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INHUMANS: 10 Things You Need To Know About The Characters Before They (Hopefully) Return To The MCU

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Marvel Studios was originally going to release an Inhumans movie, but when it became clear the project was being pushed on them by Marvel Entertainment boss Ike Perlmutter (who wanted to replace the X-Men with Inhumans), Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige pushed back and ended up reporting directly to Disney bosses instead. 

However, with Ms. Marvel on the way to Disney+, the signs are pointing to the characters finally making their Marvel Cinematic Universe debut. Sure, they appeared in their own failed TV show and Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., but that’s unlikely to matter much to Feige moving forward. 

While nothing has been confirmed at this point, we thought you guys might appreciate a refresher course on all things Inhuman to prepare you for their return. From the alien race’s origin story to where they live and what Marvel Studios might have planned for them, there’s a lot here to sink your teeth into…just like loveable, teleporting pooch, Lockjaw!

So, to take a look through this feature, all you need to do is click on the “Next” button below. 
 

10. It’s Like Game Of Thrones With Superpowers

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It goes without saying that there are some key differences between the Inhumans and Game of Thrones‘ eclectic cast of characters (Black Bolt and Medusa most definitely aren’t brother and sister), but the similarities are undeniable. In fact, when Marvel Studios was developing an Inhumans movie, the project was basically described as Game of Thrones with superpowers!

That’s no great surprise considering the fact that there’s a royal family, and with a brother who is madly in love with the Queen, any movie is bound to include betrayals and plenty of twists and turns.

Medusa, can manipulate her own hair into powerful tendrils, Gorgon has super-strength, Triton is fishlike in appearance, Karnak is strong and agile, the brother we mentioned – Maximus – has telepathic powers, while fan-favourite Crystal has elemental powers. Then, there’s their leader…
 

9. Black Bolt, King Of The Inhumans

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As you likely already know, Black Bolt is the King of the Inhumans and married to Medusa, the woman he relies on to speak for him. Why? Because his powers are literally off the scale! 

You see, if he utters even a whisper, his voice could destroy an entire city block. A scream? Possibly an entire city! He’s a complex character who is obviously both gifted and cursed, but a good man who does what is best for his people. It will be a challenge for Marvel to find the right actor, but Vin Diesel has hinted in the past that he may be in the running to play Black Bolt.

With little dialogue but an imposing presence required, that might actually work quite well!
 

8. A Storied History

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So, who are the Inhumans? Well, they were created by the Kree (an alien race we’ve now seen a fair bit of in the Marvel Cinematic Universe thanks to Guardians of the Galaxy and Captain Marvel) millions of years ago when they visited Earth and tampered with the DNA of humans.

After the Kree abandoned their experiments, the Inhumans would go on to form their own very complicated society, but their seclusion from humanity led to them becoming vastly different. 

This is something that could very easily tie into the upcoming Eternals movie, and it would be surprising if that didn’t hint at their existence and somehow tie the two races together in the process. 
 

7. Attilan

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Attilan is the home of the Inhumans and is around seven thousand years old.

Originally located on a small island in the northern Atlantic Ocean, they started to realise that they were at risk when technology advanced to the point where planes and boats frequently came close to discovering them. It was then that they moved the city to a hidden valley in the Himalayan Mountain range, but the Inhumans were inevitably discovered and exposed to the world.

Since then, they’ve relocated to the “Blue Area of the Moon” in a bid to escape the effects of Earthly pollution and disease. That’s a unique locale, and one it would be fun to explore on screen.
 

6. Lockjaw Provides Some Much-Needed Comic Relief

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In some respects, the Inhumans are a pretty serious and humourless group of characters. That’s an inevitability after the hardships they’ve been through (not to mention some of the challenges they’ve faced) but Lockjaw should help to lighten the tone and deliver some laughs.

Lockjaw is a giant alien bulldog with the ability to teleport and is a vital tool in helping this group travel. He doesn’t talk, but he’s a loveable pooch who has every chance of being the next Groot or Rocket.

The ill-fated TV show completely wasted Lockjaw – likely because creating him was too expensive – but Marvel Studios can definitely do the character justice. His relationship with Crystal is particularly noteworthy, and it’s not at all hard to imagine him being a breakout character. 
 

5. The Terrigan Mist

Terrigen

The Terrigen Mists are the source of the Inhumans’ powers, and a vapour derived from the Terrigen Crystals. That has the ability to alter Inhuman biology and give them their unique powers.

When an Inhuman undergoes this procedure, they have no idea how it will physically mutate them, explaining their unique and very varied appearances. It’s possible too that Marvel is going to follow the comic books by having these mists exposed to the Earth’s atmosphere, causing anyone who was a descendant of an Inhuman to develop superpowers (which creates Ms. Marvel).

Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. obviously gave this a go, but sadly, that series doesn’t really matter. 
 

4. They Live Among Us

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Unless they’ve been mutated by undergoing Terrigenesis, the Inhumans are mostly, well, human in appearance. That means they can blend in for the most part, and while they do tend to avoid leaving Attilan for the most, there are plenty of them who do live among us here on Earth. 

As a result, there are a lot of Inhumans or Inhuman descendants who are completely unaware of their history, and it’s only when they’re exposed to the mists that they undergo these changes. 

A certain Kamala Khan is a good example of that, and the Marvel Cinematic Universe would inevitably be changed forever by the emergence of these newly superpowered individuals (especially if the mists are inadvertently released on Earth in the wake of the emergence of Inhumans).  
 

3. The Alpha Primitives

Primitives

We’ve established that the Inhumans have quite the storied history, but not all of it is good. 

Just like the Kree created them, the Inhumans have taken a crack at coming up with their own new species on a number of occasions. However, they wanted to create salves due to having such a low population, and that race ended up becoming known as the “Alpha Primitives.”

They were strong, but unintelligent, and mostly served their masters well. However, Black Bolt decided what his people were doing was wrong when he became King, and freed them. Things didn’t really develop beyond that, but there’s definitely some strong storytelling potential here. 
 

2. What We Saw In Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D. Is Unlikely To Matter

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As we mentioned, with Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. barely canon and not a series Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige is likely to reference moving forward, the premise of being an Inhuman is bound to be reinvented. In fact, everything from their involvement in launching HYDRA to how Daisy Johnson got her abilities probably won’t matter in the wider Marvel Cinematic Universe. 

As for the short-lived TV show they appeared in, there’s no way that’s going to be anything other than rebooted, so don’t expect a single cast member from that to make their return in a reboot. 

Rumour has it that Marvel Studios will acknowledge the series in Ms. Marvel, using it as an Easter Egg of sorts to poke fun at how bad the ABC/IMAX collaboration ended up being back in 2017.
 

1. They Could Return To The MCU In Ms. Marvel

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Rumour has it that two characters who could appear in the Ms. Marvel TV show on Disney+ are Inhuman Royal Family members Black Bolt and Maximus. Guardians of the Galaxy star Vin Diesel – who, as we said, is desperate to be Black Both – is being considered for the King of the Inhumans. He only voices Groot, so that’s not something that would really confuse viewers. 

Aaron Taylor-Johnson, who starred as Quicksilver in Avengers: Age of Ultron, was said to be Marvel’s top choice to play Maximus, Black Bolt’s brother. By the time Ms. Marvel hits screens, seven or eight years will have passed since he starred as the speedster, so they could probably get away with him playing another character (look at Gemma Chan, for example). 

This should definitely be taken with a pinch of salt, but it’s undeniably intriguing, don’t you think?
 

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BLACK PANTHER Director Ryan Coogler Pens Heartfelt Tribute To Chadwick Boseman

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As his Marvel family and the entirety of Hollywood continues to pay tribute to the late Chadwick Boseman, who passed away tragically on Friday after a four-year battle with colon cancer, his Black Panther director Ryan Coogler has shared an extremely emotional tribute to his fallen friend. 

Read his full tribute below:

Before sharing my thoughts on the passing of the great Chadwick Boseman, I first offer my condolences to his family who meant so very much to him. To his wife, Simone, especially.

I inherited Marvel and the Russo Brothers’ casting choice of T’Challa. It is something that I will forever be grateful for. The first time I saw Chad’s performance as T’Challa, it was in an unfinished cut of CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR. I was deciding whether or not directing BLACK PANTHER was the right choice for me. I’ll never forget, sitting in an editorial suite on the Disney Lot and watching his scenes. His first with Scarlett Johansson as Black Widow, then, with the South African cinema titan, John Kani as T’Challa’s father, King T’Chaka. It was at that moment I knew I wanted to make this movie. After Scarlett’s character leaves them, Chad and John began conversing in a language I had never heard before. It sounded familiar, full of the same clicks and smacks that young black children would make in the States. The same clicks that we would often be chided for being disrespectful or improper. But, it had a musicality to it that felt ancient, powerful, and African. 

In my meeting after watching the film, I asked Nate Moore, one of the producers of the film, about the language. “Did you guys make it up?” Nate replied, “that’s Xhosa, John Kani’s native language. He and Chad decided to do the scene like that on set, and we rolled with it.” I thought to myself. “He just learned lines in another language, that day?” I couldn’t conceive how difficult that must have been, and even though I hadn’t met Chad, I was already in awe of his capacity as actor. 

I learned later that there was much conversation over how T’Challa would sound in the film. The decision to have Xhosa be the official language of Wakanda was solidified by Chad, a native of South Carolina, because he was able to learn his lines in Xhosa, there on the spot. He also advocated for his character to speak with an African accent, so that he could present T’Challa to audiences as an African king, whose dialect had not been conquered by the West. 

I finally met Chad in person in early 2016, once I signed onto the film. He snuck past journalists that were congregated for a press junket I was doing for CREED, and met with me in the green room. We talked about our lives, my time playing football in college, and his time at Howard studying to be a director, about our collective vision for T’Challa and Wakanda. We spoke about the irony of how his former Howard classmate Ta-Nehisi Coates was writing T’Challa’s current arc with Marvel Comics. And how Chad knew Howard student Prince Jones, who’s murder by a police officer inspired Coates’ memoir Between The World and Me. 

I noticed then that Chad was an anomaly. He was calm. Assured. Constantly studying. But also kind, comforting, had the warmest laugh in the world, and eyes that seen much beyond his years, but could still sparkle like a child seeing something for the first time.    

That was the first of many conversations. He was a special person. We would often speak about heritage and what it means to be African. When preparing for the film, he would ponder every decision, every choice, not just for how it would reflect on himself, but how those choices could reverberate. “They not ready for this, what we are doing…” “This is Star Wars, this is Lord of the Rings, but for us… and bigger!” He would say this to me while we were struggling to finish a dramatic scene, stretching into double overtime. Or while he was covered in body paint, doing his own stunts. Or crashing into frigid water, and foam landing pads. I would nod and smile, but I didn’t believe him. I had no idea if the film would work. I wasn’t sure I knew what I was doing. But I look back and realize that Chad knew something we all didn’t. He was playing the long game.  All while putting in the work. And work he did. 

He would come to auditions for supporting roles, which is not common for lead actors in big budget movies. He was there for several M’Baku auditions. In Winston Duke’s, he turned a chemistry read into a wrestling match. Winston broke his bracelet. In Letitia Wright’s audition for Shuri, she pierced his royal poise with her signature humor, and would bring about a smile to T’Challa’s face that was 100% Chad. 

While filming the movie, we would meet at the office or at my rental home in Atlanta, to discuss lines and different ways to add depth to each scene. We talked costumes, military practices. He said to me “Wakandans have to dance during the coronations. If they just stand there with spears, what separates them from Romans?” In early drafts of the script. Eric Killmonger’s character would ask T’Challa to be buried in Wakanda. Chad challenged that and asked, what if Killmonger asked to be buried somewhere else? 

Chad deeply valued his privacy, and I wasn’t privy to the details of his illness. After his family released their statement, I realized that he was living with his illness the entire time I knew him. Because he was a caretaker, a leader, and a man of faith, dignity and pride, he shielded his collaborators from his suffering. He lived a beautiful life. And he made great art. Day after day, year after year. That was who he was. He was an epic firework display. I will tell stories about being there for some of the brilliant sparks till the end of my days. What an incredible mark he’s left for us. 

I haven’t grieved a loss this acute before. I spent the last year preparing, imagining and writing words for him to say, that we weren’t destined to see. It leaves me broken knowing that I won’t be able to watch another close-up of him in the monitor again or walk up to him and ask for another take. 

It hurts more to know that we can’t have another conversation, or facetime, or text message exchange. He would send vegetarian recipes and eating regimens for my family and me to follow during the pandemic.  He would check in on me and my loved ones, even as he dealt with the scourge of cancer.  

In African cultures we often refer to loved ones that have passed on as ancestors. Sometimes you are genetically related. Sometimes you are not. I had the privilege of directing scenes of Chad’s character, T’Challa, communicating with the ancestors of Wakanda. We were in Atlanta, in an abandoned warehouse, with bluescreens, and massive movie lights, but Chad’s performance made it feel real. I think it was because from the time that I met him, the ancestors spoke through him. It’s no secret to me now how he was able to skillfully portray some of our most notable ones. I had no doubt that he would live on and continue to bless us with more. But it is with a heavy heart and a sense of deep gratitude to have ever been in his presence, that I have to reckon with the fact that Chad is an ancestor now. And I know that he will watch over us, until we meet again.

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ABC To Celebrate Chadwick Boseman’s Legacy With BLACK PANTHER Special Followed By “A Tribute For A King”

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Disney will celebrate the life and legacy of Chadwick Boseman tonight with a special presentation of Marvel Studios’ Black Panther followed by an ABC News Special dedicated to the young actor. Boseman tragically passed away on Friday night after a four-year battle with colon cancer. He was only 43 years old.

Despite his relatively short time here, Boseman touched millions of fans’ hearts both on and off the big screen. He potrayed numerous monumental African American figures as Jackie Robinson (42), James Brown (Get On Up) and Thurgood Marshall (Marshall). He’s probably most recognized for his role as King T’Challa in 2018’s Black Panther. As Disney’s Executive Chairman Bob Iger so eloquently put it, “He brought enormous strength, dignity and depth to his groundbreaking role of Black Panther; shattering myths and stereotypes, becoming a long-awaited hero to millions around the world, and inspiring us all to dream bigger and demand more than the status quo.”

Boseman was first diagnosed with colon cancer in 2016 and secretly battled it for four years. During that time he continued to work to amplify black history and culture while inspiring and educating millions.

Disney didn’t go into details about the special presentation of Black Panther but I presume it will include special messages from those who worked with Boseman on the film. Since his passing, many Hollywood stars have taken to social media to post tributes to the late actor. The ABC News Special will likely celebrate the young actor’s life and recount some of his most meaningful work.

The special tribute to Chadwick Boseman will begin tonight, August 30, at 8:00 p.m. ET on ABC.

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THE NEW MUTANTS Hits The U.S. With Dismal $8 Million Opening Weekend; TENET Debuts To $40 Million Overseas

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After countless delays, The New Mutants finally arrived in U.S. theaters on Friday. Now, Deadline reports that the Marvel movie earned $3.1 million on Friday, the best opening day since March. It’s projected to make a dismal $8 million (possibly less) by the end of the weekend, but by today’s standards, that not the worst opening. It will, however, be interesting seeing how Tenet compares.

If that does considerably more, then it will be clear that there’s only a very limited number of people willing to go to theaters. However, if it does better than that, then it’s clear The New Mutants hasn’t generated much interest (bear in mind that current projections peg Tenet at $25+ million). 

Overseas, Tenet had a Wednesday – Sunday opening of $40+ million as theaters are open in a lot of key territories. However, as a five-day opening goes, those numbers are understandably dreadful. They have, however, exceeded expectations to some extent, but this one turning a profit seems unlikely.

Going back to The New Mutants, it’s said that the idea of extending the movie into some sort of series at Hulu was considered, but ultimately scrapped. A co-financing deal with TSG meant it would have to play on the big screen, but as the trade notes, “when New Mutants arrived at Disney, Marvel Boss Kevin Feige didn’t put his fingerprints on the movie to fix it.”

Did you head to the theater this weekend? 

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