One of the things fans look forward to every time a Marvel movie gets released on DVD and Blu-Ray is the possibility of a One-Shot. For the uninitiated, Marvel One-Shots are short 15-20 minute movies usually focusing on a fan-favourite character. Past One-Shots have focused on Peggy Carter, Phil Coulson and Trevor Slattery. These short films are a great way to give some smaller characters the spotlight for a bit, and as such many fans like to fantasise about some of their favourite characters getting a One-Shot. I am no different, so in this article I’m going to list 5 possible Marvel One-Shots and which characters should be in them. Let’s get started!
5. Budapest- Hawkeye & Black Widow
One of the most repeated lines in the Avengers actually wasn’t one of the movie’s numerous quality gags. Rather, it was Hawkeye’s response when Black Widow compared the Battle of New York to one of their operations: ‘You and I remember Budapest very differently’. Many fans have speculated (read: fantasised) that Budapest could be the focus of a possible Black Widow movie. And while I think that Phase 3 would be too crowded for one, I do think that it would make for a great Marvel one-shot.
The relationship between these two agents was great to watch in the Avengers, and I’d be more than happy to see a one-shot that further explores it. Whatever happened it Budapest, it must have been pretty major to even begin to compare with fighting off the alien hordes of a jealous Asgardian prince. We could see the duo taking on AIM or HYDRA or any number of villainous organisations.
4. Birds of a Feather- Falcon
Sam Wilson aka the Falcon is one of the first black superheroes in comics. Many fans criticised Marvel for changing up his origin in Winter Soldier, but I can really see where they’re coming from. The Falcon’s origin in the comics is one massive racial stereotype- he was a drug-dealing pimp from Harlem who was kidnapped by the Red Skull and experimented on, which granted him his wings. See what I mean?
In the movie however, Sam was part of a paramilitary unit called the Falcons who went on numerous para-rescue operations. This new origin gives the character plenty of potential for a One-Shot. How cool would it be to see legions of Falcons taking on militants in Afghanistan? It could also give us some insight into Wilson as a character, looking at how his military career affected him as a character and how this means he relates to Cap.
3. Winter Soldier: Agent of HYDRA- Winter Soldier
The Winter Soldier is a character with one of the most interesting backstories in the entire Marvel Universe. Brought in by HYDRA after his near-fatal fall in
Cap:TFA, Bucky has spent the past 70 years carrying out assassinations and secretly seeding chaos across the globe. The end of TWS left it open for Bucky to do pretty much anything, but I think that the best Winter Soldier One-Shot would instead focus on his past.
I imagine it would focus on Bucky working for HYDRA and struggling with his identity. They could potentially explore his relationship with Black Widow, but given that we established she was shot in the chest by him, I doubt they would have ever had a relationship. So maybe instead we could see Bucky play a part in numerous historical events. A few keen-eyed viewers allegedly spotted a photo of the Winter Soldier on the grassy knoll when Kennedy was shot, which would be pretty interesting to see. Maybe it could end with Bucky being sent on a mission to assassinate Nick Fury, leading directly into the events of TWS.
2. Growing Pains- Gamora & Nebula
Gamora is probably the member of the GOTG with the most interesting backstory. The last survivor of the Zen-Whoberi people, she was kidnapped from her devastated home world by Thanos and raised as a deadly assassin. And so was her ‘sister’ Nebula. I think a One-Shot exploring their relationship and their training would be a really good idea. In the words of Karen Gillan, ‘it’s quite a tense household.’
A Gamora/Nebula one-shot, in my idea, would show the two girls growing up under the tutelage of Thanos. It was already established in
GOTG that Nebula is highly jealous of Gamora. This would be something that could be explored to great effect in this one-shot. The relationship between these two was great to watch, and it’s a shame we didn’t get to see more of it. It could end with the scene in
GOTG where Gamora is sent to recover the orb for Ronan, neatly tying in with the events of the film.
1. Loki: Brother of Thor- Loki
Loki is by far Marvel Studio’s most beloved villain. Appearing in three movies to date, the God of Mischief has cemented his status as one of THE iconic CBM villains, up there with the likes of the Joker and Magneto. Undeniable proof that the God of Mischief deserves a One-Shot came at the beginning of this month in the form of a 2 hour long fan film cut together using all of his screen time from
Thor, The Avengers and
Thor: The Dark World. For my One-Shot, I’m going to steal the title
Loki: Brother of Thor from the fan film, simply because it’s an awesome title.
I’m not sure exactly what it would be about. Maybe we could focus on Loki ruling Asgard as Odin. It could be about what happened to him after the first Thor, how he met Thanos and acquired the sceptre. Maybe we could see Thor and Loki growing up, how Loki came to be jealous of Thor. There are so many possibilities for this One-Shot, it would be a real shame to have them not make it.
So there you have it- five possible Marvel one-shots and the characters they should focus on. Disagree with any of my suggestions? Have any suggestions of your own? Let me know in the comments below! Live long and prosper!