Marvel fever hit Sydney in a big way tonight as the glittering stars of Marvel Studios’ The Fantastic Four: First Steps turned out in style for a sizzling fan screening that lit up the Harbour City.

 

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Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, and Joseph Quinn brought pure superpowered swagger to the blue carpet, electrifying fans with their presence and teasing what’s set to be one of the most exciting blockbusters of 2025.

Held against the stunning backdrop of a retro-futuristic 1960s-inspired set-up that perfectly captures the film’s bold aesthetic, the atmosphere was abuzz with anticipation and fandom energy as Aussie fans and local celebs packed in to get a first glimpse of Marvel’s latest cinematic epic.

Check out the awesome video capture below of this fantastic event in celebration of The Fantastic Four: First Steps:

 

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Pedro Pascal leads the charge as Reed Richards aka Mister Fantastic, bringing brains and bravery in equal measure. Vanessa Kirby turns heads as the strong and stylish Sue Storm, the Invisible Woman. Ebon Moss-Bachrach brings serious heart and grit to Ben Grimm, better known as The Thing, while Joseph Quinn is pure heat as the swaggering Johnny Storm, the Human Torch.

The Fantastic Four: First Steps is more than just another Marvel movie — it’s a fresh and bold reimagining of these iconic characters set in a jaw-dropping retro world, packed with psychedelic visuals, intergalactic threats, and plenty of heart. This time, the Fab Four face their most monumental challenge yet — a planet-devouring space god named Galactus (played by the always menacing Ralph Ineson) and his cryptic, chrome-plated herald, the Silver Surfer (Julia Garner in a bold new take).

 

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But as the universe trembles, things get personal — and fans can expect deep emotional stakes alongside high-octane action. With an ensemble that also features Paul Walter Hauser, Natasha Lyonne and Sarah Niles, and direction by WandaVision’s Matt Shakman, The Fantastic Four: First Steps looks set to be a nostalgic, vibrant and utterly thrilling entry into the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Produced by Marvel’s mastermind Kevin Feige, and with an all-star creative team backing it, this one’s got all the hallmarks of a must-see.

Marvel Studios’ The Fantastic Four: First Steps lands in cinemas across Australia and New Zealand on July 24. Don’t miss your chance to witness the birth of a new era in superhero cinema.

Image: Walt Disney Pictures

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Watch the all-new final trailer for Marvel Studios’ The Fantastic Four: First Steps below:

Here’s the official synopsis:

Set against the vibrant backdrop of a 1960s-inspired, retro-futuristic world, Marvel Studios’ “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” introduces Marvel’s First Family — Reed Richards/Mister Fantastic (Pedro Pascal), Sue Storm/Invisible Woman (Vanessa Kirby), Ben Grimm/The Thing (Ebon Moss-Bachrach) and Johnny Storm/Human Torch (Joseph Quinn) as they face their most daunting challenge yet. Forced to balance their roles as heroes with the strength of their family bond, they must defend Earth from a ravenous space god called Galactus (Ralph Ineson) and his enigmatic Herald, Silver Surfer (Julia Garner). And if Galactus’ plan to devour the entire planet and everyone on it weren’t bad enough, it suddenly gets very personal.

Filmmaker Matt Shankman, who helmed the acclaimed WandaVision, has stepped into the director’s chair bring the FF to live for a new generation in The Fantastic Four: First Steps, and this new trailer promises a film filled with family drama, hyperbolic sci-fi action, and plenty of touching heartfelt moments. Shankman digs deeper into the central theme of the Fantastic Four as a family, and how in their greatest hour, it’s their bonds and love for one another that will see them through their darkest test. With the impending arrival of Galactus, and a fight to save their Earth, it’s their bond as a family that gives them, the power to fight with all theur strength, and what a fight it will be.

This trailer further teases out the all-new retro-future Earth vibes of this story, and Shankman and his team have really let their imagination go crazy in creating a film filled with homages to the space-race, and the optimistic ealy years of the 1960s and the Camelot era of JFK that defined it. The film appears to be filled with a rich texture, and there’s plenty of scene chewing sparkle for you to gaze on with amazement.

While Shankman and Marvel Studios only tease out the impending action of The Fantastic Four: First Steps, it’s clear that Galactus has arrived and that it will be an utterly epic showdown. And more importantly it will be comic accurate, Shankman and his team have leaned all the way into the classic art and style of the great Jack Kirby and this shows through in the new trailer.

The Fantastic Four: First Steps is shaping up to be an exciting, action-packed rollercoaster ride of fun, and will showcase the originators of the Marvel Universe in all their glory when it arrives on the big screen (and you’ll want to watch this one on the biggest screen possible) on July 24.

Image: Walt Disney Pictures

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Awakening as a mental patient at an insane asylum, Marc Spector comes face to face with Dr. Arthur Harrow (Ethan Hawke) his psychologist and with himself. Seemingly existing in two alternate plains of reality, one with Harrow and the other with his other self, Steven Grant, he soon runs into the Egyptian deity Taweret, an Egyptian fertility goddess and protector of Mothers and Children who then gives the news that Spector and Grant are indeed dead and they are now in the Egyptian afterlife, The Duat, a seemingly endless desert where they are now on their final journey. With their souls in crisis and needing to be balanced, Spector and Grant must relive their past life to determine whether it’s hell or heaven that awaits them.

It’s time for the weird in this latest episode of Moon Knight and things get kooky and crazy quickly. Admiration and respect must be levelled on director Mohamed Diab for the creativity that he presents in ‘Asylum’ and this passage through the underworld leads to plenty of revelations about the character and inner nature of Marc Spector/Steven Grant. We bear witness to Spector’s traumatic childhood, and the incident that set him off, we learn of his fractured, abusive relationship with his mother and how the persona of ‘Steven Grant’ was first created. The tragedy lies at the heart of the character of Steven Grant and these early moments are confronting, and this deep sense of drama is shown through the performance of Oscar Isaac and his deep drama is incredibly moving to watch.

“Asylum’ also holds plenty of significance as we get to look into the past and see the character of Marc Spector grow. Leaving home he joins the military and then after a psychotic episode soon becomes a mercenary. Atrocities and murders follow, and on his way through the Duat, he comes face to face with the actions of the past and the audience is privy to his fateful first meeting with the god Khonshu. This meeting is an epic superhero origin moment and it allows Steven Grant to see the moment where Moon Knight was created and how Marc’s actions have bound the two of them to Khonshu and that Khonshu was far more manipulative than we could have ever foreseen.

This fifth episode of Moon Knight comes with many twists, turns and heavy emotions and the final moments of the episode are pure shock as Marc Spector/Steven Grant’s journey through the afterlife comes to an end and it’s anyone’s guess as to what happens next.

Moon Knight streams every Wednesday on Disney+

Image: Walt Disney Pictures

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Following the events of Spider-Man: No Way Home and Loki, Dr. Stephen Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch), with the help of both old and new mystical allies, travels into the multiverse to face a mysterious new adversary.

Climbing into the director’s chair and taking the reigns of Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is noted filmmaker Sam Raimi. An artist whose career has spanned decades across multiple genres and who approaches every film with a fresh eye and unmatched creativity, Raimi makes Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness his own. And long time fans will be thrilled with how he goes to work with this one. Some filmmakers, including the likes of James Gunn and Taika Waititi, have their unique style that blends itself into the MCU seamlessly and that is exactly what we see here in Raimi’s work. Fans who are familiar with his work will note his kinetic action style and seamless mix of good old-fashioned action and quippy dialogue, along with his use of classic crash zooms and whip pans, marks this film as uniquely his.

Raimi’s stance as a horror filmmaker also comes into play in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness in a big way, and audiences are up for a serious fright in this latest chapter of the MCU. While I don’t want to jump too directly into the realm of spoilers, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is a serious horror film and crosses its dimension-hopping science-fiction elements with utter dark magic, and the horror elements are off the chart. With classic callbacks to the likes of Carrie, The Exorcist, and his classic Evil Dead films, Raimi goes to work on bringing out the horror of Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness and there are some jump scares that will make you leap out of your seat. This presence of the horror genre in a Marvel Studios film is something completely new and different, and this exploration of an underlying dark supernatural edge is a key component of the film’s intriguing narrative.

The presence of the Multiverse itself also brings about a wonderful place for exploration on Raimi’s behalf and the sheer visual presence of Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is striking to look upon. Raimi, along with cinematographer John Mathieson and production designer Charles Wood use up every piece of the screen’s canvas to bring this story to life and the possibility of a seemingly unending series of universes is rife for creative expression. The laws of physics and reality are pulled to extremes in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness and it’s a very wild show. One of my favourite moments of Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is a presentation of these different universes and it’s an utterly visual marvel to look upon, your eyes will be wide with excitement and the visuals that we see on the big screen are a key part to the excitement of this epic film.

Benedict Cumberbatch once again returns to wear the cloak and command the vast magic of the Multiverse as Dr. Stephen Strange and we find him in a brand new place in his life. Having saved the world at great cost due to the events of Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame, he’s now a man who is looking for a new path to travel in his life. Until he is pulled directly into the fight for the very existence of the Multiverse itself. As always, Cumberbatch is completely at ease with the action and heroics of Doctor Strange and Raimi’s presence as a director allows the actor to bring out more of his comedic side and there’s a great witty sense of banter that is infused with his performance this time around. The presence of the Multiverse also allows for different sides of Cumberbatch’s Dr. Stephan Strange to be seen on screen and the actor has a grand time getting to portray these different versions of himself which include the heroic ‘Defender Strange’ and the corrupted ‘Sinister Strange’. And audiences had better watch out for these new Strange entities.

Also playing a key role inside the events of Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is Elizabeth Olsen as Wanda Maximoff/Scarlet Witch. And she’s in a very dark place this time around. Following on from the tragic events of WandaVision and the loss of her children, Olsen’s Wanda is now overcome by grief, loss and obsession. And it’s these emotions that compel her actions throughout the film’s narrative. Not wanting to run into spoilers, the best way to describe Wanda’s presence within the film is that of a literal ‘force’ and Raimi gives Olsen room to move in a brand new direction. And she utterly excels in it. Olsen’s performance in the film was one of my most enjoyable parts of watching this film, and I liked how dynamic and intriguing her character was. She did something completely and utterly different with the role and this makes a big impression on-screen.

Those audience members seeking a rush of action with Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness will be well rewarded for their presence with this film and Raimi fills the screen with full-on magical combat. Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is an utter fight as the forces of evil battle the balance of light, and aspects of dark magic and sorcery are brought forth and Raimi’s unique cinematic style aids in bringing his own certain blockbuster feeling to the big screen. The film’s drive towards the horror genre also has a big impact on the storytelling that we see here in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness and it’s edgy at times to watch. And while I can’t dive into it, the introduction of the Illuminati is a pure WOW factor moment and audiences will be spellbound.

As a long time fan and viewer of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, I have found that my tastes for its stories lend more toward the fantastical. Films such as Guardians of the Galaxy, Guardians of the Galaxy Vo. 2, Ant-Man, Ant-Man and the Wasp, Thor: Ragnarok and the original Doctor Strange are films that have made the biggest impact on me and I love the mixture of fantasy, science fiction and just the pure escapism that is a central core of these films. This is exactly what Sam Raimi gives us in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness a film of utter grand wonder and visual splendour and there’s so much to be excited by with this film. And in a post-script, make sure you stay till the end credits, as some terrific post-credit scenes tease at the possibilities to come.

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is an utter rush from beginning to end, and long time MCU fans who are looking for excitement and some solid and edgy thrills will be rewarded greatly by this experience. With its scope and vision, this is a film that needs to be viewed on the biggest screen possible and you’ll truly feel the marvel with this genuine blockbuster.

Image: Walt Disney Pictures

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Finding himself transported to Egypt, split-personality mercenary Marc Spector (Oscar Isacc) is trying to narrow down the resting place of the demoness Ammit, which fanatical cult leader Arthur Harrow (Ethan Hawke) is eager to find. Finding a partner in his estranged wife Layla El-Faouly (May Calamawy), who happens to be a skilled archeologist, the two of them venture out into the desert in search of the resting place of Ammit. But things don’t go according to plan, and soon Spector finds himself brought before the gods for judgement.

Marvel Studios’ Moon Knight takes on the epic scope of both ancient and contemporary Egypt as Marc Spector/Steven Grant (Oscar Isaac) finds himself in this exotic location eager to track down and stop fanatical cult leader Arthur Harrow (Ethan Hawke). Director Mohamed Diab once again returns to the directing chair and he’s very pleased to be back in his hometown of Cairo, and he pumps up the action quickly. Whether he’s battling a host of dangerous mobsters who are assisting Harrow, coming face to face with the mysterious and capable antique collector Anton Mogart (Gaspard Ulliel in his final performance) or being brought forth before the gods of Eygpt themselves, the events of Episode Three ‘The Friendly Type’ move at a firm pace and there’s plenty to be intrigued within this episode.

I for one was interested to again see Diab drawing on Spector/Grant’s split personality in the episode’s demanding action scenes and this again is brought into the narrative which keeps the visuals and excitement of ‘The Friendly Type’ jacked all the way up. ‘The Friendly Type’ also gives us a taste of what Spector is like in his Moon Knight guise when he has to take on actual human combatants and not just mere demon creatures. And it’s fun to see Isaac cut loose in the suit. His combat style as Moon Knight is fast paved and dynamic, and there’s a great fluidity to his aerobatic fight style and he uses his curved crescent moon shaped blades to deadly effect. We’ve been yet to see Moon Knight really cut loose and it’s a lot of fun to watch him go to work here in this latest episode.

‘The Friendly Type’ is also an important episode to the larger context of Moon Knight as it gives clarity to the importance of the greater gods in the MCU and the power that they still control and contain. While the belligerent Khonshu might be an outcast trouble-maker, his power and lack of decorum draw him into the line of sight of the other more powerful gods and Spector is brought before to answer for Khonshu’s trouble-making. It’s a very interesting scene that has some very big implications for the greater MCU as a whole, and the episode’s final moments, which are some of the most visually astonishing we’ve seen so far, will have your eyes open with wonder and amazement.

Episode Three, ‘The Friendly Type’ ends on one hell of a cliffhanger and it’s about to get very interesting for Marc Spector/Steven Grant as we move forward into this next part of Moon Knight.

Moon Knight streams every Wednesday on Disney+

Image: Walt Disney Pictures

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Following the explosive and shocking ending of Episode One of Moon Knight, ‘The Goldfish Problem’, mild-mannered Steven Grant suddenly has his dull life ripped away from him and falls down the rabbit hole into the life of the mysterious and dangerous mercenary Marc Spector. While unravelling the chaotic life of Spector, Grant also comes face-to-face with Spector’s enemy Arthur Harrow (Ethan Hawke), a benevolent cult leader who tries to persuade Grant to join his cause and who reveals to him the truth of the Moon God Khonshu and his battle with him. But it’s a truth that Grant can’t accept and with the darkness closing in around him he’s forced to choose between Harrow and Khonshu and the new path that lies before him.

Episode Two of Moon Knight, ‘Summon the Suit’ finds a new pair of directors, Aaron Moorhead & Justin Benson, taking over directing duties from Mohamed Diab and they continue to move forward at pace with this exciting new chapter of the MCU. Once again themes of identity remain at the forefront of Moon Knight, and Moorhead and Benson keep things interesting as they literally bring Steven Grant directly in contact with the elusive Marc Spector. Moorhead and Benson give Oscar Isacc, celebrated performer that he is, the room to expand and play out both roles and via Isaac’s performance we see two radically different characters battling with one another and trying to get one up on each other. This duelling case of identity is incredibly interesting to watch unfold and it keeps the narrative, and its surprises within, fresh and shocking.

‘Summon the Suit’ is a very important episode as it introduces two brand new characters to Moon Knight, and both have big gravitas to bring to the show. Cast as Spector’s wife Layla El-Faouly is May Calamawy and she brings a whipsmart action and in-your-face quality to the part. Unaware of Spector’s relationship with Grant, Layla is caught off guard and her standing as an archeologist and rule-breaker is brought to the screen in a big way. Calamawy’s introduction as Layla is a way by which audiences can get an insight into the complicated actions of Grant/Spector and she’s sure to have a big role to play going forward. Alongside Layla, audiences also come face to face with the disgruntled and angry Egyptian God of the Moon, Khonshu, and he’s none too pleased with the appearance of Grant, stifling Spector’s mission. Voiced by the legendary F. Murray Abraham, Khonshu is a straight-up bully and his antagonistic bent and domineering relationship with Spector keeps the narrative on its feet.

This second episode also brings Isaac’s Grant face-to-face with the series’ primary villain Arthur Harrow, who is played with a reserved menace by Ethan Hawke. And it’s a very compelling meeting of the minds. What we learn from this meeting is that Hawke’s Harrow once served the wrathful Khonshu as his avatar before vacating the role and finding his purpose as the vehicle for Ammit and her judgemental powers. While Harrow at first feigns a sense of grand benevolence and care, it soon becomes clear that he is only interested in serving Ammit’s dark desires and the depths of his evils are brought forth quickly. Hawke is a terrific addition to Moon Knight and his presence as the series’ chief antagonist is only going to grow in intrigue as we move forward.

But Episode 2, ‘Summon the Suit’ is not just about mere face-to-face confrontations, but at its core is Grant/Spector accepting his mission and coming into his power as Moon Knight. This power that he controls is gifted to him when he is cloaked in the armour of Khonshu, or ‘the suit’. And it takes a bit of practice for Grant to get the hang of it. But once he relinquishes control to Spector, we see this hero get to go to work against a foul and demonic creature. It’s a lot of fun to see Spector cut loose inside ‘the suit’ and the combat and action of ‘Summon the Suit’ is different and complex due to the shared identity and competency of both Steven Grant and Marc Spector. While it’s amusing to watch Grant pretend to ‘play hero’, it’s when Spector steps up that Isaac can go full anti-hero and he looks epically cool flying through the London sky and slashing curved blades around in a fury of controlled chaos.

We’re getting into the crux of the narrative now for Moon Knight and the action is moving quickly. Character, narrative and action are fit for purpose in this series and the excitement is ramping up quickly.

Moon Knight streams every Wednesday on Disney+

Image: Walt Disney Pictures

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Mild-mannered and slightly jittery museum gift shop attendant Steven Grant (Oscar Issac) is suffering from severe paranoia and an agonising fear of falling asleep. Controlled by insomnia and a mind that is slowly beginning to fracture, he thoughts wander to crazy and violent dreams that see him coming face to face with a mysterious cult led by the omnipotent Arthur Harrow (Ethan Hawke). But soon Steven realises that these dreams are not actually ‘dreams’ but the actions of a second personality inside of him, the violent and capable Marc Spector (Isaac), a mercenary who is waging a war against Harrow’s zealots and who has pledged himself to the Egyptian Moon-God Khonshu, and who is ready to do whatever is necessary to save the world.

Anytime a new Disney+ series from Marvel Studios is announced there is a tremendous amount of fanfare and excitement and Marvel Studios’ new chapter in the ever-broadening MCU, Moon Knight is a show to be very excited for. And brace yourself for the rush because Moon Knight is unlike anything the MCU has seen before. Twisting, dark and with multiple narrative threads that weave in and out of one another along, with featuring one extremely complicated protagonist, Moon Knight is something entirely fresh. And director Mohamed Diab amps up in a bold new direction. Bringing together an intrepid globe-trotting spy story, ancient Egyptian mythology and a mind-bending character study, Moon Knight is truly different from what has come before and this first episode feels like something akin to The Bourne Identity meets Fight Club by way of Indiana Jones.

Stepping into the MCU as our newest hero is Oscar Issac in the duelling roles of Marc Spector and Steven Grant. But how is he these two individuals and how can he portray them at the same time. Well, Spector suffers from dissociative identity disorder and Grant is actually a construct of his mind that jumps back and forth between the two of them. While for the most part Episode One, ‘The Goldfish Problem’, is told from the point-of-view of Steven, Marc is hovering away in the background and as the action steps up and Steven is thrown into danger the brutal and unhinged Marc Jumps out and things get bloody very quickly. These duel roles give Isaac a lot of room to play with as an actor and he does an incredible job of convincingly playing these two different characters. As Steven, he’s a bent-over loser and hopeless reject, before instantly turning into the brooding and violent Spector. It’s interesting to watch and we’re only at the start of this complicated character journey.

Facing off against Isaac’s Spector/Grant is Ethan Hawke as religious zealot Arthur Harrow and this guy is a solid freak. Best described as a combination of Jim Jones and Josef Mengele by way of Steve Jobs, Harrow is the vehicle for the destructive and judgemental power of the Egyptian deity and demoness Ammit. A crocodile-headed god of terrifying power, Harrow and his cult are looking to unleash Ammit’s severe power onto the world once more and somehow Spector is standing in their way. And it’s Steven who gets thrown into the mess of it all. Hawke brings an uneasy calm to Harrow and there’s something extremely off-putting about his uneasy temperament and fanaticism to unleash Ammit. Being bound to Ammit’s will also gives Harrow the power to channel dangerous magic and I have a feeling we’re only going to see his power grow as this series moves forward.

Narratively Episode One ‘The Goldfish Problem’, is a terrific introduction to a brand new superhero mythology in Moon Knight and right from the start, it feels fresh. Director Mohamed Diab lets both the narrative and action play out naturally, and in line with Spector’s DID, and the result grabs your attention. Cutting back and forth between Steven and the explosive actions of Spector leads to some very intense moments and the action is thrown into overdrive in the second act of the episode and things get charged up quickly. Moon Knight has long been regarded as one of Marvel Comics more violent and unhinged characters, and the new series keeps this trait as a core part of the show. Moon Knight packs some serious violence to it and when Marc Spector takes over things get bloody quickly. Diab showcases this violence as an interesting part of the series and it certainly adds to the spy genre stylings that the new series explores.

Episode One, ‘The Goldfish Problem’, is an incredibly interesting and compelling start to this brand new Disney+ and all throughout it you’re waiting for Spector to transform into Moon Knight and take the fight to Harrow’s evil forces. It’s a moment that happens in the closing moments of the episode and damn is it BADASS to watch. Brutal and to-the-point, the closing moments of ‘The Goldfish Problem’ prove that Moon Knight is not a hero to get on the wrong side of and with his introduction we have a serious serving of grit applied to the MCU that it has long been needing. Seeing Isaac garbed in the one of a kind armour of Moon Knight, complete with his glowing white eyes is an epic moment for MCU fans and while his appearance as this new costumed hero might only be brief it promises something truly different from the MCU and we’re only at the beginning of this bold new story.

‘The Goldfish Problem’ is a terrific start to Moon Knight and the MCU has a brand new hero that you’d better watch out for. Brutal, intense and packed out with some of the most unique narrative storytelling I can remember ever seeing in the MCU, Moon Knight is a series that is about to take the MCU into a brand new direction and I can’t wait to see what comes next.

Moon Knight streams every Wednesday on Disney+

Image: Walt Disney Pictures

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Determining that her mother Eleanor Bishop (Vera Farmiga) is part of a criminal conspiracy with arch crime lord Wilson Fisk aka Kingpin (Vincent D’Onofrio), Kate Bishop (Hailee Steinfeld) and Clint Barton (Jeremy Renner) make their plan to put an end to Eleanor and Fisk’s criminal empire once and for all. And this sets the stage for a very fiery end to the holiday season.

Director Rhys Thomas returns to pick up the reigns of Hawkeye following his work on Episode 1, ‘Never Meet Your Heroes’ and Episode 2, ‘Hide and Seek’, and things get explosive in the series finale. The cards are all on the table this time and the puzzle makes sense with Bishop and Barton determining how deep the criminal conspiracy runs, and with the inclusion of Kingpin, the stakes could not get higher than this. Thomas weaves together several over-arching narratives within ‘So This Is Christmas?’ and the result is a flat out, full-on action spectacular that balances both character and narrative and really gets your heart racing as an audience member.

‘So This Is Christmas?’ really brings the full Hawkeye series to a close in big grand-standing fun, and there’s plenty of action to keep things moving. You want high-spinning archery action? You’ve got it. You want secrets and revelations? You got it. You want some crack up comedy. That’s right you’ve got it. All of it is present and accounted for in ‘So This Is Christmas?’ and it’s a fast-moving and fun watch. One of the coolest scenes accounted for in the episode is when Barton and Bishop construct their own ‘Santa’s Workshop’ to make a whole stash of new trick arrows. ‘So This Is Christmas?’ also has serious glamour and style to it with Barton and Bishop donning tuxedos and working the room with plenty of spy, debonair cool that really adds flavour to the appeal of the series finale.

The character journeys for Kate Bishop and Clint Barton also come full circle as well, with each of them confronting their past and dealing with their present situations. Each of them reaches a moment of catharsis with their role as a superhero and come to the conclusion that heroes react no matter how difficult and dangerous the situation. What we’ve seen happen over the course of this series is these two very different personalities in the form of Kate Bishop and Clint Barton come together, form a partnership and now they have the ability to become the true heroes they were supposed to be.

‘So This Is Christmas?’ also gives us a major BIG BAD in the form of Wilson Fisk/Kingpin who officially make his debut in the Marvel Cinematic Universe through this appearance in Hawkeye. Having lauded over Hells Kitchen, Fisk now his eyes set upon the grand prize of New York City and this brings him head-first into conflict with Barton and Bishop. As he did with Daredevil, Vincent D’Onofrio completely takes over the screen when he brings his presence to the dominant and dangerous Wilson Fisk and he again makes a damn compelling bad guy in Hawkeye. The presence of D’Onofrio has so much possibility for a new heavy-hitting villain within the MCU and long time Marvel fans will get a real thrill out of this one.

This series finale is also jam-packed with action. Trick arrows are loosed and it’s general chaos as Barton and Bishop take on the Track Suit Mafia, Yelena Belova and the Kingpin all at once. From a mad dash through a private Christmas function that quickly goes to hell, to a full-on arrow shoot out in the middle of Rockefeller Plaza, this final episode of Hawkeye is packed full of action and it’s so much fun to watch. Barton and Bishop jump and dive while letting off arrows and their carefully crafted mix of trick arrows certainly get the job done. Tony Dalton’s Jack Duquesne also gets to show off his true colours, and it turns out that Jack’s not such a bad guy after all and he puts his swordsmanship to good use as he takes on the Tracksuit Mafia. And yes there’s also a stellar action moment with a GIGANTIC Christmas tree as well that only adds to the fun.

Throughout this series, we’ve seen two radically different people join forces together to make a difference and prove that you don’t have to have superpowers to be a superhero. Through skills, commitment and just turning up to get the job done, Clint Barton and Kate Bishop have made a big impact in Hawkeye and it’s been a lot of fun to see the mantle of Hawkeye passed on to another. Where we go from here with the characters of Barton and Bishop is still to be seen, but I’m certain that we’ll no doubt see more of them in the near future.

Hawkeye comes to a fitting conclusion with ‘So This Is Christmas?’ and brings the story to a full and complete conclusion. It’s a terrific episode that captures the energy and action that is an integral part of the character of Hawkeye and what’s more it’s a perfect Christmas treat.

Hawkeye streams on Disney+ every Wednesday.

Image: Walt Disney Pictures

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Watch the full trailer for Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness below:

Here’s the official synopsis:

Dr. Stephen Strange’s continuing research on the Time Stone is hindered by a friend-turned-enemy, resulting in Strange unleashing unspeakable evil.

Set following the events of Spider-Man: No Way Home, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness finds Dr Stephen Strange having to face the consequences for his actions having opened up the multi-verse and the result is a gloriously cosmic and crazy ride into the very universe itself.

Directed by long time superhero veteran Sam Raimi who makes his Marvel Studios debut with this picture, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness has the makings of a completely mind-bending piece of science fiction and audiences will be in for a hell of trip.

Along with its unique take on the science fiction genre, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is also heavily leaning into the horror genre, and there are plenty of illusions to the idea of Lovecraftian-type horrors and a new reality that is sure to keep the audience on their feet.

Alongside the return of key characters such as Chiwetel Ejiofor as Karl Mordo; Strange’s mentor turned adversary and Rachel McAdams as Dr. Christine Palmer; Strange’s love interest, we also have the presence of Elizabeth Olsen as Wanda Maximoff/Scarlet Witch; a powerful witch and sorcerer who has now fully come into her power following the events of WandaVision and whose presence will keep the narrative of Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness very interesting.

This teaser trailer for Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness looks absolutely AWESOME and promises audiences an entirely new type of cinema experience when it arrives in cinemas on May 5, 2022.

Image: Walt Disney Pictures

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Following their fallout, Kate Bishop (Hailee Steinfeld) is left reeling and unknowing about what to do with her future. She’s spent her whole life idolizing Clint Barton/Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner) and now she doesn’t know what to think anymore. Then there’s Barton himself who is wrestling with a deep level of PTSD and the consequences of his past, and with the arrival of the dangerous Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh); a Black Widow assassin, things are about to get very messy for Barton and by association Bishop.

Directors Bert & Bertie again step behind the camera once more for Episode 5 of Hawkeye ‘Ronin’ and their focus is placed on character revelation and the confrontation of the past. Both Barton and Bishop have to face up to who they were and who they are, along with how the past has shaped their present, and after the surprise revelation in Episode 4 ‘Partners, Am I Right?’, both of these archers are left with a great deal of uncertainty as to what their future holds.

For Hailee Steinfeld’s Kate Bishop this means questioning everything she has ever believed about her hero and idol Clint Barton. After he told her very directly to stay away from him, her desire to be a hero is questioned and she takes it hard. But true heroes don’t give up when the chips are down and very quickly she is back on the case when new evidence is brought to life and Kate isn’t expecting what comes next. As a character moment, ‘Ronin’ is a key episode for Kate as we see her grow into the maturity that she’ll need to showcase as a superhero and Steinfeld can show a lot of dramatic presence that she previously was unable to show.

Jeremy Renner’s Clint Barton also has to come face-to-face with his past this time, and all the issues and PTSD that has affected him. With the loss of his hearing and moral ambiguity caused by his actions as a literal weapon following the events of ‘The Blip’, Barton is now questioning everything he’s ever done. He’s a haunted man and the loss of his best friend and alley Natasha Romanoff was the final straw the broke him as a hero. It’s a painful confrontation with his past that he strives to make a new future for himself and Renner brings considerable depth to his dramatic projection in this decision.

Barton also takes steps to eliminate the threat of Maya Lopez/Echo (Alaqua Cox) and dons his guise as Ronin one final time to deliver a stern warning: stay away or else. This message comes with a barrage of punches, kicks and swordplay and Clint ain’t playing around this time. It’s also where the truth of his history with the Tracksuit Mafia comes into play and Clint makes it clear to Maya that her quest for revenge isn’t as simple as she thinks it is. It’s also in the heat of this moment where Kate returns to him and they cement their relationship as partners. All roads healed in the end.

Of particular note in ‘Ronin’ is the appearance of Florence Pugh’s Yelena Belova; a sister to Natasha Romanoff and Black Widow who has her own score to settle with Clint Barton. The appearance of Pugh as Belova leads to a lot of new revelations of what her life has been since the events of Black Widow, and we find out that she was a victim of ‘The Blip’ and that this has had a severe impact on her mental state. She also has a ‘heart-to-heart, girls’ night’ with Kate which finds her with her guard down, for a moment, and then it’s all very clear that this ‘happy-go-lucky’ Yelena is a mere front and that she is not playing games and is ready to level her lethal intentions against Clint Barton.

The stage is now set for the final episode of Hawkeye and make no mistake this episode is gonna be BIG. The stakes are high and all the players are ready to go for it following a massive revelation in the final moments of ‘Ronin’ that has changed the course of the MCU forever and will lead to Barton and Bishop facing down one of the Marvel Universe’s ultimate big bads!

Hawkeye streams on Disney+ every Wednesday.

Image: Walt Disney Pictures

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