Currently, you can see Marvel's First Family shining on the big screen in The Fantastic Four: First Steps. This superhero film is the fourth attempt to establish the Fantastic Four as a successful franchise.

The first attempt came in 2005 when Fantastic Four, directed by Tim Story, featured the heroes played by Ioan Gruffudd (Reed), Jessica Alba (Sue), Chris Evans (Johnny), and Michael Chiklis (Ben). A sequel, The Rise of the Silver Surfer, followed in 2007.

Scrapped Plans

A third film, however, never materialized, despite being part of the plan. Gruffudd now opens up about his disappointment. In an interview with Vulture, he states: "We were supposed to do 3, and I think the second film was just as successful as the first."

He continues: "So there was definitely some kind of momentum, and the plan was in place. But these decisions are out of my control." Thus, the franchise ended after the second film.

Further Attempts

In 2015, 20th Century Fox tried again, but that film was not a success. Now the Fantastic Four are finally home in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.



It seems that this will become the most successful Fantastic Four film ever. Finally, good news for the First Family, and the timing is also great, as the Fantastic Four will play a significant role in Avengers: Doomsday.

Tom Holland has publicly responded for the first time to the rumors that he is one of the contenders to become the new James Bond. During a cooking video with Gordon Ramsay, he was non-committal but certainly didn't deny the possibility. “There are rumors... let's keep it small for now. Maybe someday.” Holland joked.

When Ramsay seriously asks what he would think of the role, Holland candidly replies: “For every young British actor, that’s the ultimate goal. I already consider myself the luckiest boy in the world.”

Tom Holland As 007?

Holland has been at the top for years thanks to his role as Spider-Man in the Marvel films. However, he seems to have ambitions for more. His name recently appeared on a rumored shortlist for Bond 26, which is being written by Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight and directed by Denis Villeneuve.

Holland had previously confirmed in Total Film that he once pitched a 'young Bond' film: “It was an origin story that ultimately didn’t make sense. But it was a child’s dream.” Sony showed little interest, and the idea was never developed further.

Previous 007 Names Keep Circulating

Although Holland is now being mentioned, other names like Aaron Taylor-Johnson, James Norton, and Regé-Jean Page are still in the running according to insiders. Amazon is reportedly not planning to definitively announce the new Bond until 2026.




Still, his previous involvement in a Bond pitch offers an interesting background. It could mean he has been on the producers' radar for some time. And with Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson now officially replaced, anything is possible in this new phase of the iconic franchise.

The Perfect Timing?

At 29, Holland is in the ideal age range for signing a long-term Bond contract. The new 007 will likely do several films in the next 10 to 15 years, a commitment for which studios prefer to start young.

Still, Holland isn't sitting still for now. He is returning as Spider-Man in Brand New Day, starring next year in Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey, and also appearing in Avengers: Doomsday. The chance of him ordering his martini 'shaken, not stirred' soon? That remains small for now, but by no means is it ruled out.

Sony Pictures has released a notably short teaser for Spider-Man: Brand New Day. We get a first glimpse of the costume that Tom Holland wears in the upcoming Marvel film set to release in the summer of 2026.

The footage unveils a more advanced suit than the homemade example seen at the end of Spider-Man: No Way Home. This indicates that Marvel Studios is taking a new direction with this fourth solo film in the Spider-Man series, which is part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Filming Begins In Scotland

Filming has commenced on location in Glasgow, Scotland. Destin Daniel Cretton (Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings) is directing, with a script by Chris McKenna and Erik Sommers. Alongside Holland, Zendaya and Jacob Batalon are returning, along with newcomers Sadie Sink, Liza Colón-Zayas, and Jon Bernthal who plays Frank Castle / The Punisher.

Little is known about the story. It is clear that no one remembers Peter Parker is Spider-Man anymore. Even worse: no one knows Peter Parker at all. This is a result of the events in No Way Home from 2021.

Teaser

The teaser, just 9 seconds long, is introduced on YouTube with the phrase "Something completely new is coming...", features three shots, and was shared by Sony Pictures to celebrate the first day of production. Spider-Man: Brand New Day is scheduled to hit theaters on July 31, 2026. It is the only Marvel film to be released before Avengers: Doomsday premieres in December of that year.

The series Fubar starring Arnold Schwarzenegger will not return to Netflix. After two seasons, the streaming service has pulled the plug.

The first season of the action-comedy series, featuring Schwarzenegger as CIA agent Luke Brunner, debuted in 2023 and was well-received. Season two followed on June 12 of this year but performed poorly.

Rapid Decline In Ratings

The second season briefly made it to Nielsen's streaming originals top 10 list shortly after release but quickly vanished from it. The significant gap of over two years between seasons appears to have negatively impacted the series' popularity.

In addition to Schwarzenegger, the cast included Monica Barbaro, Milan Carter, Fortune Feimster, Travis Van Winkle, and Carrie-Anne Moss. The series was created by Nick Santora, known for Scorpion, and produced by Skydance Television.

Schwarzenegger

The 78-year-old Schwarzenegger is not slowing down. The Terminator actor has several projects in the works according to IMDb, including the films Kung Fury: The Movie, The Man with the Bag, and Breakout, as well as the series Outrider and Manningcast.

You can find more and more fantastic sci-fi series on streaming, and you probably haven't seen them all yet. Below are three tips to keep in mind for the upcoming period. All three series have been well received, and Silo is definitely a big recommendation!

Halo (2022–2024)

The television series Halo (2022–2024) revolves around the legendary super-soldier Master Chief, played by Pablo Schreiber, alongside Natascha McElhone, Shabana Azmi, and Bokeem Woodbine. On IMDb, the series scores 7.3/10, and on Rotten Tomatoes, season 1 has a score of 70 percent, while season 2 climbs to around 90 percent.

Halo is available on Paramount+ with a total of 17 episodes divided over two seasons. The series follows Master Chief and his team in the 26th century as they fight against the Covenant. Central themes include issues of loyalty, memory loss, and a mysterious Forerunner artifact that affects John's past.

Silo (2023– )

The series Silo, started in 2023 and still in production, takes place in a gigantic underground structure where tens of thousands of people live. The main roles are played by Rebecca Ferguson, Rashida Jones, Tim Robbins, and Common. Season 1 currently holds a Tomatometer score of 89 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, while season 2 boasts an impressive 92 percent. IMDb notes an 8.1/10.

In Silo, available on Apple TV+ with two seasons and a total of 20 episodes, an engineer uncovers the secrets behind the strict rules within the silo during her research and becomes embroiled in a web of intrigue and hidden history regarding the origins of their society.

3 Body Problem (2024– )

3 Body Problem, launched in March 2024, is based on the Chinese book by Liu Cixin and produced by David Benioff, D.B. Weiss, and Alexander Woo. Starring Jovan Adepo, John Bradley, Rosalind Chao, and Liam Cunningham. IMDb notes a score of 7.5/10, and the Tomatometer shows a respectable 78 percent. A sequel is in the works.

In 3 Body Problem, available on Netflix with one season of eight episodes, we see a traumatic event during the Cultural Revolution in China that leads to mysteries in the present day, as a group of scientists and an MI6 agent attempt to thwart an extraterrestrial threat using a virtual game and forbidden technology.