MCU merchandise may contain spoilers but why look for them?;

Date:
Sat, 03 Jul 2021 15:00:00 +0000

Description:
Official Spider-Man: No Way Home toys have set the internet ablaze with new rumors and speculation but its about time we stopped looking for Marvel secrets in their merchandise.

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Another week of Marvel speculation has come and gone and, as always, there have been lots of rumors for the MCUs ravenous fanbase to pour over.

While fans (us included) spent the early part of the week theorizing where Lokis Disney Plus TV series will go in its final episodes, more recent speculation has focused on two specific upcoming Marvel productions.

Spider-Man: No Way Home and Marvels What If? TV show are the latest subjects of official Marvel merchandise reveals and leaks. Itll come as no surprise to learn, then, that MCU fans have run the rule over each propertys tie-in products to glean any clues about plot points and other secrets.

Its about time, though, that we stopped spoiling upcoming Marvel movies and
TV shows for ourselves. Read our review of Marvel's Black Widow before it arrives on July 9 Spider-Man: No Way Home : release date, cast, plot and more How to watch the Marvel movies in order No way back from MCU spoilers (Image credit: Marvel Studios/Sony)

Fans are bound to speculate about a movie universe thats as popular as the
MCU is. Its fun to theorize about what characters may be introduced, based on Easter eggs within its movies and TV shows, or using the comics to
hypothesize where the MCU could go next.

It becomes a problem, though, when we start reading way too much into every minute detail in official merchandise, whether its a full reveal from Marvel or through leaked images. (Image credit: Lego / Marvel)

Take the Spider-Man: No Way Home Lego sets that were posted on the Danish toy companys website on Thursday, July 1, for instance.

We already know that Doctor Strange will have a supporting role in No Way
Home its been reported as much by outlets including The Hollywood Reporter so his presence in one Lego set won't come as a shock.

The major issue, however, lies in fans combing the film's Lego sets for any crumb of evidence that may point towards plot specifics for Spider-Mans third MCU outing.

At the time of writing, one Reddit thread has over 600 comments about what
the Sanctum Workshop Lego set could tease about the upcoming movie.

The webslingers new suit, why Doctor Strange is wearing the Eye of Agamotto despite the Time Stone being destroyed in Avengers: Endgame, and what Peter Parker and MJ are doing in the Sanctum Santorum have all been discussed at length, and speculation seems set to continue well into the weekend.

Fans have been pouring over other No Way Home toys recently, too. Marvel revealed more No Way Home tie-in merchandise on its official website on Friday, July 2, and fans jumped on what these might tell us about the film as well.

Again, at the time of writing, another Reddit thread has over 500 comments that theorize what a Funko Pop figure of Spider-Mans new costume the Integrated Suit, which you can see in the bottom left of the image below means for the characters next outing and potential new superpowers he may acquire. (Image credit: Marvel.com)

No Way Home isnt the only Marvel production thats been heavily speculated about. The studios animated series What If? has been spoiled by various toy leaks ahead of its potential August release on Disney Plus.

From Funko Pop figures that reveal alternate versions of Doctor Strange and Gamora, to Lego set leaks that show off an updated version of Steve Rogers Hydra Stomper mech and Robert Downey Jrs supposed return as Iron Man , What If? hasnt been immune from fans wanting to learn more about the TV show
before it officially airs. What if we stopped reading into every Marvel merchandise leak or reveal? (Image credit: Disney Plus/Marvel studios)

Marvel leaks are, and will continue to be, a common occurrence, especially where merchandise is concerned. Toys and other tie-in products have to be manufactured months in advance so that theyre available to buy online or in-store when a new MCU movie or TV show arrives.

Why, though, do we feel the need to ruin a film or TV series plot, character reveals or other spoilers by obsessively looking over every piece of merchandise?

It takes the enjoyment, or element of surprise, away from watching an MCUs movie plot or character reveals happening on the screen in real time. It
seems that weve forgotten about that aspect of going to theaters and taking
in movies with no prior knowledge of them.

Its not as if some products will give much (if anything) away, too. Spider-Man: No Way Homes Sanctum Workshop Lego set may be a movie tie-in toy, but it doesnt appear to be an explicit scene from the film.

You only have to take one look at the arachnid-like monster that comes as
part of the set and realize that No Way Home shouldnt have such a creature (although, given its Multiverse vibes, who knows?). In my view, its highly unlikely that this Lego set offers up anything in the way of No Way Home spoilers, save for Spideys updated suit.

A quick look at the 51 available (or coming soon) Lego sets on the companys official website proves that the Danish toymaker doesnt just make products that directly tie into specific movie scenes either, so theres no major correlation between Lego sets and Marvel movie spoilers that we can glean
from these collaborations.

Its unsurprising, really, why Marvel movie and TV show trailers are so vague with their plots, or the amount of footage revealed, when leaks and speculation are so rife.

Some fans were left underwhelmed by the first Marvels Eternals trailer that dropped in May. Others, too, are growing increasingly agitated that we havent received a No Way Home teaser yet, despite this movies release date drawing ever closer.

Why, then, should we be shocked or even confused by the vagueness of Marvel trailer footage, or their release dates, when were collectively losing our minds over fan theories, rampant speculation and wild rumors? Can we not just look at a No Way Home Lego set or Funko Pop, think thats very cool and wait
to be surprised by the movies big reveals in theaters instead?

I get it, its difficult nay, sometimes impossible to avoid the conjecture around Marvel movies and TV shows. As someone who covers them extensively, I know its very easy to fall down the rabbit hole and find yourself caught in a web of endless speculation and rumors.

Honestly, though, I long for the days when MCU productions werent spoiled before theyre released.

I remember watching a Marvel Studios panel, from 2010s San Diego Comic Con,
on YouTube and beaming from ear to ear as Samuel L. Jackson revealed the official line-up for 2012s Avengers Assemble. It felt like a watershed moment for the MCU; not only because it was the first time that these Marvel superheroes had teamed up on screen before, but because of the unparalleled success thats followed for the MCU since.

Those tentpole moments, though, dont feel as special these days. Sure, Marvel may surprise us with unexpected news Blade and the Fantastic Four in the
MCU, anyone? but, by and large, elements of Marvel movie and TV show reveals are worked out by fans long before they come to the big and small screens,
and it takes the enjoyment away from these big announcements.

We cant prevent the leaks from happening, particularly those that are
captured on set. What we can do, though, is stop ourselves from ruining
Marvel productions, by searching for tenuous clues in their merchandise
lines, before we watch them and now is as good a time as any to do so.
Here's everything you need to know about Shang-Chi and the Legends of the Ten Rings



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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/news/mcu-merchandise-may-contain-spoilers-but-why-lo ok-for-them/


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