Marvel Studios has got some test screenings underway for the upcoming sequel toCaptain Marvel, impressively titledThe Marvels, and many may find the prevailing reactions surprising. With the film set to premiere later this year, excitement is slowly ramping up. But what can viewers expect when it finally drops?DespiteThe Marvelsfalling back to a later release date, it seems enthusiasm for the film that many still keep callingCaptain Marvel 2hasn’t waned. It probably helps that, along with Brie Larson returning as the titular Captain Marvel/Carol Danvers, she’ll be joined by two other already beloved stars from recent Marvel Studios offerings. This includesMs. Marvel’s lead hero Kamala Khan, played by Iman Vellani, and one ofWandaVision’s breakout stars Captain Monica Rambeau, once again played by Teyonah Parris. However, that could mean nothing if the movie isn’t up to snuff.RELATED:The Marvels Needs to Explore Carol and Monica’s RelationshipKC Walsh, who regularly posts insider info, recently made some statements on Twitter to push back against unfounded claims thatThe Marvelswas doomed from the start. “Again I’ve heard nothing negative around this production,” they said in response to a now-deleted account spewing some uncharitable words aboutThe Marvels, “the movie has gotten more positive praise from test than other MCU films this year.” That’s a bold claim and still an unsubstantiated one. But perhaps there’s something to it.
Ant-Man 3recently broke a recordfor having one of the worst box office drops in for a superhero movie sinceBatman v Superman. This may indicate a general trend regarding Marvel Studios' cinematic offerings of late. So audiences may be in the mood for something different. WhileAnt-Man 3certainly seems to offer that, it might not be the kind of “different” that viewers crave. Perhaps these allegedly positiveThe Marvelsscreenings are teasing a taste of that special something.
WhileThe Marvelswill star others aside from the 3 leading women, includingPark Seo-Joon as an unknown character, they’re still the main draw. Unfortunately, a female-led movie often leads to a sexist backlash, which Walsh also mentioned in the tweet. “Sexist YouTubers use Larson as a way to garner favor with sexist and racists,” Walsh wrote. It’s a sad but predictable trend that’s likely to affectThe Marvelswhen it gets released to the public. But the claims of positive reactions to the test screenings could be a hopeful indication.
Of course, this all comes from a single source. Even if Walsh does have a decent track record for leaks and scoops, the info about test screenings should be taken with a grain of salt. Still,The Marvelshas the makings of a wonderfully bonkers sequelwith its stellar cast alone. So hopefully, that promise extends to the rest of the production.
The Marvelswill release theatrically in the US on November 10th, 2023.
