Tessa Thompson recently opened up about why she thinks the Marvel Cinematic Universe has become such an incredible global success. To-date, the franchise has made over $14 billion in takings, and cemented itself as the leading force of superhero movies within the film industry. There's clearly a very positive string of things going on behind-the-scenes which are making the MCU work so well, along with a healthy dose of luck and good timing.

Tessa Thompson made her MCU debut as Valkyrie in 'Thor: Ragnarok'

One of the constants that fans love so much about the MCU is the roster of different characters. Taken from the pages of popular Marvel Comics books, each have plenty of layers and have provided relatability for audiences, despite being super-powered individuals. That's what Thompson has picked up on in her observations of the MCU.

Continue reading: Tessa Thompson On The "Incredibly Human" Marvel Cinematic Universe Characters

The Laws Of Nature Don't Apply In 'Annihilation'

When a biologist’s husband disappears his wife must undertake a dangerous mission into the unknown to save him. From the writer and director of ‘Ex-Machina’, Alex Garland, ‘Annihilation’ hits theatres in February.

After a group of soldiers enter an environmental disaster zone known as Area X only one makes it home alive. But his homecoming is shot-lived and soon it is up to his wife Lena (Natalie Portman) to save his life.

Natalie Portman in ‘Annihilation’

Continue: The Laws Of Nature Don't Apply In 'Annihilation'

The Avengers Must Unite For Their Biggest Battle Yet In 'Avengers: Infinity War'

Phase Three of the Marvel Cinematic Universe prepares to come to a climax as ‘The Avengers’ unite with ‘The Guardians of the Galaxy’ to stop the evil Thanos. Directed by The Russo Brothers, ‘Avengers: Infinity War’ hits cinemas this spring.

After the events of ‘Captain America: Civil War’, ‘Infinity War’ sees The Avengers left broken and divided. Some of them even look different, with Captain America (Chris Evans) sporting a beard and the Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson) with newly blonde hair.

The Avengers face their biggest threat year in ‘Infinity War’

Continue: The Avengers Must Unite For Their Biggest Battle Yet In 'Avengers: Infinity War'

Thor: Ragnarok Review

Very Good

The most riotously enjoyable Marvel movie yet, this action epic benefits hugely from the decision to let wacky New Zealand filmmaker Taika Waititi loose with the characters. In many ways, this film has the same comical sensibilities as his classics What We Do in the Shadows and Hunt for the Wilderpeople. Except on a much larger scale with massive special effects. Yet even with all this action, there's not a moment of actual suspense, which is a growing problem in a movie universe in which the characters need to survive unscathed.

Ragnarok is a prophecy about the end of time, specifically the death of King Odin (Anthony Hopkins) and the destruction of Asgard. And it has just been triggered, stopping Odin's sons Thor (Chris Hemsworth) and Loki (Tom Hiddleston) in their tracks with the news that they have an older sister, Hela (Cate Blanchett), the self-proclaimed goddess of death. As she brutally asserts her claim to the throne, the brothers find themselves dumped on the planet Sakaar. Loki mischievously worms his way into the favour of the Grandmaster (Jeff Goldblum), who sends Thor into the coliseum to fight the champion, namely his old friend Hulk (Mark Ruffalo). As Thor convinces Hulk's alter-ego David Banner to return with him to Asgard to stop Hela, he also needs Asgard's last Valkyrie (Tessa Thompson), a tetchy warrior who is reluctant to work with him.

Continue reading: Thor: Ragnarok Review

Thor: Ragnarok Trailer

With his friends and his hammer, Thor is virtually unbeatable by any creature in the known universe. But what about when he doesn't have either of those things? It only takes a run-in with afterlife goddess Hela for his hammer to be destroyed, apparently beyond repair. And when he is kidnapped by her people and taken to the planet Sakaar, he has no choice but to enter into a gladiator match to save the people of Asgard from Ragnarök; the fate of total destruction. To his initial delight, and to the confusion of everyone in the arena, his opponent turns out to be none other than the Incredible Hulk. But when he realises that this Hulk is hell-bent on destroying him, he realises that he has no choice but to fight his supposed friend to the death.

Continue: Thor: Ragnarok Trailer

First Look At The Lead Cast In 'Thor: Ragnarok' [Trailer And Pictures]

By Holly Williams in Movies / TV / Theatre on 10 April 2017

Chris Hemsworth Idris Elba Tom Hiddleston Taika Waititi Jeff Goldblum Mark Ruffalo Tessa Thompson

Jeff Goldblum and Idris Elba join the ensemble cast on 'Thor: Ragnarok'

It looks like Thor might finally have met his match with the arrival of dark underworld queen Hela. The new trailer for 'Thor: Ragnarok' sees him lose his legendary hammer to her power, and face off against an unlikely opponent who is the last person he wants to fight.

Chris Hemsworth as Thor in Thor: Ragnarok

This Norse god never thought he'd be pitted against his most physically powerful ally, but when he finds himself all armoured-up in an arena against a very angry and ruthless Incredible Hulk (Mark Ruffalo), he knows that both their survival is unlikely. In fact, his own survival is unlikely now that he has no hammer.

Continue reading: First Look At The Lead Cast In 'Thor: Ragnarok' [Trailer And Pictures]

Creed Trailer

The world of professional boxing is one that often doesn't end well even though Rocky Balboa was once crowned heavyweight champion of the world he's had his fair share of ups and downs. Having previously been diagnosed with brain damage, Rocky thinks his time fighting is well behind him.

Having lost his wife years earlier, Rocky lives in his hometown of Philadelphia with very little company and when Adonis Johnson (the son of one time foe and subsequent friend Apollo Creed) turns up on his door step asking to be trained, Rocky is incredibly reluctant to accept. However, after seeing Adonis fight, he sees a spark in the young man that similar to that of his father and agrees to take him on - all this whilst fighting a disease of his own.

After a short amount of time, Creed finds himself in with a chance of winning the title for himself, but the young protégé soon finds out that he must master much more than just physical strength to become the champion.

Continue: Creed Trailer

Creed - First Look Trailer

Adonis Johnson Creed is the son of legendary boxer Apollo Creed, who died fighting in the ring after a post-retirement comeback. He has little memory of his father, but shares the same intense passion for boxing. He's always been his own trainer, reluctant to be coddled by anyone, and now he's ready to really carry on his father's legacy in his first major fight. In a bid to become the best, he decides to visit Philadelphia to meet his late father's friend and previous opponent Rocky Balboa, formerly the World Heavyweight Champion, and convince him to train him up. However, Adonis Creed has a lot more to fight than just another boxer, as he struggles with issues of the law, falling in love and underlying self-worth. If he wants to be great, he needs to start believing in himself.

Continue: Creed - First Look Trailer

Selma Trailer

“What happens when a man stands up and says ‘enough is enough’?” So goes the question raised by Martin Luther King, Jr. (David Oyelowo) when President Lyndon B. Johnson (Tom Wilkinson) declines to help him in battling the race-related violence in Alabama. In retaliation, King organises a peaceful protest; he has African Americans march into Selma, Alabama, in an attempt to gain rights to vote. What follows, is a truly horrifying attack from the police on the peaceful protest which was televised and seen by millions, forcing the President’s hand, as he is forced to watch innocent people suffer.

Continue: Selma Trailer

Dear White People - Teaser Trailer

At the highly regarded college of Winchester University, racial tension is at an all time high. While a group of white students are planning to throw their traditional African-American themed party, many black students are firmly protesting. Meanwhile, the mixed race Samantha White is enjoying popularity as the host of her 'Dear White People' themed radio show, which aims to combat existing stereotypes at the college, but disaster strikes for her when the all-black residential hall faces eradication in order to further diversify students. However, it seems a reality show is keen to document her story - but that means her college peer Coco Conners is looking at rejection for her own pitch. Lionel Higgins joins the newspaper team to help ease some of the tension, but it seems not all black students are clued up on their own cultures.

Continue: Dear White People - Teaser Trailer