Get your first look at The Story of Marvel Studios: The Making of the Marvel Cinematic Universe from Abrams Books! This must-have collection is the first and only authorized book to give you an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the creation of the MCU, as told by the studio's creatives, and the cast and crew of The Infinity Saga. This definitive story is available wherever books are sold on October 19, 2021. You can pre-order it now! The Story of Marvel Studios is the first-ever, fully authorized, all-access history of Marvel Studios? creation of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, as told by the producers, writers, directors, concept artists, VFX artists, cast, and crew who brought it to life. Year-by-year, project-by-project, the studio?s founding and meteoric growth are described through detailed personal stories, anecdotes, and remembrances of noteworthy challenges, breakthrough milestones, and history-making successes. Together, these stories reveal how each of the films evolved into one ongoing cinematic narrative, as coauthors Tara Bennett and Paul Terry chart the complete production history of The Infinity Saga?s 23 movies (from 2008?s Iron Man all the way up to, and including, 2019?s Avengers: Endgame and Spider-Man: Far From Home). Bennett and Terry were granted unprecedented access to Marvel Studios, which led to this years-in-the-making tome containing personal stories from more than 200 interviews, including every Marvel Studios producer; MCU writers and directors; the stars of The Infinity Saga; concept artists, costume designers, composers, and the talents behind the MCU?s dazzling visual effects; and more. Featuring previously unpublished behind-the-scenes photography and archival production material, as well as personal photos and memorabilia from cast and crew, The Story of Marvel Studios is the essential, collectible chronicle of how the Marvel Cinematic Universe was brought to life.

Industry executives are stunned that Amazon is in negotiations to buy Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer in a deal that could reach $9 billion. Their shock comes from a belief that the price tag severely overvalues the studio behind James Bond, the Pink Panther and ?Legally Blonde.? Other companies have kicked the tires on MGM at various points during a stop-and-start sales process that has been dragging on for months. Industry insiders say that the true value of the studio is more in the $5 billion to $6 billion range along with the assumption of some debt. Even then, they are skeptical that MGM?s prize asset, its stake in the 007 franchise, can be properly monetized. That?s because of the unprecedented creative control that?s held by Eon Productions and its owner the Broccoli family, who have been stewards of the film series dating back to Bond?s first on-screen appearance in 1962?s ?Dr. No.? Under a deal first hammered out by Albert ?Cubby? Broccoli, MGM has the right to finance and distribute all of the Bond movies and splits the profits with EON. However, Broccoli?s heirs and Eon?s chiefs, Barbara Broccoli and her half-brother Michael G. Wilson, still have final say on everything from the film?s marketing and distribution plans to whoever will slip into Bond?s tuxedo when Daniel Craig hangs up the role. Insiders believe that Broccoli and Wilson would likely nix any plans to debut Bond films on Amazon?s streaming service Prime Video and would insist on a theatrical release, as is their contractual right. That was a key stumbling block when MGM briefly floated the possibility of selling the COVID-delayed Bond sequel ?No Time to Die? to Apple for north of $600 million. The producers have also been resistant to have Bond pop up in spinoffs or television shows, the kinds of ancillary properties that could prove highly lucrative. Moreover, the films have been heavily licensed to cable networks and streaming platforms, which could complicate matters. ?If Barbara isn?t on board with this, things could be very difficult,? says an executive who has worked on Bond films. Moreover, the franchise is in transition. Craig is leaving the role after five films and there is real concern that his hard-living womanizer character may not have as much resonance with younger generations. That?s problematic given that much of the value of MGM is banked on Bond continuing to seduce audiences for years to come. But MGM?s brass appears to be undeterred. Two weeks ago, Michael De Luca, chairman of the company?s motion picture group, and other executives made a formal presentation to Amazon. The PowerPoint was viewed by Mike Hopkins, senior VP of Amazon Studios and Prime Video, who is an advocate for the deal. One person in the know said the parties are in an exclusive negotiating window. Representatives from Amazon and MGM did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Other companies have been down this road with MGM before only for talks to collapse. MGM was talking to Apple in early 2020 before COVID upended the landscape, and other legacy studios took a look at the company.

Not only is Kathryn Hahn a runaway favorite amongst fans, but the WandaVision star is also beloved by those in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. In fact, Paul Rudd thinks Hahn is the only person on the planet that could play Agatha Harkness, taking to a recent Vanity Fair piece to applaud his Marvel costar. ?Kathryn is often not only the best person for the part, but also the best person on the set. Her personality is so joyous. With no attitude,? Rudd told the magazine. ?Kathryn goes for it in everything.? Shortly after making those comments, Rudd made sure to point out he's watched all of WandaVision and hasn't been able to stop thinking about how good Hahn was in Marvel Studios' introductory television series. "I mean, my God, who else could do what she did? She does that crazy witch cackle, and you buy it," Rudd added. "You know how hard it is to do a crazy witch cackle?? Unlike other Marvel villains, Hahn's Harkness is still alive and well in Westview. As seen in the Disney+ show, Wanda Maximoff (Elizabeth Olsen) locked the witch in a modern-day version of herself, unable to use her magic. "I actually don?t think, ultimately, that she minds it," Hahn previously told the New York Times. "She needed to rest for a hot second. She?s been very restless. I think she was very lonely, for a very, very long time. She loves having the companionship ? loves the mailman, loves Ralph, loves Dottie. For the moment, I think she?s actually OK to just loosen the corset and sit and have a muffin and a latte." In that same piece, Hahn wouldn't reveal if she's onboard for more Marvel projects just quite yet. "I have no idea. They keep it really tight," she said about the planning at Marvel Studios. "Oh me too. I want to [have an another opportunity.] Now that I have a tase of it, I'm like 'Ahh.' I really, really love it."

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"But I must explain to you how all this mistaken idea of denouncing pleasure and praising pain was born and I will give you a complete account of the system, and expound the actual teachings of the great explorer of the truth, the master-builder of human happiness. No one rejects, dislikes, or avoids pleasure itself, because it is pleasure, but because those who do not know how to pursue pleasure rationally encounter consequences that are extremely painful. Nor again is there anyone who loves or pursues or desires to obtain pain of itself, because it is pain, but because occasionally circumstances occur in which toil and pain can procure him some great pleasure. To take a trivial example, which of us ever undertakes laborious physical exercise, except to obtain some advantage from it? But who has any right to find fault with a man who chooses to enjoy a pleasure that has no annoying consequences, or one who avoids a pain that produces no resultant pleasure?"

Former Batman Ben Affleck is sharing his support for his successor in the role, Robert Pattinson, who will play the Caped Crusader in next year's?The Batman. Starting with 2016's?Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice, Affleck was the fifth actor to play Batman in a live-action film, and he appeared in three movies total (which includes a small cameo in?Suicide Squad). Affleck was reportedly going to direct, write, and star in?The Batman,?but reports later emerged suggesting someone new would take over the role. Affleck later departed the project, and Matt Reeves signed on to write and direct with Pattinson filling the role of Bruce Wayne.

Production on?The Batman?has been underway for a little while now, and recently Reeves unveiled the first official look of Pattinson in costume. Excitement for the 2021 film has only been building as production has continued, especially due to its large cast. Aside from Pattinson,?The Batman?will star Zo? Kravitz, Colin Farrell, Jeffrey Wright, Paul Dano, Andy Serkis, Peter Sarsgaard, and John Turturro.

While promoting his new film?The Way Back?in an interview with Jake Hamilton, Affleck was briefly asked about his time as Batman as well as the initial script he wrote for?The Batman. Affleck was quick to share some words of support for Pattinson, saying, "I think Robert's a great actor, he's going to do great." Affleck also opened up a bit more about why he chose to leave, explaining that he had "kind of lost my passion for it." He added, "The movie deserves to be made by someone whose dying to do it and can't wait, and that wasn't me at the time, so I moved on."

Recently, Affleck elaborated on his departure from?The Batman in a more candid manner than he had previously. Whereas before, it seemed like creative differences led to his exit, Affleck admitted that it was a more personal reason. Affleck explained, "I showed somebody ?The Batman? script. They said, ?I think the script is good. I also think you?ll drink yourself to death if you go through what you just went though again." It seems that the process behind making and promoting 2017's?Justice League effectively diminished his interest in playing Batman, which isn't too surprising considering that film's troubled production history. Affleck's struggles with alcoholism reportedly added to his stress.

Affleck's recent comments, including the ones in support of Pattinson, suggest he's made some peace with his rocky tenure as Batman. Of course, it's impossible to say for sure without being inside of his head, but it's a bit of a relief to know that he has moved onto projects he feels more passionate about. Affleck's Batman, while perhaps not as beloved as say Michael Keaton's or Christian Bale's, was a solid take on the well-known character, and it would have been interesting to see what his version of?The Batman?would have been. Instead though, fans will get the chance to see a new actor take on the role, and only time will tell if they enjoy it or not.