Entertainment
Marvel’s Most Underrated Actor Has A Plan To Save The MCU
By Chris Snellgrove
| Updated
Want to know the question that has mystified countless fans around the internet and one of the most powerful film studios in the world? Here it is: “What can save the Marvel Cinematic Universe?” Once, the MCU was the dominant force in pop culture, regularly cranking out movies that earned over a billion dollars at the box office. However, things began to fall apart after Avengers: Endgame. Fans resented the influx of lackluster Marvel programming on Disney+, and they rejected movies that felt like lazy Variants of the same old tights-and-flights formula. By the time “superhero fatigue” entered our vernacular, the unthinkable happened, and The Marvels actually lost money at the box office.
This was particularly significant because it was a sequel to Captain Marvel, one of those movies that earned over a billion dollars. The writing was on the wall: the MCU was going to have to change things up significantly if it wanted to live, much less to thrive. Now, though, Deadpool & Wolverine star Emma Corrin has the perfect idea. Since she played Cassandra Nova, Professor X’s evil twin sister, she wants to star in a vulgar “sibling comedy” that shows how these two bitter enemies learn how to bury the psychic axe and finally start bonding.
Creepy Comics Queen
Cassandra Nova is one of the weirder characters in Marvel history. She was created by Grant Morrison for his amazing run on New X-Men. The long story with this villain is that she’s a parasite who copied Charles Xavier’s DNA in the womb and created her own body to serve as his dark “other.” The short story is that she’s his evil twin, one who has her own set of spooky powers. Nobody ever expected to see her on the silver screen, but Cassandra popped up as the surprise Big Bad of Deadpool & Wolverine, where she served as the brutal overseer of the Void, the ultimate wasteland at the end of time.
The villain is killed at the end of Deadpool & Wolverine, but that doesn’t preclude one of her Variants popping up in the MCU. Cassandra Nova actor Emma Corrin agrees: in a recent interview with Variety, when asked if she would consider reprising her role, she replied that she “absolutely would, 100%.” Noting that the “story’s not over” for her character, she went on to pitch a very unconventional superhero story. “I would like to see a Professor X and Cassandra Nova bonding film — a sibling comedy like ‘Step Brothers.’ Make it happen! Internet, do your thing!”
Marvel Needs To Take A Little Off The Top
Obviously, this may be nothing more than an actor very publicly signifying that she’s open to more work. After all, who wouldn’t want another fat check from one of the biggest studios in the world? But the more I thought about it, I just couldn’t get over what a weirdly good idea this really is. Such a film would instantly solve two of Marvel’s biggest problems. One, it would be inexpensive to make, so there’s no need for another bloated budget. Two, a sibling comedy is like nothing at all in the MCU, and the sheer novelty of a movie so far outside the usual superhero formula is likely to put butts in seats.
Right now, Obsession, which was made for $750,000, is absolutely destroying the first new Star Wars film in seven years at the box office. The success of this movie (as well as its fellow low-budget horror film, Backrooms) is proof that what audiences really want is something new, ideally from filmmakers with a vision. That’s the opposite approach of Marvel Studios, which has spent nearly two decades effectively dooming itself by forcing some of the best directors to follow a cookie-cutter superhero formula. Every movie has to abide by the MCU house style, has to have the same quirky dialogue, and has to end in the same CGI slugfest slurry.
The Future Face Of Marvel
That’s the real cause of superhero fatigue: audiences didn’t get tired of watching superhero movies; they got tired of watching a barely-reskinned version of the same superhero movie. Emma Corrin’s idea of a Cassandra Nova/Professor X sibling comedy could finally give us a new kind of Marvel movie, one that emphasizes killer punchlines rather than world-threatening supervillain showdowns. Done well, such a movie would also focus on characterization, something that modern MCU movies like Captain America: Brave New World struggle with because they are busy shuffling us from one tepid fight scene to the next.
Emma Corrin called on the internet to do its thing. Well, I’m the internet, and I’m doing my thing to magnify her delightfully insane idea. Right now, Kevin Feige is hard at work trying to craft an X-Men movie to serve as the new foundation for the MCU, and it’s likely to be weighed down by attempts to match the gravitas of films like Avengers: Endgame. However, if Marvel Studios made Corrin’s idea a reality, we could finally have a mutant movie that celebrates the best thing about the X-Men comics: how delightfully silly they are and how bonkers plots and chaotic campiness have always, always been part of their charm!
Entertainment
This $145 ASUS Chromebook is a laptop and tablet in one
TL;DR: Get two gadgets in one with this ASUS Chromebook CM30, on sale now for only $144.97 (reg. $369.99) through July 19.
$144.97
$369.99
Save $225.02
If you’re in the market for a laptop and a tablet, you have a pretty steep price tag ahead of you. The ASUS Chromebook CM30 solves for that, giving you two devices in one thanks to a detachable keyboard.
Right now, you can bring home this multitasking device for less than you would pay for just one of those items — $144.97 — until July 19.
Mashable Deals
The world asks a lot of us these days. Since we’re all used to multitasking, our devices should be able to do it too. This ASUS Chromebook CM30 is up to the task — offering an easy way to switch from a productivity laptop to a relaxation tablet in just a few seconds.
The ASUS Chromebook is a 2-in-1 device powered by the MediaTek Kompanio 520 processor, delivering smooth, efficient performance. 8GB RAM and 128GB eMMC storage let you multitask, save files locally, and have enough room for your favorite apps.
The 10.5-inch touchscreen delivers crisp visuals and intuitive touch control and easily detaches from the keyboard to provide a sleeker user experience. There’s also a garaged stylus with fast-charging technology that lets you change things up when you’re tired of tapping.
This Chromebook arrives running Chrome OS, an efficient operating system for today’s busy world. There are also dual 5MP front and rear cameras for capturing images and hopping on video calls.
You’ll enjoy up to 12 hours of battery life on a single charge, and plenty of ports for your connectivity needs. Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.3 help you connect anywhere, and you can rest easy taking this ASUS Chromebook along with you thanks to its military-grade aluminum chassis that offers rugged protection on the go.
Mashable Deals
You’re saving over $200 thanks to this model’s Grade A refurbished rating. That means it will arrive in near-mint condition with minimal to zero scuffing on the case.
Bring home an ASUS Chromebook CM30 for just $144.97 today.
StackSocial prices subject to change.
Entertainment
Microsoft Office is finally a one-time purchase, and it’s only $30
TL;DR: Instead of paying for Microsoft 365 every month, get a Microsoft Office lifetime license while they’re on sale for $29.97. Sale ends July 19 at 11:59 p.m. PT.
$29.97
$219.99
Save $190.02
You might not want to keep paying for Microsoft 365 anymore. At its absolute cheapest, Microsoft 365 is $99.99 per year, and that’s if you pay for the full year up front, but it’s also not your only option anymore. Instead of paying for the same software year after year, now you can get a lifetime license for Microsoft Office installed directly onto your PC, and it’s only $29.97 (reg. $219.99) on sale.
You don’t have to pay a monthly fee to get the core Microsoft apps anymore.
This version of Microsoft Office comes with
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Word
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Excel
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PowerPoint
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Outlook
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Publisher
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Access
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OneNote
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Teams (free version)
Just keep in mind that Microsoft is ending support for Publisher in October, but that doesn’t mean you won’t be able to use it. It just means it won’t be changing anymore, which may actually be a good thing if you like your apps to look the same tomorrow as they were yesterday.
This license is a little different from Microsoft 365. It doesn’t come with extras like cloud storage, or the new AI integrations, but for many users, that’s actually a good thing. The AI integrations are still being worked out, so sudden updates can totally change your workflow. If you want a simple, reliable set of tools to work with, this is an excellent option for a great price.
Mashable Deals
Through July 19 at 11:59 p.m. PT, it’s only $29.97 to get a Microsoft Office lifetime license.
StackSocial prices subject to change.
Entertainment
Hands-on with Tiny Vinyls new tiny record player
Table of Contents
The miniature record maker Tiny Vinyl has announced some tiny accessories for its pocket-sized singles, including a new Tiny Vinyl Player ($49.99), crate ($19.99), and display frame ($14.99). The lineup is available exclusively at Target starting today, July 12.
Tiny Vinyl debuted last August as a new way for music lovers to enjoy some of their favorite artists’ singles in physical format. (For my fellow Millennials out there, they’re basically a new take on HitClips.) Each four-inch, fully functional Tiny Vinyl record has one song per side and is numbered, making them highly collectible. The current Tiny Vinyl catalog features releases from several dozen artists, including BTS, Chappell Roan, Doechii, Kid Cudi, Noah Kahan, and Zara Larsson.
In a press release, Tiny Vinyl co-founder Neil Kohler said the company’s new accessories are a direct response to fan requests. Co-founder Jesse Mann added: “These new products give music fans and collectors everything they need to build out their own little Tiny Vinyl universe, a setup as fun and personal as the music they love.”
Hands-on with Tiny Vinyl’s new player and accessories
Tiny Viny’s new accessories range in price from $15 to $50.
Credit: Haley Henschel / Mashable
Tiny Vinyl records are playable on many standard turntables at 33 RPM, making the Tiny Vinyl Player an inessential novelty purchase for most adults who are already into the vinyl-collecting hobby. I think it has much more appeal as a “baby’s first record player” that parents buy for their kids. My younger self would’ve had her American Girl Dolls DJing with it. (American Girl actually sells a toy turntable for the same price already, but it’s not functional.)
The player is a manual belt-drive turntable in a box with a faux leather exterior. Inside, there’s a small storage pocket, a simple control panel, and built-in speakers. It has Bluetooth support if you’d prefer to pair it with a nicer wireless speaker or headphones instead. You can also plug in a wired speaker on the back.
The storage pocket can comfortably fit about six Tiny Vinyl records — preferably, ones you’re not precious about. When the player’s lid is shut, it hits the corners of their gatefolds unless they’re pushed to the back of the pocket.
They are, indeed, tiny vinyl.
Credit: Haley Henschel / Mashable
The player’s control panel features a power button, an audio output selector with an LED indicator light, and a volume slider. When it’s on, its silicon platter doesn’t start spinning until you unlock its plastic tonearm, raise it with its cue lever, and move it over the platter. The tonearm and its lock are a little delicate; those are the only parts I’d be worried about a child accidentally breaking.
Mashable Light Speed
Tiny Vinyl sent me three different mini-records to test on the player. It offers the kind of audio quality you’d expect for $50: pretty tinny, muffled, and a little distorted. (I also played the records on my regular turntable for comparison’s sake, and they sounded 10 times better.) On the upside, I couldn’t hear the player’s interior mechanisms at all when it was on — it runs really quietly.
The Tiny Vinyl Player supports Bluetooth and wired speakers. (That blue indicator light means it’s paired with my JBL Charge 5.)
Credit: Haley Henschel / Mashable
The Tiny Vinyl Player comes with a USB cord and power adapter. A company representative told me that it should only be plugged into an outlet, as hooking it up to a laptop or another device with a USB port won’t give it enough juice to work.
The Tiny Vinyl Storage Crate can hold up to 30 Tiny Vinyl records. It has the same pebbled pleather finish as the player and is designed to sit beneath it. There are four indents on its surface where the player’s feet are supposed to go.
The Tiny Vinyl Storage Crate can hold up to 30 mini-records. (I only had three on hand.)
Credit: Haley Henschel / Mashable
Tiny Vinyl’s new 2×2 Display Frame is meant to showcase your four favorite Tiny Vinyl covers. Its build quality is also on par for the price: It’s made with MDF (medium-density fiberboard) and an acrylic pane. Right out of the box, my initial review unit was splitting in several spots and had dried adhesive on some of its corners. (Tiny Vinyl had a replacement in the mail at the time of writing, and I’ll update this story if it’s any different.)
The display frame comes with four clear plastic sleeves bearing the Tiny Vinyl logo. The company rep confirmed that these are made from polypropylene, which won’t damage your records with off-gassing over time like polyvinyl chloride (PVC) sleeves.
Vinyl is back in a not-tiny way
Tiny Vinyl records work on many standard turntables.
Credit: Haley Henschel / Mashable
The press release noted that Tiny Vinyl’s inception was motivated by two recent trends: miniature collecting and vinyl collecting. The former gained popularity amid the COVID-19 pandemic, largely thanks to videos of miniature builds on social media. They tap into viewers’ desire for control, fascination with craft, and penchant for the adorable, experts told NPR last spring.
The vinyl revival, meanwhile, has been brewing for nearly two decades now. According to a report from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), U.S. vinyl sales have seen 19 years of consecutive growth. Last year, they hit $1 billion in revenue for the first time. (That’s not even counting pre-owned vinyl.) Call it the Taylor Swift effect: The singer-songwriter’s 12th studio album, The Life of a Showgirl, sold over 1.6 million copies on vinyl last year, per a report from Luminate, an entertainment industry analytics company. That’s 5.5 times as many units as the second-bestselling vinyl release of 2025, Sabrina Carpenter’s Man’s Best Friend, which sold 292,000 copies.
There are several factors behind the vinyl resurgence, two being mere nostalgia and consumers’ growing interest in owning physical media. Another is because popular artists like Swift (and their labels) are embracing the format alongside their fans.
In recent years, this has increasingly involved a strategy of releasing multiple vinyl variants of the same album as a means of driving sales, according to another Luminate report. These special, often limited-edition pressings boost the collectible factor and fuel fan FOMO. (For her part, Swift released 11 different vinyl variants of TLOAS, including nine webstore exclusives that were only available for a short time.) Tiny Vinyl records, which are chart-eligible with the RIAA and Billboard, are yet more variants to hunt down.
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