Civil War Prepares to Shake Up Marvel Universe
The latest blockbuster in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Captain America: Civil War, is right around corner and it’s ready to rock the world of Marvel like nothing that has come before it. Everyone’s favorite heroes will be forced to face off against one another in a grudge match of epic proportions. This article has some very big potential spoilers for those that haven’t read the 2006 Civil War storyline from the comics so consider yourselves warned. Again, this article contains huge potential spoilers for Captain America: Civil War.
The movie is set to build on the foundations laid by the previous Marvel movies as two sides will form between Iron Man and Captain America in a battle of balance between the need for national security against the erosion of civil liberties. Following the aftermath of the Avengers’ battle with their robotic nemesis in Avengers: Age of Ultron, the American government feels that more regulation and oversight is necessary concerning superhumans. The government then drafts an act that calls for the registration of all superpowered people, including their secret identities. Iron Man believes that the act is a necessary evil for the safety of the public while Captain America strongly opposes any regulation, feeling that it’s an encroachment on privacy and personal freedom. This divides the superhuman community in two, and a fierce conflict erupts between the opposing forces.
The ensuing fracas will rip the MCU apart and it’s rumored that an iconic Marvel character will die by the time the dust settles. This is your last chance to avoid spoilers.
One report says that the Russo brothers plan to follow the same storyline as the Civil War arc from the comics, which ends with Captain America being shot on the steps of the courthouse and apparently dying. After deciding to bring the Civil War to a close by turning himself in, Cap is gunned down by the villain Crossbones as well as a brainwashed Sharon Carter, leading to one of the biggest shocks to ever hit the comic book continuity. We already know that both Crossbones and Sharon Carter will be in the movie (played by Frank Grillo and Emily VanCamp of The Grey and Revenge, respectively), so all the pieces are in place for the fall of America’s hero.
But Civil War won’t only be killing people off, the film is also set to introduce several new characters to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, among them the long-awaited big-screen debut of the Black Panther (played by Chadwick Boseman from 42 and Get On Up) as well as the first appearance a prominent comic book foe of Captain America and the Avengers, Baron Zemo (Daniel Brühl of Inglourious Basterds fame). According to this article, Civil War will also finally bring Spider-Man back to the Marvel Universe following years of back-and-forth fights over the rights to the character between Disney and Sony.
The marketing machine for Civil War is operating in full force with downloadable content already available for LEGO Marvel’s Avengers featuring many of the new characters from the upcoming film, including the aforementioned Black Panther, Crossbones and Sharon Carter. Marvel has also rolled out licensed social casino titles at this online platform in an effort to connect with casual audiences in advance of the upcoming movie. Like the LEGO title, these games features heroes like Iron Man and other members of the Avengers squad, and they work to not only appeal to Marvel fans but also draw in potential new viewers and fans.
We expect plenty more news and leaks to come trickling in during the next few months, so keep your eyes peeled for more reveals concerning Marvel’s latest epic. Captain America: Civil War is scheduled for release in theaters May 6, 2016 and we can’t wait to see how closely the movie will adhere to the landmark comics.
