Best Moments in Fandom 2024

2024 has come and gone – quite an unforgettable year! Though it had its share of disappointments across numerous fan communities, there were also promising indications everywhere. The realms of pop culture provided a thrilling rollercoaster ride, with several significant events leaving indelible marks on 2024, making it one of the more noteworthy years in recent recollections.

2024 saw some extraordinary highlights within various fan communities, illuminating the landscape like never before. These exceptional instances not only rejuvenated the essence of each community but also lifted those who were temporarily lost, polishing them up for a radiant future. As we step into 2025, these unforgettable fandom moments may well set the stage for an extraordinary year ahead.

The Avengers: Doomsday/Secret Wars Reveal

Winter Soldier/Captain America: Civil War/Avengers: Infinity War/Endgame, the Russo Brothers, returning to direct the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday/Secret Wars, but Robert Downey Jr. will be stepping into the role of Doctor Doom in the film.

The announcement was a perfect embodiment of excitement and it captivated everyone for several days. The Russos and RDJ played significant roles in the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s previous triumphs – many consider them the best directors and the most outstanding actor/character in the MCU’s history. Their return for the next Avengers film significantly boosted fans’ anticipation, who were initially unenthusiastic about the upcoming movies. However, Marvel didn’t stop there with their announcements for the next Avengers duology – Chris Evans will also reprise his role in Doomsday/Secret Wars.

2024 stood out as a remarkable year for Marvel Studios, yet it was an event in July that served as a reminder of Marvel’s dominance in fandom and a glimpse into the future of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU)…

Deadpool & Wolverine’s Massive Success

It was widely anticipated that the collaboration between Deadpool and Wolverine would be a hit, but few could have predicted just how enormous its success would become. The duo’s venture grossed over a billion dollars, leaving both fans and critics thoroughly impressed. At this point, the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) was experiencing a slump, with their films and TV shows showing declining returns for several years. In 2023, Marvel Studios suffered their first box office bomb with The Marvels. As a result, they desperately needed a massive success to reassure fans that the MCU wasn’t in danger of going under – and Deadpool and Wolverine provided just that.

The collaboration between Deadpool and Wolverine stands out as Marvel’s finest multiverse production, resurrecting characters from past Marvel films such as Jennifer Garner’s Elektra, Chris Evans’ Human Torch, Aaron Stanford’s Pyro, Dafne Keen’s X-23, and Wesley Snipes’ Blade. Additionally, it offered a sneak peek of Channing Tatum as Gambit. Above all, it managed to bring back Hugh Jackman as Wolverine, reinstating the longest-serving superhero actor onto the screen.

It was widely anticipated that the pairing of Jackman and Reynolds in Deadpool would be akin to biting into a Reese’s Cup – an unbeatable combination of flavors – but Deadpool & Wolverine surpassed all expectations. It offered Marvel Cinematic Universe fans, as well as followers of Fox’s X-Men series, and anyone who appreciates superheroes a captivating tale that excelled in every aspect. This collaboration demonstrated that Marvel Studios could continue to produce outstanding projects, instilling faith that the upcoming Fantastic Four: First Steps, future Avengers movies, and the yet-to-be-released X-Men films would be as impressive as their predecessors.

Wicked Made Everyone a Theater Kid

In 1995, Gregory Maguire penned “Wicked: The Life and Times of the Witch of the West from the Land of Oz,” marking the beginning of his series exploring the antagonists of beloved fairy tales. This work turned out to be his most popular, with subsequent books in the series also reaching bestseller status. However, it was when “Wicked” made its Broadway debut on October 30, 2003, that the story really captured the cultural moment. The show quickly became a sensation, becoming one of the hottest tickets on Broadway before embarking on a nationwide tour.

Unusual for Broadway productions to be adapted onto large screens, yet Wicked managed to gather enough popularity for such an adaptation. Notably, pop sensation Ariana Grande was chosen as Glinda the Good Witch, while Cynthia Erivo landed the role of Elphaba, the central Wicked Witch. Their joint media appearances demonstrated a bond formed during filming, often indicating a strong relationship – a positive sign for the movie’s success. The audience eagerly awaited the release of Wicked , and fortunately, it did not disappoint.

Wicked is a nearly universally enjoyed film, a rarity in today’s movie landscape. For two and a half hours, anyone watching it feels like they’re part of the theater community – quite an achievement. The reason for its success isn’t just its high-quality adaptation, catchy tunes, or the effort put into the production, but the genuine love that everyone involved in making it had for Wicked and each other. From a cherished book to a Broadway sensation to a blockbuster cinematic experience, Wicked truly defies gravity.

Marvel Rivals Made A Near-Perfect Hero Shooter

2024 summer marked an exciting time as fans gained early access to the beta version of Marvel Rivals, a thrilling third-person shooter featuring Marvel Universe’s iconic heroes and villains. The beta offered a sneak peek into the roster and gameplay, sparking enthusiasm among players for the final version of the game. Once the beta phase ended, NetEase Games continued to reveal more about the roster through videos, keeping fans on tenterhooks until just before the official launch of the full game.

On December 6, 2024, Marvel Rivals made its debut on PlayStation 5, Windows, and XBox Series X/S, leaving players spellbound. Prior to this, hero shooter games were dominated by Overwatch, but Marvel Rivals has seized the throne. The visual aesthetics are striking, and it’s hard to believe it took this long for a Marvel-themed hero shooter to arrive given how exceptional Marvel Rivals plays. NetEase managed to bring it to life, with the Steam version of the game boasting an average of 400,000 players each evening. Even streamers have taken a liking to the game, and rumors suggest that Marvel Rivals has halved the player base of Overwatch.

The buzz surrounding Marvel Rivals is absolutely enormous; players are on tenterhooks, eagerly anticipating each new announcement. Given its initial promise, it was destined to thrive, but even so, few could have foreseen its current magnitude. Right now, Marvel Rivals embodies the ultimate hero shooter experience, and I can’t help but think it’s only going to get better from here.

Superman ‘s Trailer Broke the Internet

As a film enthusiast, I eagerly shared the thrilling news in October 2022 when James Gunn, renowned for his work on Guardians of the Galaxy, The Suicide Squad, and Peacemaker, along with producer Peter Safran, were announced as the new leaders of DC Studios. The excitement grew as they unveiled a series of films, titled “Chapter One: Gods and Monsters.” However, the most sensational announcement was that Gunn would pen and direct the upcoming Superman film, initially named Superman: Legacy, marking the beginning of the new DC Universe. Set to premiere in July 2025, this cinematic marvel ignited a wave of anticipation among fans like myself.

2023 and 2024 will bring forth additional details about the upcoming movie, now titled “Superman“. Excitement continued to mount until December 2024, when a poster and teaser trailer were finally unveiled. Given past disappointments with DC and Superman films, this new trailer was crucial to the success of the project. It represented a pivotal juncture.

And the trailer killed it.

The Superman trailer unveiled a rich tapestry of characters and occurrences, leaving long-time DC fans thrilled, but what truly resonated was its atmosphere. The entire preview evoked the essence that a Superman production ought to convey. Gunn skillfully portrayed the character’s inherent optimism and brought it to life on screen. The Superman teaser trailer ignited even more excitement among fans. For days, it was the talk of the town, with everyone sharing their thoughts about it. It sparked a massive online discussion and hinted that perhaps DC films might finally match the heights achieved by Marvel ones.

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2025-01-07 01:40