• Robert Downey Jr. told "The Joe Rogan Experience" podcast that he has no regrets over his "Tropic Thunder" blackface.
• Downey Jr. said: "90 percent of my black friends said it was great."
• In the film, Downey Jr's character Kirk Lazarus undergoes controversial skin-pigmentation to play a black man for a Vietnam war movie.
• Downey Jr. was nominated for an Oscar for his performance.
• Visit Insider's homepage for more stories.

Robert Downey Jr. said that he has no regrets over his "Tropic Thunder" blackface.

Speaking to Joe Rogan on "The Joe Rogan Experience" podcast, Downey said that "it was impossible to not have it be an offensive nightmare of a movie, and 90 percent of my black friends are like, 'Dude, that was great.'"

When Rogan asked about the other 10 percent, Downey stated he couldn't disagree with them but that he knew where his heart was.

"I think that it's never an excuse to do something that is out of place and not of its time, but to me, it was just putting a blasting cap on — and by the way, I think 'White Chicks' came out pretty soon after that, and I was like, 'I love that! That was great!''

Downey said that his mother had initially tried to talk him out of accepting the role — "My mother was horrified. She said, 'Bobby, I'm telling ya, I have a bad feeling about this.'"

The former Marvel actor also admitted he had doubts of his own.

"When Ben [Stiller, the film's director and Downey's co-star] called and said, 'Hey I'm doing this thing,' I think Sean Penn had passed on it or something like that — possibly wisely. I started thinking, 'This is a terrible idea, wait a minute.'

'Then I thought, 'Well, hold on, dude, get real here, where is your heart?' And my heart is, a), I get to be black for a summer in my mind, so there's something in it for me.

"The other thing is, I get to hold up to nature the insane self-involved hypocrisy of artists and what they think they're allowed to do on occasion — just my opinion."

In the movie, released in 2008, Downey plays a white Australian actor called Kirk Lazarus, who is a five-time Oscar-winner and renowned for being one of the best, most transformative method actors in the world who overly commits to his roles — a la Daniel Day-Lewis, Russell Crowe or Colin Farrell, the three actors Downey based his character on.

In the film, Lazarus undergoes a "controversial skin pigmentation procedure" in order to change his skin colour and enable him to play a black man named Staff Sergeant Lincoln Osiris in a Vietnam war film — hence the blackface. And Downey and director Stiller argue that the context of the movie is key in their use of blackface.

Speaking at the time of the film's release, Stiller told Empire magazine that "in the context of the film, he's playing a method actor who's gone to great lengths to play an African American. The movie is skewering actors and how they take themselves so seriously. Audiences that have seen it so far have totally embraced the character."

Now, however, Rogan offered that the film perhaps couldn't be made today — and Downey agreed he may not take such a role today, despite earning critical acclaim for his performance and many awards and nominations, including an Oscar nod for Best Supporting Actor.

"It's an interesting and necessary meditation on 'Where is the pendulum?'" Downey told Rogan.

"Why is the pendulum right? Where is the pendulum maybe cutting a little into what could be perceived as heart in the right place openness of its time?"

Watch the full interview below:

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Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: 9 items to avoid buying at Costco

• Insider asked stylists, designers, and other fashion experts for their thoughts on superhero and antihero suits. 
• The style pros praised Superman's classic outfit and the one worn by Chadwick Boseman in "Black Panther." 
• Margot Robbie's Harley Quinn outfit (as seen in films like "Suicide Squad") was ripped apart for its sloppiness. 
• Visit Insider's homepage for more stories.

Superheroes may be known for their powers and plot lines, but they are also known for their iconic looks.

That said, not every high-flying suit is practical and stylish. 

Here are the heroes (and antiheroes) who have legendary looks and the ones who could use a few wardrobe changes, according to fashion experts. 

Worn by Michelle Pfeiffer, this suit from the 1992 film "Batman Returns" is quite iconic and it's been replicated many times.

Fashion stylist and publicist Symeon Oshea praised the skin-tight outfit's practicality. 

"Catwoman's outfit is one of the few superhero costumes to combine the sexiness of female form with the effectiveness of tactical gear," said Oshea. 

Unfortunately, this fierce feline's getup didn't rank as highly with every expert. Stylist and fashion blogger Lindsey Puls called the tight suit visually unappealing and uncomfortable-looking. 

"I've never been a fan of the Catwoman costumes, but this is by far the worst one. It looks like they vacuum-sealed poor Catwoman into a black trash bag. The face mask eye holes are also far too large. It looks odd," said Puls. 

Experts thought Iron Man's suit was visually appealing but probably not comfortable.

Millionaire and crime-fighter Tony Stark doesn't keep his superhero status hidden, and that's definitely reflected in his flashy red and yellow suit.

Fashion-trend analyst Carly Ettinger told Insider that Iron Man's suit, as worn by Robert Downey Jr., looks like it was made to last, but might not be comfy to wear. 

"Talk about armor aesthetics. Minimalist yet mechanical, this design is all about durability. The exoskeletal shell is heavy-duty and probably pretty hot inside — but this red and gold gear is as glorious as it gets," said Ettinger. 

Superman's iconic suit earned top marks for its classic design and vibrant colors.

Unsurprisingly, stylists couldn't find fault with this recognizable outfit, particularly the one worn by Christopher Reeve in the 1970s.

"Clark Kent's iconic costume is so sharp. Complete with an oversized 'S' logo, muscle-accentuating blue bodysuit, and red cape, Superman's style saves the day," said Ettinger. 

Everything about this costume is bold and bright, and certified personal stylist and image consultant Jenny Applegate said she loves the flair that Superman's cape brings to the outfit. 

"The cape is a great addition and makes such a statement whether coming or going. Also, the colors of blue and red really convey trust, power, and strength," Applegate told Insider. 

Wonder Woman's outfit was praised for its gorgeous balance of form and function.

The experts told Insider that the look Gal Godot sported in the 2017 "Wonder Woman" film seemed to be fit for royalty. 

"This outfit just screams badass and is so stylish. The details in the bodice are so perfect and the gold accessories are really the star of the look. Being strapless might not be the most practical element, but it really helps to highlight the beautiful features of Wonder Woman," said Applegate. 

Puls was also a big fan of the outfit, which she said struck a perfect balance between showcasing Diana's strong physique without being too revealing. 

"Wonder Woman's suit is utter perfection. This costume is feminine without being overly sexualized. It also looks strong, yet beautiful. I can't get enough of this one," she told Insider. 

Batman's outfit earned points for style, but experts felt it had some design flaws.

Stylists loved the aesthetic of the sleek suit Christian Bale wore in 2005's "Batman Begins," but questioned its practicality.  

"The black of this outfit evokes mystery, power, and strength. The monochromatic look is super stylish, especially with the practical yet sophisticated gold utility belt. The cape adds a dramatic statement piece to an overall streamlined and chic look," said Applegate. 

As fashionable as the dark ensemble may be, Puls said she had misgivings about this vigilante's constricting headgear. 

"Batman's face mask looks wildly uncomfortable," she said. "How are you supposed to fight crime if you can't breathe properly and have almost no peripheral vision?" 

The experts said Black Lightning's suit was trendy but kind of forgettable.

Black Lightning's suit, as worn by Cress Williams on The CW show of the same name, received high marks from Applegate, who told Insider that she approved of its colors and trendy vibes. 

"The Black Lightning outfit hits on so many current trends, including neon colors and fiber-optic lights. The black and blue suiting is practical yet stylish for fighting crime," said Applegate. 

Puls agreed that the suit had flair and seemed practical, but noted that it might not have what it takes to reach iconic status. 

"His lightning bolts are a nice nod to his name but aren't too 'in your face.' It also looks like something you would actually move in, and it's fitted in all the right spots. However, it's not the most memorable costume," said Puls. 

Loki may be as clever as they come, but this Norse god might still need some style education.

Experts weren't charmed by the over-the-top helmet design worn by Tom Hiddleston's Loki in many Marvel films. 

"Not the most practical or stylish of outfits. I would recommend that the height and size of Loki's headpiece be smaller. The gold statement is great, but the size of the headpiece really does not match his stature and creates an imbalance of the outfit," said Applegate. 

Although she concurred that the trickster god's helmet was a bit much, Puls said she appreciated the suit's design from the neck down.  

"Loki's horned helmet looks cool, but I can't help but wonder how hard that is to balance on your head. However, his suit and green cape are phenomenal. It's an understated yet dramatic look," said Puls. 

Experts loved the cohesiveness of the high-flying outfits seen in "The Incredibles" (2004).

Oshea told Insider that the family's bright-red suits help emphasize the group's strength as a family unit, as well as their unique talents as individuals. 

"I love that their suits are visually the same but function differently to accommodate the powers of each respective wearer. They prove that you can coordinate a singular, solid suit design for a super team without compromising individuality," she added. 

That signature red hue also scored points with Applegate, who cited the color's power to convey strength and confidence. 

"Red really evokes a lot of emotions such as power, strength, determination, and energy — which makes it the perfect color for the suit," said Applegate. 

Harley Quinn's mismatched ensemble failed to impress fashion experts.

Seen in films like "Suicide Squad" (2016), Margot Robbie's Harley Quinn is an antiheroine with a seriously bold look.

Her grungy style and clashing color palette may be unique, but the superhero's confused style made experts cringe. 

"Her outfit ... is not stylish at all. There are so many things going on with the look that its overwhelming and looks sloppy. I would recommend sticking to one standout piece and making that the star," said Applegate. 

Also, Puls said Quinn's barely-there studded shorts are a major fashion faux pas that seem awfully uncomfortable. 

"There is a lot going on with Harley Quinn's outfit. I'm not sure where to begin with this one, but perhaps pants would be a good place to start," said Puls. 

Wade Wilson is a disfigured mercenary with mutant abilities and a surprisingly good fashion sense, according to stylists.

Basing their thoughts on the suit worn by Ryan Reynolds in the 2016 "Deadpool" film, experts deemed the red and black bodysuit practical as well as aesthetically successful overall. 

"The white material around Deadpool's eyes and the lack of a mouth make this costume rather haunting," said Puls. 

Applegate praised the costume's look and practicality, though she suggested one minor fashion tweak. 

"This is a highly functional look. One thing that I would change is the color of the brown utility belt. I'd make it a metallic silver or pewter to make it look more regal instead of the rugged style it is now," she told Insider. 

As King of Wakanda, T'Challa brings royal polish to the sleek Black Panther look worn by Chadwick Boseman in the 2018 film.

Overall, stylists fell in love with this suit's details and on-trend feel. 

"This suit is super stylish and highly functional. I love all the details that create visual interest: the collar, gloves, and mask with 'cat' ears. I wouldn't change anything about it. It's so trend-forward," said Applegate. 

Puls highlighted the outfit's silver accents and T'Challa's jewelry as some of the standout elements of the Black Panther's ensemble. 

"I absolutely love Black Panther's costume. The costume itself is sleek and sexy, but also looks intimidating. The claw necklace is a small detail that makes the look pop, and I also like how there are silver accents on his mask and gloves to tie the whole look together," said Puls. 

Stylists thought Spider-Man's suit was perfectly functional and fun.

Designers were charmed by the fun pattern and figure-flattering details found in the iconic suit worn by Tom Holland in"Spider-Man: Homecoming" (2017).

"This is a classic superhero look, including the primary colors of red and blue. The blue side panels help to define Spiderman's shape and are a great detail for any outfit. I love the web detailing as well — it's a subtle print that really pulls the entire look together," said Applegate. 

The suit also earned praise for its practical vibe and athletic cut. 

"Peter Parker's bodysuit is built for performance. The spandex suit is sleek, stretchy and perfect for slinging spider webs in the heat of combat," said Ettinger.

The most patriotic superhero of them all, Captain America sports a metallic outfit that's perhaps too clunky.

The suit, worn by Chris Evans in various Marvel films, was praised by designers for its practical details, but they felt the suit could use some modern updates and tweaks. 

"A very practical look with a slightly baggy pant that allows for running, bending and flying planes. It has a very retro feel that makes it feel a little dated, but the shield and metallic panels help to make it look more modern," said Applegate. 

Puls also thought that Steve Rogers' suit could do with a little remodeling, citing its chunky look as the main problem. 

"Captain America's costume looks unnecessarily bulky here. I can't help but think of a skydiving jumpsuit when I see it. I prefer the more fitted version of this suit used in later films," said Puls.

Stylists were mostly in favor of the Green Arrow look worn by Stephen Amell on The CW series.

This roguish DC Comics character fights crime in Star City while rocking a dark bodysuit and his signature hood.

"I'm a big fan of Green Arrow's dramatic hood. His jacket is something that could actually be worn outside the DC Universe as well. I think this is a cool look," said Puls. 

Although Green Arrow's general sartorial vibe was a hit with experts, Applegate noted that the skin-tight fit of his leather jacket may lead to trouble chasing down villains.

"The black motorcycle-style jacket is right in line with the current leather fabric trend. However, it fits a bit snug. He could easily wear the next size up," she told Insider.

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• Samuel L. Jackson is de-aged by about 25 years in "Captain Marvel."
• Around 500 shots of Jackson needed to be de-aged for the movie, the most de-aging that has been done in a Marvel project.
• The VFX team referenced Jackson's '90s movies, including "The Negotiator" and "Star Wars: The Phantom Menace" to make sure he looked just right.
• Visit Insider's homepage for more stories.

Clark Gregg and Samuel L. Jackson were both de-aged in "Captain Marvel" to look years younger for the film that takes place in 1995.

Jackson's look was one of the toughest to nail because he appears in so much of the superhero movie.

"It was actually a big challenge to get him 25 years younger and look the way that he did," Marvel visual effects supervisor Janelle Croshaw Ralla told Insider during a press day at the Walt Disney Studios lot in Burbank, California. "Each scene had its own methodology."

The visual effects team referenced a number of Jackson's older movies, including the "Star Wars" prequels, to bring specific moments to life. 

"We referenced 'Diehard with a Vengeance,' 'The Negotiator,'  'Sphere' a little bit, [and] even 'The Phantom Menace' a little bit for a couple of shots," said Croshaw Ralla of the '90s films they went through.

"It was pretty amazing," Croshaw Ralla added. "You could go back to those movies and find exact frames where he looked exactly the same, like the exact same expression. He was just aged."

Late-night host Jimmy Kimmel actually put images of Jackson from 1998's "The Negotiator" and "Captain Marvel"side by side for viewers to see the resemblance.

The de-aging of Samuel L. Jackson's Nick Fury was more complex than what we've seen in any other Marvel movie or show

We've seen de-aging in Marvel movies before, but not like this.

Robert Downey Jr.'s Tony Stark was de-aged in a small moment in "Captain America: Civil War" and Michael Douglas was de-aged in both "Ant-Man and the Wasp" and "Avengers: Endgame" briefly.

Gregg's Agent Coulson was de-aged in about 50 shots of "Captain Marvel." 

There are 10 times as many shots of Jackson that were de-aged for the Marvel film that required the work of three VFX houses: Rising Sun Pictures, Lola, and Screen Scene Visual Effects (SSVFX).

"There were over 500 shots. So he was by far our main focus," Croshaw Ralla said of one of the biggest challenges of bringing "Captain Marvel" to screen. 

"This actually was handled very differently from other Marvel shows because other Marvel shows have had a lot less de-aging. It wasn't throughout the whole film," she added.

Croshaw Ralla said in other cases they simply use a body double to capture skin texture and to help with the de-aging process on-screen. That wasn't what was done with Jackson in "Captain Marvel."

"In this one, we just couldn't afford to do that," said Croshaw Ralla. "By cutting out the body double it also cut down the production time on set by half. And so we did a test early on with Lola where they did a beautiful test with Sam Jackson."

The VFX team convinced the filmmakers to go this route for a more noninvasive approach to Jackson's de-aging on set. 

"Sam could just act the way he wanted to act and we basically fixed it in post [production]," said Croshaw Ralla. 

Making sure they're not taking away from Jackson's performance

There are so many tiny subtle things that go into the de-aging process that audiences may not even realize, which include changing up hands and posture and thinning people. Those are the details that made it one of the most challenging aspects of the movie other than getting Goose the Cat just right.

"It's easy to go into the uncanny valley when you're taking 25 years off of somebody," said Croshaw Ralla. "You're literally modifying so much from the whole body to the face that it's easy to all of a sudden take the viewer out of the scene and have it not match from scene to scene or go too far and it doesn't look like him anymore."

"The most important thing is that you're not taking away from his performance," added The Third Floor visual effects supervisor Shannon Justison. "You want Sam Jackson's performance to come through at all times. That's our number one concern."

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• Tony Stark's death in 'Avengers: Endgame' could have looked a lot more grisly, including one design that looked like a Batman villain

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• Quentin Tarantino told Deadline that he believes "a war for movies got played out this last year."
• Tarantino referenced "commercial products" like Marvel films, "Stars Wars," and James Bond movies.
• The director said it was "a really, really strong year" for "original movies."
• Visit Insider's homepage for more stories.

Quentin Tarantino spoke to Deadline about the fight for audiences and cinemas that he and other auteur directors faced against the might of studio franchises such as the MCU, "Star Wars" and James Bond.

"I actually think a war for movies got played out this last year," Tarantino told Deadline.

"As far as I can see, the commercial product that is owned by the conglomerates, the projects everybody knows about and has in their DNA, whether it be the Marvel Comics, the 'Star Wars,' 'Godzilla' and James Bond, those films never had a better year than last year," the director said.

However, Tarantino believes that "cinema that doesn't fall into that blockbuster IP proof status, made its last stand this year." 

"It would have been the year that their world domination would have been complete. But it kind of wasn't. A lot of original movie comment came out and demanded to be seen, and demanded to be seen at the theaters," said Tarantino.

"That ended up becoming a really, really strong year. I'm really proud to be nominated with the other films that just got nominated."

One of those films, of course, is Tarantino's own — "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood," which grossed $372.2 million worldwide and earned 10 Oscar nominations, including one for Best Picture and a Best Director nomination for Tarantino. He's also favorite to take home a third Best Original Screenplay Oscar this year.

As Tarantino points out, there has been a slew of auteur-directed cinema in the past year, including Martin Scorsese's "The Irishman," Sam Mendes' "1917," Taika Waititi's "Jojo Rabbit," Greta Gerwig's "Little Women," Noah Baumbach's "Marriage Story," and Bong Joon Ho's "Parasite"— all of them fellow Best Picture nominees.

It remains to be seen what Tarantino thinks of the ninth and final nominee, "Joker," which seems to blur the line between studio tent pole and auteur cinema. Perhaps its the sort of film that can bridge the gap between the two, having earned 11 Oscar nominations and grossed over a $1 billion worldwide.

But Tarantino told Deadline that he is relieved that 2019 saw a barrage of original movies that movie-goers actually went to see.

"If it hadn't done it this year, it might have been the last stand for movies like that. This is a really groovy year," he said.

Read more:

How Golden Globes winner Quentin Tarantino steals from other movies

Robert Downey Jr. defended his Oscar-nominated blackface role in 'Tropic Thunder': 'I knew where my heart was'

The 'Captain Marvel' visual effects team referenced movies including 'Star Wars: The Phantom Menace' to de-age Samuel L. Jackson in the film

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• Kumail Nanjiani appeared on ABC's "Jimmy Kimmel Live" on Thursday and was thrilled when the late-night host surprised him with a box of pizza and a mobile filled with sugary desserts.
• Nanjiani stayed away from refined sugar and carbs for a year in order to get fit for his role in Marvel's upcoming movie "The Eternals," in addition to working out frequently.
• The actor literally started shaking when he bit into all the treats Kimmel gave him. 
• Visit Insider's homepage for more stories.

Kumail Nanjiani was surprised with junk food after a year of getting fit for Marvel's "The Eternals," and the actor had a priceless reaction.

The 41-year-old actor appeared on ABC's "Jimmy Kimmel Live" on Thursday and spoke about the sacrifices he made to get ripped for his upcoming movie.

"You work out every day and you sort of learn to enjoy it, but the diet is the hardest thing," Nanjiani said. "I have not had pizza or a donut in over a year. I've had no refined sugar in a year, I've had almost no carbs at all."

Elaborating on how difficult it was to avoid unhealthy foods, the actor said: "You know what my snack is? I get a bag of sugar snap peas and I eat them. That's what I've been doing at night when I'm like, 'I'm a little hungry. I'm going to treat myself.'"

Nanjiani told Kimmel that he got back from filming two days prior and was looking forward to finally getting to indulge in whatever treats he wanted. Then, a mobile of sugary desserts appeared in front of him and he was given a box of pizza.

"Are you serious? Are you joking? Oh my God. This is for me?" the actor said, in pure shock. "I'm literally going to cry right now. I'm not joking."

Nanjiani then bit into a slice of pizza and said, "I'm shaking," before sampling the other treats.

But the actor didn't stop there. As the interview continued and Kimmel asked the "Big Sick" star about Apple TV Plus' "Little America," which he executive produced, Nanjiani kept eating and could barely focus on the questions.

Nanjiani spoke about the show between bites and lost his train of thought, saying: "What are we talking about?"

Kimmel went on to say that he's never had a guest eat throughout the duration of an interview and in response, Nanjiani said: "You don't understand. I'm shaking. I'm so excited. My heart is beating so fast."

Nanjiani took fans by surprise in December 2019 when he posted two shirtless photos revealing his incredible physical transformation. 

In his lengthy caption, the "Silicon Valley" star said, "I never thought I'd be one of those people who would post a thirsty shirtless, but I've worked way too hard for way too long." 

Nanjiani also said he was blessed to work "with the best trainers and nutritionists paid for by the biggest studio in the world" to get in the best shape possible for the action movie.

During his interview with Kimmel, the actor said that he took the now-viral photos shortly before Christmas because he wasn't sure if he'd "look like this again," especially after the holidays. 

"So I was like, 'I want to take a picture, just so I have it. But as soon as I saw the picture, I was like, 'The world must see this,'" he said. 

Watch Nanjiani's full interview with Kimmel in the video below (the late-night host surprises him with junk food at 6:34).

• Read more:
• Kumail Nanjiani's wife posted another photo of him shirtless on Instagram and somehow it's even better than the original
• Kumail Nanjiani's trainer reveals how the actor got ripped for Marvel's 'Eternals'
• Every superhero movie you can expect in the 2020s

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• Tom Hiddleston is getting ready to play Marvel's God of Mischief again.
• The actor shared a video of himself getting ready to work on his upcoming Disney Plus spin-off show, "Loki," on Instagram Monday.
• "Prep is going really well," Hiddleston captioned the video, which shows him soaring into the sky before losing his balance and flopping onto his face on a mat.
• "Loki" is one of several upcoming live-action Marvel shows coming to Disney Plus. 
• Though Loki died in "Avengers: Infinity War," we saw a new timeline created in "Avengers: Endgame" when Captain America went back in time.
• Loki is currently off with one of the Infinity stones and that's where we plan on seeing his show pick up.
• Watch the video of Hiddleston below complete with his character's signature black hair. "Loki" is currently set to debut on Disney Plus in spring 2021.
• Visit Insider's homepage for more stories.

Join the conversation about this story »

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• 'Avengers: Endgame' star Sebastian Stan posted an Instagram Story that seemingly criticizes Steve Rogers/Captain America and Bucky Barnes/Winter Soldier's character endings in the film.
• The actor shared a screenshot of a fan's response to a Marvel tweet about Rogers and Barnes' friendship in which they called their 'Endgame' arcs "out-of-character."
• Many Marvel fans have also criticized the movie, saying that Captain America's arc was about learning to move on from the past.
• "Star Wars" actor John Boyega, who also recently questioned his franchise's writing, jokingly tweeted to "welcome" Stan to the club.
• Visit Insider's homepage for more stories.

"Avengers: Endgame" star Sebastian Stan seemingly criticized how the movie handled Steve Rogers/Captain America and his character Bucky Barnes/Winter Soldier's storylines via his Instagram Story on Thursday.

Stan posted a screenshot of a fan's response to a recent Marvel UK and Ireland tweet, which featured a video commemorating Steve and Bucky's friendship with the caption, "Together until the end of the line" (in reference to a recurring exchange between them in the movies).

Twitter user @TheNenya replied to Marvel's tweet, writing, "Together until the line. Or until bad, inconsistent, out-of-character writing turns Steve Rogers into his own anti-thesis. Shouldn't it be 'together until the end of the lie' now?"

Stan shared the entire exchange on his Instagram Story, adding a flushed face emoji.

This controversy refers to the ending of "Avengers: Endgame," in which Steve time traveled back to the 1940s so that he could spend his life with his lover, Peggy Carter (Hayley Atwell). The character reappeared to Bucky and his friend Sam Wilson in the present as an old man, so that he could present Sam with his shield and name him as the next Captain America.

Although this scene sets up the upcoming Disney Plus series"The Falcon and the Winter Soldier," some Marvel fans believed that Steve's decision was out of character. They argued that the character's "Phase Three" arc revolved around him letting go of his past and bonding with the Avengers.

"Star Wars" actor John Boyega, who recently received backlash for his tweets criticizing how "Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker" handled Rey's (Daisy Ridley) relationships with Finn (Boyega) and Kylo Ren (Adam Driver), posted a tweet playfully "welcoming" Stan to the club.

Many fans took to Twitter to express their delight at Stan's criticisms and Boyega's subsequent tweet, causing Stan's name to trend on the site.

"The Falcon and the Winter Soldier" will premiere on Disney Plus in August 2020. "Avengers: Endgame" is available to stream on Disney Plus now.

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: 9 items to avoid buying at Costco

• Andy Serkis will be awarded the BAFTA for Outstanding Contribution to British Cinema at the 73rd EE British Academy Film Awards at London's Royal Albert Hall on Sunday night.
• The actor and director told Insider that he hasn't found a place to keep his award yet, but may display it next to the One Ring he kept from "The Lord of the Rings."
• "There is a strong possibility it could, actually," he said. "That may well happen."
• He added that he thinks he is receiving the accolade because he's had an "unusual career."
• Visit Insider's homepage for more stories.

Andy Serkis will be awarded the BAFTA for Outstanding Contribution to British Cinema at London's Royal Albert Hall on Sunday night, an award that has previously been giving to Curzon, the "Harry Potter" film series, BBC Films, and "Monty Python."

And while Serkis told Insider he has yet to find an interesting way to display his BAFTA, which was announced almost two weeks prior to the 73rd EE British Academy Film Awards, it could end up next to the iconic "One Ring" he kept from "Lord of the Rings."

"It'll probably end in my office," Serkis told Insider. "I've got a bit of a man cave with lots of memorabilia. I'm sure it'll end up there."

One of the most iconic pieces of memorbilia from projects Serkis has been apart of — which include Star Wars and the MCU— is the One Ring he kept from "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy, in which he played Smeagol/Gollum.

When we floated the idea of keeping his new precious — the BAFTA statuette — next to the One Ring, Serkis liked the idea.

"Oh, man, it could possibly, yeah," he said. "There is a strong possibility it could, actually, that may well happen."

Serkis also told Insider that he received a letter from BAFTA several weeks before the official announcement, annd thought it was just more bills from the academy after coming home from work one day.

"Work," by the way, just so happens to be directing "Venom 2," a shoot he is 40 days into.

"I saw a letter from BAFTA on the table and I thought 'it's time to pay my dues again' and lo and behold there it was," Serkis told Insider.

"I was absolutely thrilled, really delighted. I thought to myself, 'an outstanding contribution to British cinema sounds like an award for someone who has lived a life and has been through something, and I feel like I'm on my first job whatever I'm doing. It's an odd feeling to be receiving a veteran's award when I feel like I'm just starting out."

Serkis said it was pretty hard trying to keep the news to himself, but he did tell his wife and a few select others he could trust to remain tight-lipped.

He believes he's been chosen for the accolode because he's "had an unusual career."

"It set out to be one thing and developed into another with performance capture and all that," Serkis said. "So it's unusual for an actor to enter into a visual effects environment and a visual effects world to the degree that I have and then continue to develop the art and craft of a particular strain of acting.

"I'm not quite sure exactly what the outstanding contribution is but collaborating with great visual effects artists and creating characters that people seem to like."

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• Disney revealed a first look at some of its upcoming Marvel shows during the Super Bowl.
• "WandaVision,""The Falcon and the Winter Soldier," and "Loki," are all among upcoming Marvel series on streaming service Disney Plus.
• The first teaser for the shows hints at the return of "Captain America: Civil War" villain Baron Zemo and Wanda and Vision's children from the comics.
• "The Falcon and the Winter Soldier" is expected to be the first show to hit Disney Plus in August 2020.
• Visit Insider's homepage for more stories.

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Stop using champagne flutes — this is the best way to drink champagne

• Disney dropped a first look at its upcoming Disney Plus streaming shows "The Falcon and the Winter Soldier,""WandaVision," and "Loki" during the Super Bowl.
• Insider breaks down some of the Marvel references and smaller moments you may have overlooked in the 30-second teaser.
• Scarlet Witch's children are teased along with a big hint at the introduction of a group of timeline monitors in "Loki."
• Visit Insider's homepage for more stories.

Zemo is back as a villain in "The Falcon and the Winter Soldier."

Zemo was the villain in "Captain America: Civil War" who pit Tony Stark and Captain America against one another. He lost his entire family in Sokovia due to the events of "Avengers: Age of Ultron" where Tony Stark's artificial intelligence Ultron went rogue.

"The Falcon and the Winter Soldier" is set to premiere on Disney Plus this summer.

Loki's brief appearance teased the Time Variance Authority.

If you thought the "Loki" tease didn't show much, take another look at his jumpsuit. 

The TVA logo on the suit most likely stands for the "Time Variance Authority." Who are they? They're a group that monitors alternate timelines.

It looks like Loki has been captured by them and is possibly being questioned by them. What would the TVA want with Loki? Well, when the Avengers went back in time in "Avengers: Endgame" to 2012, they created a new timeline of events when Loki escaped custody with one of the Infinity stones.

Loki doesn't seem to be too happy to be held captive by the TVA. In the teaser, he says he's going to burn the place to the ground. 

So far, "Loki" feels like a mix of what we've seen on the CW's "Legends of Tomorrow" and "The Flash," which have dealt with time traveling and the consequences of changing up timelines ghost-like demons called time wraiths.

"Loki" is coming spring 2021.

The teases for "WandaVision" are the most telling. First, Scarlet Witch is seen in her iconic comic costume.

Wanda is momentarily seen wearing a cape and headdress that channel her character's comic look. It seems like lingerie in this scene.

Scarlet Witch is married to Vision and pregnant.

A ring can be seen on her wedding finger hand in multiple scenes. When she's wearing the striped dress, she appears pregnant. That seems confirmed in another scene.

Two pacifiers fly in the air in front of Wanda and Vision, suggesting the show will feature their two children.

In the comics, Wanda and Vision have twin boys named Wiccan and Speed who eventually become members of a superhero group named the Young Avengers. Is that the Disney Plus endgame for another streaming service or original movie down the line? Maybe.

"WandaVision" may be a sad story that will punch us in the gut.

We see a lot of glimpses of Wanda in different time periods, including the '50s and '70s, on screen. We also see a more current, upset Wanda as well. 

Our best guess is that we're seeing a Wanda in grief dealing with the loss of Vision after the end of "Avengers: Infinity War." She may be projecting her idea of an ideal "what if" family with Vision if he wasn't taken away from her. 

"WandaVision" may seem like a silly name for the series, but if we are really seeing a Marvel show through Wanda's lens, then we're ready to break out the tissues for this one.

"WandaVision" is currently set to premiere in spring 2021.

• The 2020 Oscars took place on Sunday at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, California.
• Several Marvel stars were in attendance, including Mark Ruffalo, Scarlett Johansson, and Brie Larson. 
• Visit Insider's homepage for more stories.

Marvel stars attended the 2020 Oscars, and they killed it.

Actors who are known for their roles in the Marvel Cinematic Universe appeared at the awards show on Sunday, which was held at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, California. This included well-known actors like Mark Ruffalo and Scarlett Johansson, plus newcomers like Salma Hayek and Mahershala Ali.

Keep reading to which MCU stars attended the Academy Awards. 

"Thor: Love and Thunder" star Natalie Portman wore a cape with a powerful message.

At the 2020 Oscars, Portman's Dior cape was embroidered with the last names of eight women who directed movies in 2019 — none of whom were nominated at this year's awards.

Portman made her MCU debut as Jane Foster in 2011's "Thor" alongside Chris Hemsworth. She also starred in the 2013 sequel and will return for the fourth "Thor" film, in theaters on November 5, 2021.

"Thor: Ragnarok" director Taika Waititi will return to direct the movie and Portman will have an even bigger role this time around, wielding the hammer to portray a female version of Thor. 

"Thor: Ragnarok" director Taika Waititi, who also voices Korg in the MCU, looked suave.

Waititi was at the 2020 Oscars for his film "Jojo Rabbit," which he directed, wrote, and starred in. He won an award for best adapted screenplay for the movie. 

Waititi was praised for his work in "Thor: Ragnarok," by reinvigorating the franchise with plenty of humor and a new spin on the God of Thunder. He'll also direct and star in the upcoming fourth "Thor" film. 

Scarlett Johansson, known for her role as Natasha Romanoff/Black Widow, wore a custom Oscar De La Renta gown.

Johansson wore a silver beaded gown and was accompanied by fiancé Colin Jost. She also scored nominations for best performance by an actress in a leading role for "Marriage Story" and best performance by an actress in a supporting role for "Jojo Rabbit."

The actress has appeared in several Marvel movies since her debut in 2010's "Iron Man 2." Johansson returns as her iconic character in "Black Widow," a standalone film that hits theaters on May 1, 2020. 

"Black Widow" star Florence Pugh wore a turquoise Louis Vuitton dress.

At the Oscars, Pugh was nominated for best performance by an actress in a supporting role for playing Amy March in "Little Women."

Pugh will star alongside Johansson in the highly-anticipated film, portraying Yelena Belova.

"Captain Marvel" star Brie Larson wore a beaded pale pink dress that included a cape.

The actress previously won an Oscar in 2016 for her performance in "Room."

Larson joined the MCU as Captain Marvel/Carol Danvers in 2019's "Captain Marvel." That same year, she starred in "Avengers: Endgame." Both films earned more than $1 billion at the box office. 

Mark Ruffalo was joined on the red carpet by Sunrise Coigney, his wife of 20 years.

Ruffalo presented awards for best documentary feature and best documentary short subject. 

The actor is known for portraying Bruce Banner/the Hulk in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. 

"The Eternals" star Salma Hayek looked radiant in a white gown.

The actress wore a custom silk dress from Gucci. She also presented awards for sound mixing and sound editing. 

Hayek will make her Marvel debut as Ajak in "The Eternals," which hits theaters on November 6 and also stars Kumail Nanjiani and Richard Madden. 

"Blade" star Mahershala Ali and wife Amatus Sami-Karim paired up for Oscars.

At the Academy Awards, Ali presented Laura Dern with the award for best supporting actress for her role in "Marriage Story."

Ali will star in Marvel's upcoming "Blade" reboot, playing the human/vampire hybrid who protects humans. Wesley Snipes previously took on the role in the 1998 movie.

Bradley Cooper, who voices Rocket Raccoon in the MCU, skipped the red carpet but was seen mingling with stars inside the Oscars.

Cooper served as a producer for Todd Phillips' "Joker," which was nominated for several awards. 

• The legendary game studio Insomniac Games is most well-known for its work on the "Ratchet & Clank" game series, but had its greatest success with 2018's excellent "Marvel's Spider-Man" on the PlayStation 4.
• Last August, Sony purchased the studio for a whopping $229 million, a new SEC filing reveals.
• The deal is already paying off for Sony: 2018's PlayStation 4 exclusive "Marvel's Spider-Man" has sold tens of millions of copies since launch.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

The legendary studio behind 2018's smash-hit PlayStation 4 "Spider-Man" game received quite the payday when it sold to Sony last year.

Insomniac Games, one of the biggest independent game studios in the world, was purchased by Sony in August 2019. The price? A cool $229 million, according to a new SEC filing from Sony. The price was "mainly paid in cash," according to the filing.

Going forward, all of Insomniac's games will presumably be locked to Sony's PlayStation game consoles. "As a result of this acquisition, Insomniac Games has become a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sony," the filing says.

The studio is most well-known in recent years for the excellent 2018 game "Marvel's Spider-Man," which was exclusive to Sony's PlayStation 4 console. But Insomniac is also responsible for the long-running "Ratchet & Clank" games, as well as the "Resistance" first-person shooter franchise. 

"We have enjoyed a strong collaborative partnership with the studio for many years, and are thrilled to officially welcome them to the Worldwide Studios family," PlayStation leader Shawn Layden said in the announcement release last August. "The addition of Insomniac Games to Sony Interactive Entertainment Worldwide Studios reiterates our commitment to developing world class gaming experiences that can only be found on the PlayStation platform."

It's unclear what will happen to the one Xbox-exclusive game made by Insomniac, "Sunset Overdrive."

Insomniac founder and leader Ted Price took to the company's blog to reassure longtime fans that the purchase wouldn't change his studio's culture or mission. 

"We're excited to put Insomniac in the best position to deliver fresh experiences for our fans for many years to come," Price said. "Our structure and approach will remain intact across both Burbank and Durham, NC studios, and we will continue to cultivate our unique culture."

Insomniac's next project has yet to be announced, but the studio is expected to be working on a sequel to 2018's "Spider-Man."

SEE ALSO: I'm blown away by the virtual New York City of 'Spider-Man' on PlayStation 4 — here's how it compares to the real thing

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NOW WATCH: What's inside a puffer fish

• John Krasinski appeared on "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" and broke down his Captain America audition, which he said was ruined by Thor himself, Chris Hemsworth.
• Krasinski told the host Ellen DeGeneres that Marvel hadn't yet offered the role to Chris Evans and wanted to "see who else was out there."
• Krasinski told DeGeneres that the audition was "really fun" but culminated in his putting on the skin-tight Captain America suit: "I was putting the suit on, and I was halfway up not wearing any other clothes other than this."
• Krasinski then told DeGeneres that "right at that moment, Chris Hemsworth walked by and was like, 'You look good, mate!' And I was like, 'Nope, you know what, it's fine, we don't have to do this.'"
• Krasinski said Hemsworth was "jacked" and told him, "You're going to look great in that suit," to which Krasinski replied, "Don't make fun of me, Hemsworth!"
• Krasinski previously told the story to Conan O'Brien in 2016, which was around the time he buffed up for his roles in "13 Hours" and Amazon's "Jack Ryan."
• Visit Insider's homepage for more stories.

• Read more:
• The trailer for 'A Quiet Place Part II' is here and teases the first moments where the monsters came to earth
• A brief history of John Krasinski's transformation into a guy who loves the CIA
• Chris Hemsworth's wife says they argue about where all of Thor's hammers are placed around their home

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: What it's like to ride the world's longest flight

• Disney Plus offers streaming access to a large collection of Marvel movies, along with brand-new original programming that takes fans deeper into the Marvel universe.  
• It costs $6.99 a month or $69.99 a year, and you can also also bundle Disney Plus with Hulu and ESPN+ for $12.99 a year.
• Here are all the Marvel movies and shows you can stream on Disney Plus, including upcoming series, like "The Falcon and Winter Soldier, "WandaVision, and "Loki."
  
• See more: All the kids' movies you can stream on Disney Plus — from 'Snow White' to 'Frozen'

One of the biggest draws of Disney Plus is the huge library of Marvel movies you can watch right now. On top of the existing collection, several exclusive new Marvel shows are in the works as well. Classics like "Iron Man" as well as upcoming shows like "Loki" and "WandaVision" will all be in one place for unlimited streaming. 

More than 10 million people signed up for Disney Plus on the first day of its launch. Analysts predict that 18 million will sign up by the end of 2020, and Disney execs project anywhere from 60 million to 90 million global subscribers by 2024. 

What is Disney Plus and how much does it cost?

Disney Plus is Disney's new ad-free streaming subscription with tons of existing Disney movies and TV shows as well as new original shows and movies from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, National Geographic, and 20th Century Fox.

There's a free seven-day trial for new subscribers. After that, the monthly subscription costs $6.99/month, and an annual subscription costs $69.99/year, which drops the monthly rate to $5.83. There's also a $12.99 bundle with ESPN+ and Hulu.

Streaming is available on computers, tablets, smartphones, smart TVs, and media players with no limit on downloads (as long as your device has enough storage). 

We've broken down everything you need to know about the streaming service over here and all the package prices here.

What Marvel movies and shows can I watch?

Disney Plus is home to nearly every Marvel Cinematic Universe movie released so far. With that said, certain titles will be added at a later date and a few films, like "Spider-Man: Homecoming," will not be included since they were produced by a different studio.

Titles like "Iron Man,""Captain Marvel," and "Avengers: Endgame" are available now, while movies like "Avengers: Infinity War" and "Black Panther" will roll out later this year. Upcoming Marvel films set for theatrical release, like "Black Widow" and "The Eternals," will also arrive on Disney Plus a few months after they hit home video formats.

Beyond the studio's movie lineup, new spin-off series focused on various Marvel characters will be available on Disney Plus as well. The first new Marvel shows are set to premiere later this year.

Loki will return with more of his mischief in a series aptly named "Loki," the Scarlet Witch will take us on a surreal spin in "WandaVision," and all sorts of alternative realities in the Marvel universe will be explored in the experimental animated series "What If?" There'll also be shows centered around new-ish characters, like Ms. Marvel and She-Hulk, though plot summaries and release dates are light as of publication time. 

Between major films, exclusive series, and even reality shows, the Marvel library is shaping up quite nicely on Disney Plus.

Here are all the Marvel movies and shows you can watch on Disney Plus:

SEE ALSO: How to get a free week of Disney+, Disney's new ad-free streaming service

SEE ALSO: Disney+ costs $7 a month on its own, but you can bundle it with Hulu and ESPN+ for an extra $6

SEE ALSO: All the kids' movies you can stream on Disney+ — from "Snow White" to "Frozen"

Marvel movies

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Currently, you're able to stream: 

• "Iron Man"
• "Iron Man 2"
• "Captain America: The First Avenger"
• "Thor"
• "The Avengers"
• "Iron Man 3"
• "Thor: The Dark World" 
• "Captain America: The Winter Soldier"
• "Guardians of the Galaxy" 
• "Avengers: Age of Ultron"
• "Ant-Man"
• "Captain America: Civil War"
• "Doctor Strange"
• "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2" 
• "Thor: Ragnarok"
• "Captain Marvel"
• "Avengers: Endgame"
• "Marvel Studios: Assembling a Universe" 

Throughout 2020, Disney Plus will roll out: 

• "Black Panther" - March 4, 2020
• "Avengers: Infinity War" - June 25, 2020
• "Ant-Man and the Wasp" - July 29, 2020

Due to rights issues with other studios, these recent Marvel films are not expected to be available on Disney Plus:

• "The Incredible Hulk"
• "Spider-Man: Far From Home"
• "Spider-Man: Homecoming"

Marvel TV shows - currently available

• "Spider-Woman" (1979)
• "Spider-Man" (1981)
• "Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends" (1981)
• "X-Men: The Series" (1992)
• "Iron Man" (1994)
• "Fantastic Four" (1994)
• "Spider-Man"(1994)
• "The Incredible Hulk" (1996)
• "The Silver Surfer" (1998)
• "Avengers: United They Stand" (1999)
• "Spider-Man Unlimited" (1999)
• "X-Men: Evolution" (2000)
• "Fantastic Four: World's Greatest Heroes" (2006)
• "Iron Man: Armored Adventures" (2008)
• "Wolverine and the X-Men" (2009)
• "The Super Hero Squad" (2009)
• "The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes" (2010)
• "Marvel's Ultimate Spider-Man" (2012)
• "Hulk and the Agents of S.M.A.S.H." (2013)
• "Avengers Assemble" (2013)
• "Agent Carter" (2015)
• "Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy" (2015)
• "Spider-Man (2017)
• "Inhumans" (2017)
• "Runaways" (2017)
• "Marvel Rising: Secret Warriors" (2018)

'Marvel Hero Project' - Now available

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One of the reality programs on Disney Plus is "Marvel Hero Project," which highlights extraordinary kids who have helped their community.

In each episode, the heroic kids get surprised with the honor of being drawn as superheroes in their very own Marvel comic. The comics will then be available via Marvel Unlimited and the Marvel Digital Comic Store for free.

'The Falcon and Winter Soldier' - August 2020

"The Falcon and Winter Soldier" will be the first of the new onslaught of Marvel shows to hit Disney Plus.

The new series reportedly will take place after Captain America passes the proverbial torch (in the form of his shield) to Sam Wilson, aka Falcon (Anthony Mackie). The Falcon will be accompanied by Bucky Barnes, aka Winter Soldier (Sebastian Stan), who will most likely be struggling with his past. 

'WandaVision' - December 2020

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"WandaVision" features Wanda Maximoff aka Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olsen) and Vision (Paul Bettany) post "Avengers: Endgame."

Characters like Jimmy Woo from "Ant-Man and the Wasp" (Randall Park) and Darcy Lewis (Kat Dennings) from "Thor: The Dark World" are also in the show, though the actual plot is still light on details.

'Loki' - Spring 2021

Spoiler alert: Loki and all his mischief is coming back.

This is excellent news for those who have been mourning Loki's death in "Avengers: Endgame." Tom Hiddleston returns as the Nordic trickster, most likely due to the tesseract that enables him to travel through space and time. 

'What If?' - Summer 2021

"What If?" is an animated series based in the Marvel Universe with the premise that changing one small thing in the narrative of the superheroes could change the course of the character and the world.

Major talent from Marvel include Chadwick Boseman (Black Panther), Josh Brolin (Thanos), Chris Hemsworth (Thor), Mark Ruffalo (the Hulk), Samuel L. Jackson (Nick Fury), and many more. 

'Hawkeye' - Fall 2021

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In late 2021, Hawkeye — a superhero without a superpower — will return to the screen in his own spin-off show.

In "Hawkeye," Clint Barton (Jeremy Renner) will mentor and bestow his knowledge upon young Avenger Kate Bishop. The character has yet to be officially cast but is rumored to be Hailee Steinfeld.  

'Ms. Marvel' - To be announced

"Ms. Marvel" will be a groundbreaking live-action show based on the comic by the same name. 

The show will feature Kamala Khan, Marvel's first Muslim superhero to star in her own solo comic series, as a Pakistani-American living with her devout family in New Jersey while dealing with her superpowers.

'She-Hulk' - To be announced

Marvel has yet to give much information about "She-Hulk," but we do know some details. 

The show will focus on Jennifer Walters, cousin of the Hulk, aka Bruce Banner. After Walters gets a blood transfusion from Banner, she gets some of the Hulk's gamma poisoning and becomes the She-Hulk. 

'Moon Knight' - To be announced

Another project that is light on details is the upcoming adventure series "Moon Knight." All we know is that it's based on a cloaked avenger named Mark Specter, who suffers from multiple personalities and questionable instincts. 

'Marvel's 616' – To be announced

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The documentary series "Marvel's 616" (a working title according to Disney) will do a deep dive into the history and culture behind Marvel's stories and characters. 

Read everything else you should know about Disney Plus here:

• Disney Plus: Everything you need to know about Disney's new ad-free streaming service
• How to get a free week of Disney Plus, Disney's new ad-free streaming service
• Disney Plus costs $7 a month on its own, but you can bundle it with Hulu and ESPN+ for an extra $6
• All the kids' movies you can stream on Disney Plus — from 'Snow White' to 'Frozen'
• All the new kids' shows you can watch on Disney Plus — from 'Vampirina' to the new reboot of 'Star Wars: The Clone Wars'
• All the new shows you can watch on Disney Plus — from 'The Mandalorian' to new Pixar shorts: The Clone Wars'
• All the Marvel movies and shows you can stream on Disney Plus — from "Iron Man" to the new 'Loki'
• Every single Star Wars movie is available on Disney Plus in 4K — here's how to watch
• All the Pixar films and shorts you can stream on Disney Plus — from 'Toy Story' to 'Inside Out'

• The US Navy amphibious assault ship USS America, a first-in-class ship, has been sailing the Pacific with a new battle flag, one with Captain America's almost-indestructible shield on it, as The Drive first noticed.
• "The iconic Captain America symbol — the First Avenger for this first-in-class fifth-generation amphibious assault ship — was the perfect fit," Capt. Luke Frost, the ship's commanding officer, told Insider.
• He said the choice was "bold, graphic, with a clear patriotic and easily-identifiable association with the name 'America.'"
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

A US Navy flattop deployed to the Pacific has been flying a battle flag featuring Captain America's iconic red, white and blue shield, photos from the ship's deployment show.

The USS America (LHA-6), the first of a new class of amphibious assault ship, chose its battle flag, also known as a house flag, just before it deployed to the Indo-Pacific late last year.

The ship, the fourth to bear the name America, went for the superhero treatment.

"The iconic Captain America symbol — the First Avenger for this first-in-class fifth-generation amphibious assault ship — was the perfect fit," Capt. Luke Frost, the ship's commanding officer, told Insider.

Frost said the flag choice was "bold, graphic, with a clear patriotic and easily-identifiable association with the name 'America.'"

In the vast Marvel Comics universe, Captain America, whose alter ego is Steve Rogers, is a patriotic supersoldier who fought the Axis Powers before being trapped in ice and revived in the modern age.

An experimental serum gave the Army soldier his power, but it is his almost-indestructible circular vibranium shield that is most representative of the character created by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby in the 1940s.

Captain America is more than just Rogers. Others, such as close friend and Air Force veteran Sam Wilson, aka The Falcon, have also taken up the shield and the captain's mantle to carry on the fight. And now, a ship filled with Navy sailors and Marines have made the fictional weapon its emblem in a show of joint warfighting at its best.

The first US naval vessel to bear the name "America" was a 74-gun ship of the line, the first ordered for the Continental Navy. The name was passed on to a troop transport vessel and later to a Kitty Hawk-class aircraft carrier.

The current USS America, which was commissioned in 2014, is different from other amphibious assault ships in that it lacks a well deck and features increased space for aviation assets.

The Navy and the Marines have used the ship for "Lightning Carrier"experiments, which have involved loading the ship up with a heavy configuration of around a dozen F-35B Lightning II Joint Strike Fighters.

In photos from the amphibious assault ship's recent deployment, a lighter configuration of the fifth-generation fighters can be seen on the America's deck as the new battle flag flies above.

Battle flags are a Navy tradition with a long history."From Oliver Hazard Perry's 'Don't Give Up the Ship' flag at the Battle of Lake Erie to George Dewey's 'FIGHT!' flag in the Battle of Manila and into the modern era, battle flags or 'house flags' have been used to motivate, rally, and inspire ship's Sailors and Marines," the America's CO told Insider. "These flags express unit pride and the fighting spirit of the crew."

In addition to its new flag, the America also features a number of other star-spangled decorations, such as the doors of the RIM-162 Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile (ESSM) launcher cells, The Drive, which first reported the ship's new flag, noted.

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: We can thank the US military for the smelliest weapon in the world

• Marvel chairman Ike Perlmutter pushed the Department of Veterans Affairs to include Captain America and Spider-Man in a photo op at the New York Stock Exchange for in 2017, ProPublica reports.
• Perlmutter is a major donor to Trump's reelection campaign and advises the president on veterans' issues despite never having served.
• The Marvel exec is also a long time member of Mar-a-Largo.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

This story was originally published by ProPublica.

Two and a half years ago, top officials from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs rang the closing bell of the New York Stock Exchange. Standing on the podium with them was a cheering, flexing Captain America. Spider-Man waved from the trading floor below.

The event had been billed as a suicide prevention awareness campaign. No one could figure out what the Marvel characters were doing there. David Shulkin, the VA secretary at the time, said in a memoir about his tenure that he was as surprised as anyone.

The answer, it turns out, lies with the sweeping influence over the VA that President Donald Trump gave to one of his biggest donors, Marvel Entertainment chairman Ike Perlmutter.

Before the event, Perlmutter emailed senior VA officials that he had "arranged" for Marvel characters to be there, according to a newly released yearlong audit by the Government Accountability Office, Congress' independent watchdog.

Recognizing the potential for ethical questions, a VA official sought advice from the agency's lawyers. "Marvel Communications is doing this and we don't, as far as I know, do business with them," the unnamed official wrote in an email cited in the GAO report.

The report reinforces the findings of ProPublica's investigation into the sway that Perlmutter and his friends held at the VA, even though none of them had experience serving in the U.S. military or government.

After the election, Trump asked Perlmutter, an intensely private billionaire, to advise him on veterans issues, and Perlmutter enlisted the help of a doctor, Bruce Moskowitz, and a lawyer, Marc Sherman.

The trio "created a 'shadow reporting structure' in which they were stakeholders without a formal role," an unnamed former official told the GAO.

They became known inside the VA as the "Mar-a-Lago Crowd" because they met at Trump's club in Palm Beach, Florida, where Perlmutter is a paying member.

Perlmutter, Moskowitz, and Sherman communicated with VA officials as often as every day from late 2016 until mid-2018, the GAO said, giving advice and recommendations on VA policies, programs and personnel.

Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Brian Schatz, who requested the GAO's review after ProPublica's coverage, said the report confirms that Trump empowered his friends to secretly steer the second-largest government agency without any accountability or oversight.

"Three unqualified, unaccountable cronies used their personal relationship with the president and membership at his country club as leverage to exert personal influence over health care, technology, personnel and other key decisions at the Department of Veterans Affairs," Warren, D-Mass., said in a statement. "The VA must make decisions based only on the best interests of veterans — not on the whims of private individuals with special access to the president."

In a statement, Perlmutter, Moskowitz, and Sherman said they provided assistance to the president and VA officials who asked for it. "We volunteered to assist the VA solely because we wanted to help America's veterans get the best possible care," they said.

Disney, which owns Marvel, didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.

The VA told the GAO it had no comments on the report. In a statement to ProPublica, VA press secretary Christina Noel said, "This report vindicates the department and completely undermines the sensational way many media outlets covered this story."

In more than 1,000 email exchanges, as well as interviews with current and former officials, the GAO found that the trio interacted with the VA about a large number of issues: hiring of senior executives, a $10 billion contract to overhaul the agency's electronic medical records, suicide prevention and mental health efforts, a conference on registries for medical devices, and a government partnership with Apple to develop a mobile app.

The trio also discussed "veterans' ability to seek health care outside of VA facilities," the GAO said. That issue — which Trump calls "choice" and critics call a march toward privatization — was a campaign promise and political priority for the president.

The GAO did not make any conclusion about the propriety of the trio's involvement in the VA. A federal judge has rejected a claim by a liberal activist group that the trio's involvement violated a Watergate-era sunshine law regulating how agencies can seek outside input. The group, VoteVets, has appealed.

The House Veterans Affairs Committee has its own investigation into Perlmutter, Moskowitz and Sherman. In particular, House investigators have shown interest in a possible connection to a risky antidepressant that Trump has personally promoted for preventing veteran suicides. A spokesman for the trio has said they weren't involved in the VA's consideration of the drug.

Update, June 3, 2020: This story was updated to add a comment from the VA's press secretary.

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• Some people on Twitter are calling on Marvel and Disney to speak out or take action against police officers who wear the Punisher logo on their uniforms.
• There's a history of some police officers using the skull logo of the Marvel comics character, who is a deadly vigilante.
• Gerry Conway, the cocreator of the Punisher, has condemned police officers wearing the Punisher logo, saying last year that those who do "should be fired immediately."
• A Marvel representative directed Business Insider to a "Punisher" comic published last year for its stance on the issue, in which the character criticized police who idolized him.
• But Justin Jacobson, an entertainment attorney with the Jacobson Firm, told Business Insider that Marvel and Disney wouldn't be able to take effective legal action unless the officers were selling merchandise with the logo.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

As protests over the death of George Floyd spread throughout the US, some people have called on Marvel and its corporate parent Disney to crack down on police officers who affix the Punisher logo to their uniforms.

The skull logo of the Punisher, a Marvel comics character who utilizes deadly vigilantism, has been used by some in law enforcement in the US, a practice which has gained renewed attention this week.

Photos circulating on Twitter appeared to show police officers wearing the Punisher's skull logo on their uniforms during protests. HuffPost senior reporter Christopher Mathias wrote in a Wednesday report that he saw an NYPD officer wearing a "skull patch on his bulletproof vest."

Some people on Twitter called for Marvel and Disney, which have a history of going after unauthorized use of their intellectual property, to take action or speak out against police officers wearing the Punisher logo.

"[Disney] could crack down on cops who plaster black-and-blue Punisher logos on their squad cars," one person tweeted. "Choosing to let it slide is an endorsement on their part."

Matt D. Wilson, a comic-book writer, tweeted that Disney should "immediately demand police stop using the Punisher logo and sue departments that continue to."

The cocreator of the Punisher, Gerry Conway, has also previously condemned the use of the character's logo as an emblem for law enforcement.

"Any 'cop' who wears a Punisher logo in his official capacity is identifying law enforcement with an outlaw," Conway tweeted in October, after i09 reported that a Dallas officer wore a Punisher logo to a community oversight meeting. "These 'cops' are a disgrace to serious police officers everywhere. They show an imbecilic level of irresponsibility and should be fired immediately."

Disney and Marvel likely can't take effective legal action

When asked Marvel's stance on the matter, a representative pointed Business Insider to "Punisher" issue 13, published last year. In the comic, by writer Matthew Rosenberg and artist Szymon Kudranski, the character encounters police officers who idolize him.

"You took an oath to uphold the law," the character tells the officers in the comic. "You help people. I gave all that up a long time ago. You don't do what I do. Nobody does."

The Marvel rep added that the company's position had not changed since the comic was released and that it had never given permission to police departments to use the Punisher logo in that manner.

But Justin Jacobson, an entertainment attorney with the Jacobson Firm, told Business Insider that Disney and Marvel couldn't take effective legal action against officers wearing the logo unless they were also selling items that feature it.

"If you buy something and wear it, that's your right," Jacobson said. "But action could be taken against the manufacturers or distributors of the product."

That thought leads to one potential action Disney and Marvel could take, which was pointed out by Abraham Riesman, a journalist and author of the upcoming book, "True Believer: The Rise and Fall of Stan Lee."

Riesman tweeted that it was time for Disney to "stop selling Punisher merch."

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• When the PlayStation 5 launches this holiday season, a sequel to the 2018 smash-hit "Spider-Man" game will launch alongside it.
• The game is named "Spider-Man: Miles Morales," a reference to the game's main character. It's a PlayStation 5 exclusive.
• Check out the first teaser trailer for the game below!
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

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• Disney Plus launched in November 2019 and has amassed more than 50 million subscribers.
• A monthly subscription costs $6.99 a month, while an annual plan costs $69.99 a year.
• The service does a tremendous job anthologizing classic Disney movies and TV shows from decades ago that haven't been released in years and won't be available anywhere else.
• However, Disney's streaming service is family-focused, meaning none of the movies on Disney Plus are rated R.
• As a result, people without kids may find themselves disinterested in Disney Plus after a few months, but the low price and promise of more original content still make it an appealing deal.

Disney Plus launched in November 2019 to great fanfare. An aggressive marketing campaign and the popularity of "The Mandalorian" helped propel the service to a successful rollout, amassing more than 50 million subscribers in less than a year. 

Though that number still pales in comparison to the 130 million Netflix subscribers around the world, Disney Plus has been able to carve out a sizeable piece of the streaming market, thanks in large part to iconic franchises, like "The Avengers" and "Star Wars," and the company's huge library of animated classics.

Now the streaming wars are heating up, with Disney Plus facing competition from newcomers, like HBO Max and Peacock, while it works to catch up to Netflix and Hulu. With Disney Plus preparing to launch a new batch of original programming this summer, including Marvel TV shows and a film version of "Hamilton," we took a look at the service to see how it stacks up against other streaming options.

Disney Plus review: Disney opens up the "Vault" for good

Disney Plus' greatest strength comes from Disney's iconic catalog of movies and shows, including dozens of classic animated films that have been locked away in the "Disney Vault" without being re-released for years. Recent releases, like "Frozen II" and "Onward," are included as well.  

In the past decade, Disney has acquired the rights to Marvel Comics, Star Wars, the Simpsons, and 20th Century Fox, and the core of Disney Plus is built on nostalgia for these iconic media franchises. Subscribers can watch virtually any movie from the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) or the Star Wars series, including blockbusters like "The Rise of Skywalker" and "Avengers: Endgame."

The streaming service has also done an impressive job cataloging dozens of original Disney cartoons and TV shows from decades past for modern consumption, from the 1960s "Spider-Man" cartoon that's spawned dozens of memes, to all 65 episodes of "Lizzie McGuire."

However, Disney Plus' greatest weakness might be its hard focus on family content, which has led to the exclusion of all R-rated movies on the platform. This means that popular R-rated films, like "Deadpool" and "Logan," are left off the streaming service entirely, despite their Marvel ties.

Disney Plus is still way behind Netflix on original shows

Like its competitors, Disney Plus offers exclusive original shows. But, with the exception of "The Mandalorian" and a reboot of "High School Musical," these new shows and movies haven't garnered much attention.

Unlike most streaming services, Disney Plus has chosen to give its original series, like "The Mandalorian," a weekly release schedule rather than launching the entire season on the same day for binge-watchers. This strategy helped "The Mandalorian" become the most watched streaming show in America during its initial run in November 2019.

Disney Plus is also home to a number of exclusive streaming movies, like a film version of the hit Broadway play "Hamilton," and "Artemis Fowl," an adaptation of the popular young adult novel. "Black is King," a new visual album from Beyonce, is set to debut on July 31. Disney Plus will also launch multiple series based on Marvel characters in the coming months, starting with "The Falcon and The Winter Soldier" later this summer.

Personally, I find the service's growing selection of short films to be more interesting than Disney's current lineup of original shows thanks to their focused, artistic approach. Upcoming Star Wars and Marvel series could end up being big draws to Disney Plus, but rival services, like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video, simply have a bigger and better assortment of original shows right now.   

The low price and bundle options make Disney Plus especially appealing

Disney Plus costs $6.99 per month or $69.99 per year, which makes it one of the most affordable streaming services on the market. The standard subscription is ad-free and includes support for up to seven profiles and unlimited downloads. Unlike Netflix, 4K and Dolby Vision HDR streaming are also included at no extra cost. Though the service initially offered a free seven-day trial for new subscribers, this promotion is no longer available.

There's also an option to buy a bundled package of Disney Plus, Hulu, and ESPN+, all of which costs $12.99 per month. Individually, the ad-supported version of Hulu costs $5.99 a month, while ESPN+ currently costs $4.99 per month. Subscribing to the bundle, rather than signing up for each service individually, saves you about $5 per month.

If you don't have other streaming services, the Hulu and ESPN+ bundle adds a ton of value with the discounted price. Hulu's large library of movies and shows is a nice complement to the family-friendly Disney Plus catalog, and ESPN+ provides access to live events, like UFC Fight Night.

Setting up the Disney Plus app

You'll need to sign up for a Disney Plus account before you're able to browse the Disney Plus catalog online or with the Disney Plus app.

Once your account is activated, you can watch Disney Plus via the official website or by downloading the app on your smart TV, streaming player, or mobile device. The Disney Plus app is available on Apple and Android devices, Roku, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Chromecast, Amazon Fire, and most smart TV brands.

You can create profiles for up to seven different viewers with a single account, and each profile will be able to create their own personal watchlist that carries over between devices. However, only four devices can stream using the same account at once, which is the same number as Netflix's $15.99 a month premium plan. Adults can create kid profiles to restrict PG and PG-13 content for children as well.

Navigating the Disney Plus interface

The Disney Plus interface is relatively standard fare for a streaming service. The Disney Plus landing page lacks the busy animated thumbnails and flashy trailers that Netflix showcases on its home page, but a carousel displays new and popular content at the top of the page and the most popular franchises on Disney Plus are pre-sorted into simple categories, like "Marvel,""Pixar," and "Star Wars."

Disney Plus does suffer from some small navigation issues that can become ongoing problems depending on your viewing habits. For example, choosing a show or movie from the "Continue watching" tab will always leave you where you left off, with no option to "Play from beginning."

It's not a huge deal, but what if, for example, you fell asleep at the end of a movie, or your roommate watched the episode before you? Now you run the risk of spoiling yourself while you try to rewind to the beginning.

Another issue is that parent accounts are not protected by a pin or other security measures. While Disney Plus doesn't carry R-rated movies, kids can simply use the change profile function the same way an adult would to access PG-13 movies on a different profile.

Disney Plus gives premium performance and features for cheap

In terms of streaming quality, Disney Plus is on par with Netflix at a fraction of the cost. By offering 4K resolution support, HDR color depth with Dolby Vision, and Dolby Atmos audio capabilities with every subscription, Disney Plus is doing its best to guarantee that subscribers can maximize their home theater.

Disney Plus also allows you to download movies and shows for offline viewing on up to 10 devices, making it ideal for personal trips and family vacations.

The bottom line

The low price and iconic catalog of Disney Plus should make the service a solid investment for any movie-watcher, but the platform is clearly built to appeal the most to families with children. I'm curious to see if upcoming Disney Plus shows are compelling enough to the same adult audience as "The Mandalorian," because after eight months of subscribing, my excitement over nostalgia has already begun to wane.

For non-parents, the aged catalog of Disney Plus will eventually wear thin, but the Hulu and ESPN+ bundle or another streaming service can provide a perfect complement to Disney Plus.

Pros: Affordable price, timeless library of Disney classics, robust kids catalog ideal for families, exclusive Star Wars and Marvel titles, 4K and HDR streaming included

Cons: No R-rated films, fewer new and exciting library additions compared to competing streaming services, original programming is still far behind Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Hulu

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• Marvel Chairman Ike Perlmutter turned a dying comic-book maker into a billion-dollar mainstream-movie machine.
• Perlmutter has a $4.5 billion fortune that he has spent on a $200,000 annual membership to President Trump's Mar-a-Largo club and New York City real estate. 
• Perlmutter is close friends with Trump and reportedly was his top adviser on the Department of Veterans Affairs.
• A former NYPD sergeant said Perlmutter traded tickets to Marvel premieres for an expedited gun permit.
• Perlmutter keeps such a low profile that he reportedly once attended a premiere of a Marvel film in disguise and has never done a public interview.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

For a billionaire who avoids attention, Ike Perlmutter has an outsize influence on popular culture.

Perlmutter, the billionaire chairman of Marvel Entertainment, drove the transformation of the company from a bankrupt comic-book publisher to media powerhouse whose superhero movies have generated billions upon billions in the worldwide box office. 

Perlmutter's success story hasn't been without friction, however. He has been criticized for his brash management style, intense frugality, and personal relationship with President Donald Trump that yielded him heavy influence at the Department of Veterans Affairs.

A representative of Perlmutter at Marvel declined Business Insider's request or comment on the billionaire's personal history, net worth, and lifestyle.

Keep reading to learn more about how Perlmutter makes and spends his billions.

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Issac "Ike" Perlmutter, 77, didn't begin his career in entertainment.

Perlmutter was born and raised in Israel, according to Forbes, and he fought in the 1967 Six-Day War as a part of his compulsory military service.

He immigrated to the US in 1967 at 24, according to Forbes. Perlmutter had only $250 to his name at the time and sold toys in Brooklyn, New York, to support himself.

Perlmutter went on to build a thriving action-figure manufacturer.

Perlmutter owned ToyBiz with Avi Arad, another Israeli veteran and now billionaire. It's through the action-figure manufacturer that they first got involved in Marvel.

The comic-book giant invested in Toy Biz in 1993 and began manufacturing its action figures through the company, The Washington Post reported. At the time, Marvel was still primarily a comic-book company and deep in debt, according to The New York Times.

Before Marvel and Toy Biz, Perlmutter was involved in various other companies, including the drugstore chain Revco and Cabbage Patch doll maker Coleco, the Financial Times reported.

After three years of working with Marvel, Perlmutter took over the company in bankruptcy.

Perlmutter gained complete control over Marvel from the billionaire investor Ronald Perelman and became its largest shareholder in 1998, according to The Washington Post, and later merged Marvel with Toy Biz.

Carl Icahn also vied for control of Marvel in 1998 and even tried to topple Perlmutter in 2005, but Perlmutter hung on to his post, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The Financial Times compared the battle between the three men for control of Marvel to the biblical tale of David and Goliath in 2009. 

Under Perlmutter's control, Marvel pivoted its business model to focus on licensing its characters to be turned into films, video games, and new toys, The Washington Post reported. Marvel's revenue boomed with the new business model. Marvel released its first film under Perlmutter's control, "X-Men," in 2000, The Financial Times reported. Fox produced films based on "Fantastic Four" and "Daredevil," Sony made numerous "Spider-Man" films, and Universal took charge of "The Incredible Hulk,"The Post reported.

In 2000, 8% of Marvel's revenue came from licensing its characters for projects including film and television deals, according to The New York Times. Licensing jumped to 26% of Marvel's revenue in 2002 as Perlmutter pivoted the company to focus on its intellectual property.

Perlmutter is known for his divisive leadership style and has been called one of Hollywood's "most feared (and frugal)" CEOs by The Hollywood Reporter.

The Hollywood Reporter's Kim Masters described Perlmutter in 2014 as "tightfisted" with the company's funds, reporting that he regularly pays actors below market standards and proposed serving potato chips at the premiere of the first "Iron Man" film in 2008. The film went on to gross $585.2 million worldwide.

The Hollywood Reporter also reported that Perlmutter once chastised staffers for giving some journalists two sodas as opposed to just one.

Perlmutter also keeps a close eye on Marvel's creative direction and company culture, Masters reported. An unnamed person with knowledge of the company told The Hollywood Reporter that Perlmutter stopped Marvel from buying new furniture when it moved offices. 

"Disney owns Marvel, but Ike gets to control every budget and everything spent on marketing, down to the penny," a Marvel insider told The Hollywood Reporter. Marvel operates as a "semiautonomous unit" within Disney, similar to ESPN and Pixar, according to the Financial Times.

Perlmutter's influence over Marvel has been curtailed in recent years. The studio promoted Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige, giving him control over television, animation, and print editorial projects in October after removing Perlmutter from the film division in 2015, according to Variety.

Perlmutter was inducted into the three-comma club in 2009 after selling Marvel to Disney for $4 billion.

Perlmutter personally profited $1.4 billion from the deal, the Financial Times reported at the time. Part of Perlmutter's payout came in the form of stake in the Walt Disney Co. that was estimated to be worth $600 million at the time, making him one of the company's largest shareholders. 

As of Friday, Disney's market cap was $203.4 billion.

Little is known about how Perlmutter spends his money. Perlmutter does have a membership to Trump's Mar-a-Largo club, the 20-acre luxury resort often referred to as "winter White House." Memberships cost $200,000 a year plus a $14,000 annual fee and $2,000 dining minimum, Business Insider previously reported.

Perlmutter became close friends with President Trump during his time as a member of Mar-a-Largo, ProPublica reported.

Perlmutter has also spent his fortune on real estate in both Palm Beach, Florida, and New York City.

Forbes lists Palm Beach as Perlmutter's primary residence, but The Wall Street Journal reported in 2014 that the Perlmutters "split their time between Florida and New York."

In 2011, Perlmutter had a dispute with a neighbor over his subdivision's tennis courts that devolved into a "bizarre legal drama,"Fast Company reported.

The billionaire also has a home in New York City, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Perlmutter has also given some of his money away.

Perlmutter donated $50 million to fund cancer research at New York University Langone Medical Center in 2014 and another $9 million in 2015. Perlmutter's wife, Laurie Perlmutter, has volunteered at the hospital since 1978 and serves as a trustee alongside her husband, The Wall Street Journal reported. NYU renamed its cancer center after the billionaires following the donation.

However, Forbes' billionaires list gave Perlmutter a 2 out of 5 philanthropy score based on the total share of his fortune he has given away over his lifetime.

A former NYPD sergeant once alleged that Perlmutter used his position at Marvel to expedite a permit filing.

A former NYPD sergeant accused Perlmutter of bribing him for a New York City gun permit while the officer was pleading guilty to charges of bribery unrelated to Perlmutter in 2018, the New York Daily News reported at the time. The sergeant, David Villanueva, said Perlmutter gave him tickets to the premieres of six Marvel films. No charges were pressed against Perlmutter.

Perlmutter's close friendship with the president has helped him become one of three "shadow rulers" of the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Perlmutter is the first person Trump calls when he needs advice on Department of Veterans Affairs issues, ProPublica reported. 

Perlmutter is a major donor to Trump's reelection campaign and advised the president on veterans issues despite never having served in the US military. A person familiar with the matter told Business Insider that Perlmutter was no longer involved with the department.

Perlmutter pushed the Department of Veterans Affairs to include Captain America and Spider-Man in a photo op at the New York Stock Exchange in 2017, ProPublica reported.

Perlmutter is famously reclusive.

Perlmutter is rarely photographed or seen in public, according to Forbes. He attended the 2008 premiere of "Iron Man" wearing a mustache and glasses to disguise himself and has not attended any of the company's red-carpet events since, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Friends of Perlmutter attributed his reclusiveness to his "thick" Israeli accent, the Financial Times reported. One of Perlmutter's former employees told The Hollywood Reporter that the billionaire also "relishes his reputation as secretive and frugal." 

Even before his friend Trump was elected president, photographs of Perlmutter were rare, according to The Washington Post. He has never given a single interview to a member of the press, Bloomberg reported.