It's been a heck of a year for Marvel Studios, as the Marvel Cinematic Universe bounced back from a lacklustre 2023 with a box-office-dominating movie (Deadpool and Wolverine) and two critically-acclaimed live-action Disney Plus shows (Echo and Agatha All Along). Those, coupled with the San Diego Comic-Con announcements in regards to Robert Downey Jr.'s involvement in the next two Avengers movies, has reinvigorated interest in the Multiverse Saga.
The truth is that the saga started really strong with WandaVision but it did lose its way throughout the middle, with too many titles and some questionable ones too. But the MCU has turned things around, and with that, it's starting to bring some of those storylines it kicked off in Phase Four full circle. Whether or not they culminate prior to the end of the Multiverse Saga remains to be seen, but one long-rumored project in particular does seem like it's about to come to fruition.
What's even more exciting is that the studio has reportedly cast a major action star in the project. It might come as a surprise, but it's one that has real potential to ensure that the project is even more entertaining.
Jason Statham rumored to join Young Avengers movie
According to Marvel scooper account supercon_officials (via Marvel Updates), Jason Statham has joined Marvel Studios' long-rumored Young Avengers movie in a key role. The account claims that he has been cast in the role of Genis-Vell, and could end up having a big role in that particular movie.
The character of Genis-Vell isn't as well-known as some of his cosmic counterparts, but he made his Marvel Comics debut in 1993 as the son of Mar-Vell and Phyla-Vell. Mar-Vell is, of course, the first character in the comics to hold the Captain Marvel moniker, but Genis-Vell also holds it at one point, along with Legacy and Photon (which is now Monica Rambeau's alias).
The Young Avengers project has yet to be officially acknowledged by Marvel Studios, but it has been quietly in the works for some time now, according to insiders. If you watch Phases Four and Five, that much is clear to you as well, as one of the Multiverse Saga's subplots has been introducing newer, younger heroes often inspired or related to some of the franchise's biggest names.
Hawkeye introduced Hailee Steinfeld's Kate Bishop, Ms. Marvel allowed us to meet Kamala Khan's titular hero, WandaVision introduced the Scarlet Witch's sons Tommy and Billy Maximoff, Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania saw Cassie Lang follow in her father's footsteps, and even Loki had Kid Loki appear. With that in mind, there are plenty of Yong Avengers to fill out the ranks of a project based on the iconic team of young heroes.
Originally rumored to be a TV series for Disney Plus, the project has reportedly been repackaged into a movie, with further rumors suggesting it will tie into the expected Scarlet Witch movie. Given certain developments in recent Disney Plus series Agatha All Along (and rumored upcoming sequel series), that's quite possible.
Needless to say, the idea of one of the biggest modern-day action stars Jason Statham playing a cosmic entity while surrounded by younger, more enthusiastic superheroes has all the makings of a comedy classic! Here's hoping that the reports turn out to be true!