Key Points on Marvel Rumors and Scrapped Ideas

Rumored Plot Points and Characters

• Taylor Swift as Dazzler: Rumors suggested Taylor Swift would appear in the MCU as the superhero Dazzler, which never materialized.
• Mephisto in WandaVision: Many fans expected Mephisto to be the antagonist in WandaVision, based on leaked merchandise images. Director Matt Shackman confirmed Mephisto was never considered for the show.
• Hela in Infinity War: Rumors circulated that Hela would represent Death and influence Thanos, linked to the comic storyline where Thanos is driven by affection for Death. This did not occur in Infinity War, as Thanos's motivations centered around resource scarcity.
• Tom Cruise as Iron Man Variant: There was speculation that Tom Cruise might appear as an Iron Man variant in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, though writer Michael Waldron confirmed this was only a brief discussion and did not move forward.
• Hulk vs. Thanos Rematch: Fans anticipated a Hulk vs. Thanos showdown in Avengers: Endgame, hinted at by merchandising, but this did not happen due to Hulk's character evolution into Smart Hulk.

False Expectations from Movie Rights and Misdirection

• Silver Surfer in Infinity War: Rumors of Silver Surfer appearing were fueled by his comic presence in the Infinity Gauntlet arc. However, his rights were owned by 20th Century Fox at the time, preventing his inclusion.
• Spider-Man and Dinosaurs: Hints of Spider-Man in the Savage Land riding dinosaurs stemmed from an old script for a scrapped Sinister Six film related to Andrew Garfield's Spider-Man series, which did not influence Spider-Man: Homecoming.

Major Cameo Surprises

• Spider-Man No Way Home: Despite denials by Andrew Garfield, both Tobey Maguire and Garfield returned as Spider-Man variants, leading fans also to anticipate the return of Kirsten Dunst as Mary Jane Watson, which did not happen.
• Deadpool and Wolverine: Fake rumors suggested various X-Men actors would appear, notably Taylor Swift as Dazzler and Halle Berry as Storm, but the actual cameos included Wesley Snipes as Blade and Chris Evans in a non-Captain America role—an example of Marvel's strategic rumor management.

Marvel's Approach to Leaks and Rumors

• Kevin Feige's Statements: Kevin Feige, President of Marvel Studios, is known for making ambiguous comments that keep fans guessing.
• Secrecy and Misdirection: Marvel employs subtifuge and misdirection, helping protect the confidentiality of their projects while maintaining fan interest and speculation.

Potential Future Involvement

• Tom Cruise: Expressed openness to joining the MCU if the right project and character are presented.
• Kirsten Dunst: Shows enthusiasm to return as Mary Jane in future Spider-Man films, pending further opportunities in the Multiverse Saga.

Conclusion

Overall, Marvel Studios adeptly navigates fan speculation and rumors, balancing expectations with strategic storytelling decisions and legal constraints related to character rights, maintaining excitement and anticipation among the audience.