The most surprising announcement from the Marvel Cinematic Universe's cavalcade of Disney Plus announcements was the animated series Spider-Man: Freshman Year, if only for the fact fans weren't expecting the Sony-owned property to get a show on the Mouse House's streaming service.
Idris Elba didn't particularly enjoy his time as part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe until Thor: Ragnarok came along, with the actor admitting that he wasn't the biggest fan of being strapped into wire rigs and harnesses to deliver monotonous exposition, but that doesn't mean he can't encourage others to follow in his footsteps.
Thanks to a supporting role in the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Thor: Ragnarok's Grandmaster, his own docuseries that's proven popular enough on Disney Plus to get a second season, and his bookending cameos in Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom being followed by a full-blown supporting role in next summer's Dominion, Jeff Goldblum is riding the crest of a wave at the moment.
Not every mega budget blockbuster is obligated to feature surprise cameos, but an increasing number of them do. Whether it's a friend of the cast and/or crew, a future guest star being teased for potential sequels or an Easter Egg nodding to the past or future of a franchise, it's become a regular practice in Hollywood.
The Marvel Cinematic Universe's expansion into episodic storytelling only began in January of this year when WandaVision began rolling out onto Disney Plus, but in eleven days the two-part debut of Hawkeye marks the franchise's fifth show of the year.
Star Wars fans may have been left feeling a little disappointed by the severe lack of information regarding the slate of projects set in a galaxy far, far away, but supporters of the Marvel Cinematic Universe ended up getting a whole lot more than they bargained for.
When it comes to naming the best actor to have ever played Bruce Banner or his gamma-radiated alter ego in live-action, the argument usually boils down to a small band of Edward Norton apologists mounting a valiant stand against an army of Mark Ruffalo supporters.
It may have the distinction of being the worst-reviewed entry in Marvel Cinematic Universe history, but one huge advantage that Eternals holds over Inhumans is that it actually managed to get made.
On paper, Red Notice is almost the textbook definition of what you want in a Hollywood blockbuster, ticking so many ideal boxes that if you weren't aware the project was set up at Universal beforehand, you'd think the entire premise, script, casting and production process had been concocted by Netflix's algorithm.
It's incredible to think that as recently as the week before it hit theaters, many insiders and analysts were predicting that Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings was going to wind up scoring the lowest opening weekend in Marvel Cinematic Universe history.