Poor Wolverine...

The news has recently broken that Spider-Man will now be allowed to appear in Marvel Cinematic Universe films, (Translation for non-nerds: Spider-Man can now be in The Avengers). The only person who probably isn't happy about this? Wolverine, or more specifically, Hugh Jackman. Jackman has publicly campaigned for Wolverine to appear in the Avengers films, but honestly, the X-Men contract with 20th Century Fox is even more binding than Spidey's with Sony, so the hope for ever seeing Wolverine and the X-Men teaming with Iron Man and Captain America is very dim indeed. Dirty A and I will be podcasting about all the Spider-Man hubbub very soon with our good friend, author Matt King. Stay tuned!

My Avengers 2 Dream Scene

San Diego Comic Con was two weeks ago and much of the buzz surrounded two films: Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice—a horrible title; is Batman suing Superman for destroying his satellite in Man of Steel?—and Avengers: Age of Ultron, or to make things easier, Avengers 2.

Court is now in session. The Honorable Wonder Woman presiding.

Dawn of Justice isn’t due until 2016 and while the snippet of footage Director Zack Snyder played blew the roof off of Hall H, the film doesn’t come out until 2016.

Most of the Avengers: Age of Ultron cast at San Diego Comic Con

So, let’s focus on Avengers 2, which arrives in theaters next May. The majority of the cast turned up at Comic Con along with Producer/Marvel Svengali Kevin Feige—Writer-Director Joss Whedon was recuperating from knee surgery in London—and they brought some footage with them that will inevitably be included in a future trailer for the film this fall. Like with Batman and Superman, the place went crazy. However, what I want to discuss here today is what could happen in the film, or more specifically, what I want to happen. Call it my dream scene. It’s not much, but it would drive every audience member insane with excitement if it happens.

What Ant-Man should look like...if it ever gets made.

First, we need to talk about some of the rumors surrounding the film. Being the sequel to the third highest-grossing film of all time—not adjusted for inflation—is going to generate just a tad bit of interest. So there are a ton of rumors and scuttlebutt surrounding this film. I’ve heard Ant-Man might show up—probably Michael Douglas if it happens.

Please Universe, let this happen - Chiwetel Ejiofor as Black Panther.

I’ve also heard talk of a possible Black Panther cameo or at least his father, T’Chaka—Black Panther is T’Challa—to put the character and his kingdom, Wakanda, on the Marvel Cinematic map. Then there’s all the talk about Falcon and War Machine and how big their roles will be, if they’re officially showing up—the footage at Comic Con confirmed that Don Cheadle will make an appearance for sure.

But the character I keep hearing about, the one that keeps getting teased, is Carol Danvers, or how she’s known nowadays, Captain Marvel. This would be a good move for Marvel in their bid to beat Warner Brothers and DC to the punch at having the first solo female superhero film—although, with WB/DC’s recent announcement of nine(!) films over the next six years, you have to imagine that one of them will be Wonder Woman…right? However, nothing is confirmed on the Captain Marvel front.

Another feather in Marvel's casting cap...if they make it happen.

The actress linked most to the role is Starbuck herself, Katee Sackhoff. This would be very serendipitous casting since both Starbuck and Carol Danvers are very similar characters. Both are pilots and have had to navigate a world dominated by men. Other actresses could do a good job with the part, but I think Sackhoff would hit it out of the park.

So Carol Danvers is the lynchpin of my Avengers 2 dream scene. Here’s how it would play out:

A crowded bar. Thor and Steve Rogers walk in. Immediately, Steve bumps into Carol Danvers. As a pilot, Carol has a professional relationship with Captain America.

Steve: Carol? What are you doing here?

Carol: (Jerks her thumb over her shoulder) Oh, I’m just here with a friend.

Steve looks over her shoulder.

You got a problem, bub?

Cut to a perturbed Hugh Jackman, complete with muttonchops and chomping on a cigar. Don’t call him Logan. Don’t show his claws, just show him glaring at Steve for a few moments.

Cut back to a bemused Steve.

Steve: Well, enjoy your night.

Steve and Thor leave Carol.

Steve (to Thor): I think I know that guy.

This scene would do multiple things. The first obvious thing it would do is connect the X-Men and Avengers universes without explicitly doing so. As of right now, The Avengers and other films under the “Marvel Cinematic Universe” umbrella are produced solely by Marvel Studios, which is owned by Disney—Disney actually owns Marvel in total, comic books and all. On the other side of the street, the X-Men and all characters associated with them are licensed to 20th Century Fox. So, while in the comic books, the X-Men and Avengers all exist in the same Marvel Comics Universe, in the films, the crossing over of the properties across studio lines is a no-no. By doing a scene like this, having Hugh Jackman appear as “a guy who looks exactly like Wolverine,” but not explicitly saying so, it would show Marvel is winking to the fans and saying, “Yes Virginia, there is a Wolverine.”

Chris Claremont and Jim Lee's Uncanny X-Men #268 - You know it's good because Wolverine's wearing the brown and orange uniform.

Second, this simple interaction would go a long way to fleshing out both Cap and Carol Danvers’ characters. In the comics, Cap and Logan met back in World War II—Black Widow was also involved as a child, but we’ll ignore that part for the movies. Since Logan’s healing ability has helped him live for over a hundred years with no hint of aging and he has been involved in every war since his birth, it would make sense that he and Cap might have crossed paths in Europe.

For a while, Carol Danvers only existed in Rogue's mind. The first time the X-Men went to Genosha, Carol had to get in the driver's seat.

Also in the comics, Carol has always had a close relationship with Wolverine as well as the X-Men—ever wonder why Rogue can fly in the books and not in the movies? When she was a villain running with Mystique, she stole those powers from Carol Danvers. A scene like this would acknowledge that history and inform the audience on Carol’s past, making her a more compelling character.

The New Avengers (clockwise from top): Spider-Man, Wolverine, Spider-Woman, Luke Cage, Captain America, Ronin, and Iron Man

Third, Wolverine has been a member of the Avengers in the monthly books - as has pretty much every other Marvel character; The Avengers aren't too picky. He helped launch a new title called New Avengers after Brian Michael Bendis blew up the old team back in 2004. While he's mainly been an X-Man, it wouldn't be out of the ordinary for Logan to show up and fight with the Avengers.

Finally, it would just be mind-blowingly awesome to see Hugh Jackman as “Wolverine” in an Avengers film. The studios will probably never sort out the legal and financial hurdles to have Wolverine make a proper appearance with the Avengers, but this would be the next best thing. Fans love the interconnectedness of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and my dream scene would only go towards enhancing and expanding that. The odds of it happening are less than zero, but we can all dream, right?

Or maybe, not the best idea...