in 2023. James Gunn is returning to write and direct the Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special, which will bridge the gap between Thor: Love and Thunder and Guardians 3. The main cast of Guardians of the Galaxy is expected to return, and the special nature should allow lots of room for fun and silliness. Such things will also likely abound with I Am Groot, a series of shorts following its titular tiny tree, giving Disney+ a new rival to Baby Yoda. Both Guardians projects are expected to release in 2022, with the Holiday Special around Christmastime.
Secret Invasion
When the Skrulls were introduced in Captain Marvel, they weren't the Earth-infiltrating bad guys of the comics. It was a smart twist, but with Secret Invasion the MCU is introducing a more traditional take on the alien shapeshifters, featuring a rogue group of Skrulls who have embedded themselves on Earth. The show itself takes its name from a classic Skrull storyline of the same name, which revealed multiple Marvel heroes had been Skrulls; Secret Invasion may not quite be on the same scale, but it should nonetheless pack a few key surprises and reveal many high-ranking Earthlings as aliens.
Leading the way in Secret Invasion's cast is Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury, building on his mission in space in Spider-Man: Far From Home's post-credits scene. Alongside him will be Ben Mendelsohn's Talos, who pretended to be Fury in Far From Home. There'll also be roles for Emilia Clarke, Olivia Colman, Kingsley Ben-Adir, and Killian Scott. Based on the end of WandaVision, with Skrulls recruiting Monica Rambeau for Fury, then it's likely she will return in the show as well. Secret Invasion will release on Disney+ sometime in 2022, with filming set to begin in August 2021, and is expected to consist of six episodes.
Iron Man may be dead in the MCU, but his legacy lives on - and that's particularly clear in Marvel's Disney+ shows, two of which are dealing with the life and loss of Tony Stark. The first is Ironheart, which will be centered around the character Riri Williams, played by Dominique Thorne. Riri is, like Tony, a super genius who attends MIT, where she builds her first Iron Man armor. That catches the attention of Tony himself, who endorses her as a superhero. Given Tony's passing, elements of that will have to be changed, but it's still very likely that Ironheart will be a character who draws inspiration from Iron Man and carries on that legacy as a de facto replacement, but who stands as a unique character in her own right. Writing for Ironheart, which will have six episodes, started in May 2021, suggesting a likely production start date of late-2021 or early-2022. That means Ironheart could release on Disney+ later in 2022.
Armor Wars
The second Disney+ show to deal with Iron Man's legacy is Armor Wars, which will have even more direct links to Tony Stark. For starters, it'll be led by Don Cheadle's James "Rhodey" Rhodes, one of Tony's closest friends who regularly fought alongside him as War Machine. On top of that, though, it will - like the Armor Wars comic - deal with Stark technology falling into the wrong hands. While the comic still had Tony around and working with Rhodey, it seems as though this time it'll be War Machine fighting solo against the misused Stark tech and to protect his old friend's reputation, with the death of Iron Man likely weighing heavily upon the show. There are a few possibilities for other returning characters too: Iron Man villain Justin Hammer (Sam Rockwell) could appear, while there are also theories that Emily VanCamp's Sharon Carter will be in Armor Wars, building on The Falcon and the Winter Soldier's ending. Armor Wars will begin filming later in 2021, setting up a likely 2022 release on Disney+.
Untitled Wakanda Show
2018's Black Panther was a major hit for Marvel; not only was it a massive commercial success, but it was critically acclaimed too, becoming Marvel's first (and only) Best Picture nominee. The story of Black Panther will continue in the sequel, Wakanda Forever, which will sadly be without the late Chadwick Boseman, who passed away in 2020. There is, though, a chance to build further on the legacy of the character he portrayed, and that's coming not only in the sequel but also multiple potential TV shows. Ryan Coogler created an incredibly rich, textured world with Wakanda, and he is expected to return for a Wakanda TV show. Exactly what that will explore remains to be seen, with no story or cast details announced, but given how advanced the nation is then there's plenty of directions this could go in. Coogler is at work on Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, which is scheduled for release on July 8, 2022, meaning the Wakanda spinoff likely wouldn't arrive until 2023 at the earliest.
Untitled Okoye Show
Alongside the Wakanda spinoff, Marvel is reportedly also developing a show exploring the origins of Okoye, the leader of the Dora Milaje. Again, few details are known about this one, but it would likely feature a heavy presence from the Wakanda warriors. Danai Gurira would presumably return for the show, timeline and schedule permitting, and as one of the key characters in the Black Panther franchise then it makes sense to explore more of her story, which could also introduce origins for many other important players as well.
A spinoff of a show yet to even release, Marvel's Echo show will feature the character after their introduction in Hawkeye. Few details are known, but Alaqua Cox will return to play Maya Lopez/Echo, a deaf, Native American and Latina superhero who is an incredibly skilled martial artist, with a photogenic memory that allows her to perfectly mimic her opponent's moves. Jeremy Renner is expected to return in some capacity as Clint Barton, while Zahn McClarnon will play Maya's father, William. Given Hawkeye itself hasn't released, then Echo likely won't hit Disney+ until 2023.
Every MCU Movie Releasing After Black Widow
As well as its plethora of TV shows, there are also a lot of upcoming MCU movies releasing after Black Widow. The 2021 slate is the MCU's biggest yet, consisting of four theatrical releases, which aside from Widow include Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (September 3), Eternals (November 5), and Spider-Man: No Way Home (December 17). Looking ahead to 2022 movie release dates, Marvel once again has four planned: Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (March 25), Thor: Love and Thunder (May 6), Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (July 8), and The Marvels (November 11). Beyond that, Marvel currently has two confirmed 2023 release dates - Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (February 17) and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (May 5) - while movies on Fantastic Four and Blade are also in the works, though without release dates as things stand.
![Tom Hiddleston standing on a stage in front of a laptop: courtesy of Marvel Studios]({"default":"//img-s-msn-com.akamaized.net/tenant/amp/entityid/AAM9mMd.img?h=0&w=1200&m=6&q=60&u=t&o=f&l=f&x=886&y=276","dpi":2})
![courtesy of Marvel Studios]({"default":"//img-s-msn-com.akamaized.net/tenant/amp/entityid/AAM9mMg.img?h=254&w=600&m=6&q=60&o=f&l=f","dpi":2})
© Provided by People courtesy of Marvel Studios ![Tom Hiddleston standing on a stage in front of a laptop: Loki, which premiered June 11 on Disney+, announced the news during the season one finale]({"default":"//img-s-msn-com.akamaized.net/tenant/amp/entityid/AAM9keY.img?h=252&w=600&m=6&q=60&o=f&l=f&x=887&y=275","dpi":2})
© courtesy of Marvel Studios Loki, which premiered June 11 on Disney+, announced the news during the season one finale ![a person wearing a military uniform: Marvel Studios Tom Hiddleston as Loki]({"default":"//img-s-msn-com.akamaized.net/tenant/amp/entityid/AALmMgT.img?h=322&w=600&m=6&q=60&o=f&l=f&x=1073&y=463","dpi":2})
© Provided by People Marvel Studios Tom Hiddleston as Loki 
