Back in June, we reported on a rumor that Marvel was searching for a “deaf female, Native American, First Nations, Indigenous or Latinx, 18 or older” actress to play an “independent, athletic and bright” 20-something character in an upcoming project.

Not many established Marvel Comics characters fit that description, so speculation understandably pointed to this being Daredevil supporting player Maya Lopez, aka Echo, and we may now have confirmation.

According to The Illuminderdi, Echo will appear in the Disney+ Hawkeye series as one of the main characters. No details about how she’ll factor into the plot have been revealed, but there’s a chance she may start out as an adversary of Clint Barton’s given their shared association with the Ronin mantle in the comics.

Created by David Mack and Joe Quesada in the late ’90s, Echo was first introduced as a Daredevil villain before switching allegiances and reinventing herself as a hero. She reemerged in 2005 and took up the mantle of Ronin for Brian Michael Bendis’ New Avengers run, before going on to befriend and work alongside the likes of Wolverine and Moon Knight.

What do you guys make of this development? Hawkeye is currently scheduled to begin shooting next month (barring any COVID-related delays), so we should learn more soon.

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We’ve known that Takehiro Hira would be playing the villain in Paramount’s upcoming G.I. Joe origins movie Snake Eyes for a while now, but not much has been revealed about his mysterious character, who is believed to be an original villain created exclusively for the movie. 

Speaking with Hira earlier this month while promoting his latest release Lost Girls and Love Hotels, the accomplished Japanese actor was generous enough to share details about his role in the Robert Schwentke-directed spinoff. 

“I’m playing the villain in Snake Eyes, the G.I. Joe film,” he tells us. “I think it’s an original character who’s not in the comics, so he’s brand new and that’s pretty much all I can say right now. *laughs*

He’s Japanese, he could maybe be Yakuza too, *laughs*, but yeah, it was a fun experience. You know, there’s Snake Eyes (Henry Golding), and then there’s another guy Storm Shadow (Andrew Koji)… I’m sort of his half-brother or something like that.“

His comments may essentially confirm an earlier report from That Hashtag Show, who revealed that the film would indeed introduce an original villain, then named Kenta.

They said in 2018, “Kenta is revealed to Storm Shadow’s brother who has long since left his family, the Arashikage, and joined with a rival ninja clan, the Kurayami. It is Kenta who attempts to lure Snake Eyes away from the Arashikage and into a terrorist plot being devised by Cobra.” 

While Hira wasn’t allowed to divulge much else, he did speak about the extensive training he and the entire cast received to prepare for the tough shoot. “We trained for about a month and a half in Vancouver, so hopefully it’ll be good.“

He isn’t a formally trained fighter, but admits to having picked up a few skills throughout his nearly twenty-year career that he’s more than ready to show off in the upcoming 2021 spinoff. “I haven’t been trained properly I guess, but along the way, I’ve learned things here and there and picked up a few tricks. I know some sword fighting, Japanese sword fighting, which is really cool.“

Henry Golding (The Gentlemen) will headline the feature with a supporting cast consisting of Andrew Koji (Fast & Furious 6) as Storm Shadow, Samara Weaving (Ready or Not) as Scarlett, Úrsula Corberó (The Secret Life of Pets) as Baroness, Haruka Abe (47 Ronin) in an undisclosed role, Iko Uwais (The Raid) as Hard Master and Takehiro Hira (Giri/Haji) in an undisclosed role.

Snake Eyes hits theaters October 22, 2021

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While it may be a while before we get another big theatrical release, the digital home video market continues to stay strong, and one of the latest films to hit VOD platforms is William Olsson’s Lost Girls and Love Hotels, which is an adaptation of Catherine Hanrahan’s acclaimed 2006 novel of the same name.

The film stars Alexandra Daddario (Superman: Man of Tomorrow; We Summon the Darkness), Takehiro Hira (Snake Eyes; Giri/Haji), and Carice van Houten (Game of Thrones; Valkyrie) in the main roles. Daddario plays the lead role of Margaret, who is an expatriate living in Japan working at the Japanese flight academy, teaching flight attendants while simultaneously self-destructing in her personal life due to a tragedy. 

Ahead of the film’s release earlier this month, we sat down with star Takehiro Hira to chat about his pivotal role in the film, working with Alexandra Daddario, his viewpoint on the Yakuza and love hotels, and whether or not he related to the central character after having been through a simliar fish of water experience in his youth.

Check out the full interview below:

ROHAN PATEL: Did you read the book or just go off the screenplay more or less?

TAKEHIRO HIRA: I didn’t read the book beforehand, so I just went straight to the script to understand my character.

ROHAN: As Kazu, you’re basically there to help Margaret on her existential journey. So, did you play a similar role in helping Alexandra fully understand Japanese culture?

TAKEHIRO: Actually, my first day on set was almost halfway through shooting because I was in a play when they started filming, so I didn’t get to see them much until my first day, which was in the middle of the shoot. By then, they probably knew more about the sights around Tokyo than I did. I didn’t get to go out much in Tokyo with them but I did spend time with them at a few places like restaurants and stuff. I think they had a fun time.

One thing I do remember, I did introduce Alexandra to a really good acupuncture doctor and she loved it and I think from her Instagram, she’s been doing that since going back home, so maybe that’s something she picked up from Tokyo.

ROHAN: The movie is about how Alexandra’s character is basically a fish out of water in Japan and struggling to find herself. When you first came to study in the U.S. as a teenager, do you remember having similar feelings? Do you relate at all to Alex’s character looking back at your own experience?

TAKEHIRO: Oh wow, that’s a great question, – I did go to American school when I was about 15 and I don’t know. Growing up in Tokyo and moving to the U.S., it felt similar in a way because we were very Americanized in Tokyo, so we were more used to American culture. It was probably more of a cultural shock for Alexandra’s character to come to Japan than it was for me to come to America… I never really thought about it to be honest, it’s been a really long time.

The loneliness, feeling out of place, I did feel that. Like for Christmas or Thanksgiving, I had nowhere to go, I’d get invited to dinner parties here and there, but it never felt like home. So, that loneliness Alex felt in the movie as Margaret, I could relate to that for sure.

ROHAN: You’re playing a member of the Yakuza, who American films generally depict as these extremely dangerous villains. What is your viewpoint of the Yakuza having lived in Toyko most of your life?

TAKEHIRO: Yakuza are a popular topic and character in American films, and I mean, we do have Yakuza in Japanese films as well, but not so much. There are still Yakuza in living in our society in Japan, but I’ve never seen one… well, maybe one or two. Everything I know about Yakuza is from watching movies and seeing them in Japanese films.

In reality, they may be businessmen or some other figure in society, and their look and the hair and the clothing is probably different in real life. This film doesn’t really perpetuate the stereotype of the Yakuza, you don’t see my character associate with any other member of the Yakuza, he’s a lone wolf Yakuza, which is rare because the Yakuza are always shown working in groups – I mean, I don’t know for sure, but that’s what we typically see.

ROHAN: I asked Catherine about this as well, but as a native, what was your viewpoint on love hotels? 

TAKEHIRO: It’s usually run by Yakuza… *laughs* – Not always, but a lot of the time. In Tokyo, well I guess all over Japan, you generally live with your parents, so you don’t live by yourself, you don’t have the apartment to yourself so if you need a private place with your girlfriend or wife or whomever for a few hours, that’s usually how it works. *laughs*

ROHAN: So, what’s next for you? Are you looking for more Hollywood projects?

TAKEHIRO: I’ve been auditioning for a few things here and there, but this year, it’s, of course, been really slow. I’m just waiting for something to come up on the horizon I guess.

ROHAN: I think Hollywood still has a ways to go when it comes to introducing Indian superheroes, but it’s always a welcome sight to see Asian actors find success, especially in mainstream films like Snake Eyes and Shang-Chi, which is now filming.

After your experience on Snake Eyes, have you ever thought about getting to play in a big Marvel or DC movie?

TAKEHIRO: I’d love to, I mean I’m 45 years old, so I hope I’m not too old to be a superhero, but I would absolutely love to.

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In “Rumor Mill,” we share the hard to buy rumours that don’t come from reliable sources like the trades, but are still more believable (just) than what you might find on Reddit. 

There have been signs that Hawkeye will feature The Clown and the Tracksuit Mafia, but the identity of the show’s lead villain may have now been revealed. According to The Direct, classic Iron Man villain Madame Masque will appear in a “supporting role” in the highly anticipated Disney+ series.

It’s said that Marvel Studios is in the process of casting an actress to play the villain, and this presumably means Agent Carter isn’t considered canon seeing as Whitney Frost appeared there. 

However, if her real name – Giulietta Nefaria – is used, then Frost won’t be wiped from MCU history!

It’s worth noting that Madame Masque has clashed with both Clint Barton and Kate Bishop in the comic books, and Kate’s father has even been one of her clients. How all this will factor into Hawkeye itself remains to be seen, but this is definitely an interesting rumour, and one that points to the Disney+ series taking a deep dive into the source material to deliver a lot of big surprises. 

Would you like to see the two Hawkeyes face Madame Masque in 2022?

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Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings was recently pushed from next May to July, and fans excited to see the Master of the Martial Arts in action are now forced to remain patient for the Marvel Studios movie. However, thanks to some intel shared by Murphy’s Multiverse, we may have a better idea what to expect when it finally arrives in theaters after originally being scheduled for February 2021.

The site claims that a huge set has been built in Sydney, Australia, which will double as The Valley of the Sleeping Dragon, a location best known as Fin Fang Foom’s lair. 

“Our source describes the Valley of the Sleeping Dragon set as a hilly, seaside location with a temple at its center with the greenscreen serving as the seashore itself,” the reveal. “The other huts each serve their own purposes but the other noteworthy feature is the large, bamboo structure known as the battle dome which is surrounded by an area where the village’s warriors hone the skills necessary to protect Fin Fang Foom.”

Clearly, the plan is for Shang-Chi to delve into the ancient history of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, with it being explained that those rumoured flashbacks to the time Genghis Khan ruled over China are likely to tie into Fin Fang Foom and the warriors who fight off invaders with the dragon at their side. 

As for who Star Trek Discovery‘s Michelle Yeoh will be playing, it’s believed she’s going to be a protector of this village, but it’s unclear whether that means she’s a newly created character or someone from the comic books. If it’s the latter, Marvel Studios will likely take a deep dive into Marvel Comics history. 

What do you guys think of these latest Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings details? 

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Solo: A Star Wars Story was something of a disaster for Disney and Lucasfilm with directors Phil Lord and Christopher Miller fired well into production, and a tepid marketing campaign which played a big role in the spinoff movie underperforming at the worldwide box office back in 2018. 

As the lowest grossing instalment of the Star Wars franchise, it’s no wonder the studios decided to go back to the drawing board with how to handle future stories, hence why plans for spinoffs revolving around the likes of Yoda and Boba Fett have seemingly stalled and are no longer happening.

During a recent interview with The Independent, star Alden Ehrenreich opened up on his time as Han Solo, and while he’s clearly disappointed with the coverage Solo received, he’s ready to move on.

“It’s not a huge part of my life anymore,” the actor admitted. “But my sense is that there was a really clear disconnect between the way it was really received and then the stories that came out about it. That we had a troubled production or whatever. And it’s not really a story that the movie did totally fine. It didn’t make a billion dollars but it did fine and people liked it – but that’s not interesting.”

“What’s interesting is: ‘This is the biggest movie of all time and it was absolutely a disaster.’ I knew, no matter what happened, that I was putting myself in a situation where people would be saying things about me. But honestly, that whole experience felt like this huge, high-seas adventure.”

While Ehrenreich has previously expressed an interest in reprising the role (rumour has it that could happen on Disney+), it doesn’t sound like he wants his career to be defined by Star Wars, and that’s perfectly understandable. It would be nice for those lingering questions to be addressed, of course, but time will tell whether the rumoured plans for his version of the smuggler come to fruition.

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Earlier this week, we learned that Thue Ersted Rasmussen had dropped out of the upcoming second season of The Witcher – which is currently shooting in the UK – due to what he said was “rescheduling because of COVID-19.” While he had shot scenes prior to production being halted in March, Basil Eidenbenz has now been chosen to take over as the witcher, Eskel. 

Rasmussen was actually among seven new cast members announced for The Witcher by Netflix in late February, but it was just three weeks later that the streaming service had to halt work. 

Eidenbenz looks set to be a solid replacement, though, and was named as one of the possibilities to take over the role by Redanian Intelligence after the news of Rasmussen’s departure broke. The Swiss actor is best know for his roles in TV shows like Victoria and The Athena. 

Eskel is an important character in The Witcher mythos. Like Geralt, he was taught at the School of the Wolf by Master Vesemir at Kaer Morhen. Though less famous than his peer Geralt, Eskel became renowned in his own right as a professional, reliable witcher, and possessing a kind and relaxed disposition.

The first season of The Witcher was a huge hit for Netflix last December, but it’s unclear when this second season will debut. With any luck, we don’t have to wait too far into 2021 for the show’s return.

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Work has resumed on The Falcon and The Winter Soldier in Atlanta, Georgia, and we now have a new photo featuring a meeting between Georges St-Pierre’s Batroc the Leaper and Erin Kellyman’s unknown character in Woodruff Park. They definitely appear to be in league based on this image.

Recently, a scene description claimed, “Georges was filming in a park standing with Desmond by a bench, while Erin sat between them on the back of the bench with her feet on the seat. He could not hear any dialogue but said that Erin’s character used some kind of power, unclear how, to impress the two. The power involved extras near them in a field stopping, simultaneously looking at the phones, looking up, and all walking towards them in a group and as if in a trance.”

That definitely appears to be what we’re seeing here, though there’s obviously no evidence that Kellyman is, as previously reported, playing Songbird (a future member of the Thunderbolts).

If the Solo: A Star Wars Story actress is indeed playing Songbird, that points to her potentially having a future in the Marvel Cinematic Universe as a recurring villain. It’s hard to say for sure, but The Falcon and The Winter Soldier certainly appears to feature a large number of foes for the title heroes!

Check out the photo below:
 

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