LOS ANGELES: Marvel brought thousands of fans to their feet on Saturday as it assembled a stellar panel of superheroes to preview “Avengers: Infinity War” at Disney’s D23 convention.
The movie, which comes out next year, unites the characters from all 16 films of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) — and most of the actors who play them took to the stage at the star-studded fan event in Anaheim, southern California.
The packed 7,000-capacity convention hall cheered as Josh Brolin, Robert Downey Jr., Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo, Don Cheadle and Benedict Cumberbatch were introduced one by one.
Tom Holland, Benicio del Toro, Elizabeth Olsen, Paul Bettany, Anthony Mackie, Karen Gillan, Dave Bautista, Pom Klementieff and Chadwick Boseman and co-director Joe Russo were also part of the star-studded panel.
“I’ve got to admit, these guys have not been together on stage for a long time, and even I find myself geeking out,” said Marvel Studios chief Kevin Feige before introducing world-first “Infinity Wars” teaser footage.
The movie opens in May 2018 — the 10th anniversary of the US release of the original MCU movie, “Iron Man.”
“It’s funny to think Kevin and I figured all of this out at Randy’s Donuts shooting ‘Iron Man 2’,” quipped Downey Jr., who plays the titular superhero.
The panel was part of a presentation of the next two years of live-action movies from Disney, which owns Marvel and Lucasfilm.
Lucasfilm’s “Star Wars” panel has become one of the most talked-about panels at the biennial D23.
But here were no new announcements or footage this time around.
The 2018 Han Solo spin-off movie, which fired directors Phil Lord and Christopher Miller in favor of Oscar-winning Ron Howard last month, was largely glossed over, with no cast appearances or footage.
But Rian Johnson, who directed the forthcoming eighth installment of the main series, “The Last Jedi,” delighted fans by introducing much of the cast, including Mark Hamill, Daisy Ridley, John Boyega and Gwendoline Christie.
Johnson introduced a behind-the-scenes featurette and interviewed the cast on their experiences filming in Pinewood Studios, near London, and on Ireland’s west coast.
“When I read the script there were so many unexpected elements, which is great in a ‘Star Wars’ film,” said Hamill, who came on last to a rapt standing ovation.
“It’s getting harder and harder to bring new things to the table and this is a real game changer.”
Another highlight was a section offering news and footage from the studio’s upcoming animation to live-action slate, including remakes of “The Lion King,” Mulan,” “Aladdin” and “Dumbo.”
The crowd was on its feet again after seeing a stunning first clip from “The Lion King,” climaxing in the iconic moment when Rafiki introduces newborn Simba to the animals of the savannah.
“This is a story that belongs to everyone who grew up with the original film,” said Jon Favreau, who directed the movie, due to hit theaters in July 2019.
“I wanted to demonstrate that we could be respectful of the source material while bringing it to life using new techniques and technologies.”
Disney announced newcomer Mena Massoud in the titular role for Guy Ritchie’s “Aladdin,” which reboots the 1992 animated classic, and Will Smith as the genie.
Disney also revealed that production is underway for the live-action reimagining of its 1941 animated classic “Dumbo,” slated for release in March 2019.
The movie is being directed by Tim Burton (“Alice in Wonderland,” “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory“) and stars Colin Farrell, Michael Keaton, Danny DeVito, Eva Green.
Burton, who is starting production in England, addressed the D23 crowd via a video clip in which he described “Dumbo” as “one of my favorite of the Disney movies.”
Disney also showcased “Nutcracker and the Four Realms,” starring Misty Copeland, and “A Wrinkle in Time,” an epic adventure directed by Ava DuVernay and starring Oprah Winfrey, Reese Witherspoon, Mindy Kaling, Chris Pine and debutante Storm Reid, all of whom appeared onstage.
British actress Emily Blunt talked about playing the practically-perfect nanny in “Mary Poppins Returns,” a sequel to the iconic 1964 original that hits theaters on December 25 next year.
“I needed to try to pay homage to Julie Andrews but carve out a new space for myself. And we were very loyal to the books,” said Blunt.
Marvel stuns fans with giant Avengers gathering
Marvel stuns fans with giant Avengers gathering
As an uncertain 2026 begins, virtual journeys back to 2016 become a trend
- Over the past few weeks, millions have been sharing throwback photos to that time on social media, kicking off one of the first viral trends of the year
LONDON: The year is 2016. Somehow it feels carefree, driven by Internet culture. Everyone is wearing over-the-top makeup.
At least, that’s how Maren Nævdal, 27, remembers it — and has seen it on her social feeds in recent days.
For Njeri Allen, also 27, the year was defined by the artists topping the charts that year, from Beyonce to Drake to Rihanna’s last music releases. She also remembers the Snapchat stories and an unforgettable summer with her loved ones. “Everything felt new, different, interesting and fun,” Allen says.
Many people, particularly those in their 20s and 30s, are thinking about 2016 these days. Over the past few weeks, millions have been sharing throwback photos to that time on social media, kicking off one of the first viral trends of the year — the year 2026, that is.
With it have come the memes about how various factors — the sepia hues over Instagram photos, the dog filters on Snapchat and the music — made even 2016’s worst day feel like the best of times.
Part of the look-back trend’s popularity has come from the realization that 2016 was already a decade ago – a time when Nævdal says she felt like people were doing “fun, unserious things” before having to grow up.
But experts point to 2016 as a year when the world was on the edge of the social, political and technological developments that make up our lives today. Those same advances — such as developments under US President Donald Trump and the rise of AI — have increased a yearning for even the recent past, and made it easier to get there.
2016 marked a year of transition
Nostalgia is often driven by a generation coming of age — and its members realizing they miss what childhood and adolescence felt like. That’s certainly true here. But some of those indulging in the online journeys through time say something more is at play as well.
It has to do with the state of the world — then and now.
By the end of 2016, people would be looking ahead to moments like Trump’s first presidential term and repercussions of the United Kingdom leaving the EU after the Brexit referendum. A few years after that, the COVID-19 pandemic would send most of the world into lockdown and upend life for nearly two years.
Janelle Wilson, a professor of sociology at the University of Minnesota-Duluth, says the world was “on the cusp of things, but not fully thrown into the dark days that were to come.”
“The nostalgia being expressed now, for 2016, is due in large part to what has transpired since then,” she says, also referencing the rise of populism and increased polarization. “For there to be nostalgia for 2016 in the present,” she added, “I still think those kinds of transitions are significant.”
For Nævdal, 2016 “was before a lot of the things we’re dealing with now.” She loved seeing “how embarrassing everyone was, not just me,” in the photos people have shared.
“It felt more authentic in some ways,” she says. Today, Nævdal says, “the world is going downhill.”
Nina van Volkinburg, a professor of strategic fashion marketing at University of the Arts, London, says 2016 marked the beginning of “a new world order” and of “fractured trust in institutions and the establishment.” She says it also represented a time of possibility — and, on social media, “the maximalism of it all.”
This was represented in the bohemian fashion popularized in Coachella that year, the “cut crease” makeup Nævdal loved and the dance music Allen remembers.
“People were new to platforms and online trends, so were having fun with their identity,” van Volkinburg says. “There was authenticity around that.”
And 2016 was also the year of the “boss babe” and the popularity of millennial pink, van Volkinburg says, indications of young people coming into adulthood in a year that felt hopeful.
Allen remembers that as the summer she and her friends came of age as high school graduates. She says they all knew then that they would remember 2016 forever.
Ten years on, having moved again to Taiwan, she said “unprecedented things are happening” in the world. “Both of my homes are not safe,” she said of the US and Taiwan, “it’s easier to go back to a time that’s more comfortable and that you felt safe in.”
Feelings of nostalgia are speeding up
In the last few days, Nævdal decided to hide the social media apps on her phone. AI was a big part of that decision. “It freaks me out that you can’t tell what’s real anymore,” she said.
“When I’ve come off of social media, I feel that at least now I know the things I’m seeing are real,” she added, “which is quite terrifying.”
The revival of vinyl record collections, letter writing and a fresh focus on the aesthetics of yesterday point to nostalgia continuing to dominate trends and culture. Wilson says the feeling has increased as technology makes nostalgia more accessible.
“We can so readily access the past or, at least, versions of it,” she said. “We’re to the point where we can say, ‘Remember last week when we were doing XYZ? That was such a good time!’”
Both Nævdal and Allen described themselves as nostalgic people. Nævdal said she enjoys looking back to old photos – especially when they show up as “On This Day” updates on her phone, She sends them to friends and family when their photos come up.
Allen wished that she documented more of her 2016 and younger years overall, to reflect on how much she has evolved and experienced since.
“I didn’t know what life could be,” she said of that time. “I would love to be able to capture my thought process and my feelings, just to know how much I have grown.”
