By: Katie Morris
Published: December 17, 2024
The Cosmic Cube is the source of ultimate power and one of the most feared and coveted treasures in the Marvel Universe. If it falls into the wrong hands, it could destroy the not only the Earth but the entire universe.
#Some of Marvel’s biggest superheroes are joining together, battling infamous villains to protect the cube and save the universe. Atlanta fans will have two opportunities to jump into this exhilarating story of good versus evil at Marvel’s first-ever, live-action arena spectacular “Marvel Universe Live!” The show will be at Philips Arena Dec. 20-22 and The Arena at the Gwinnett Center Dec. 26-28.
The original storyline brings more than 25 Marvel characters, the most ever assembled in one production, together on one epic quest. It’s framed around the battle over the Cosmic Cube — the Mighty Thor has shattered the cube to prevent it from falling into the wrong hands, and the pieces are scattered all across the globe. Thor’s villainous brother Loki devises a scheme to clone its powers, inciting a threat that could not only obliterate the Earth but also the entire universe.
To defeat Loki, Iron Man, Captain America, Hulk, Thor, Spider-Man and Wolverine must band together to retrieve the Cosmic Cube fragments and unite them. As the superheroes track the cube, they will encounter some of their biggest adversaries including Green Goblin, Doctor Octopus, Red Skull, Madame Hydra, Aldrich Killian, Electro and more.
The cast features performers from all over the world trained in everything from martial arts to motocross. Stuntman Zach Huber plays Loki in the show and never imagined he’d be acting in a show like “Marvel Universe LIVE!” especially as a villain.
“It’s a different experience just because I never envisioned myself being a villain,” Huber said. “I’ve always idolized actors and wanted to be a stuntman since I was a kid. I thought if I can do stunt work, maybe I can be an actor someday, but if I’m a stuntman, that’s OK. I really enjoy this a lot.”
According to Huber, he doesn’t get to perform a lot of stunts as Loki but really enjoys the few big ones he does.
“Sometimes I get a chance to sub in as the Killian fire guy, so they’ll set me on fire and I’ll walk out,” Huber said. “Loki doesn’t have too many stunts, but the Hulk slam is pretty good.”
Singer and dancer India Holoman plays the part of Storm, from the X-Men series, which has been her dream since childhood.
“Storm’s this like super tall Amazon goddess, and I’ve always been a huge fan just because it made me feel powerful. If she could do it, then I could do it because she looks just like me,” Holoman said. “It was a really huge thing for me — the first time I got to play her and put the costume on and the wig and stand out there in front of people. It was like a dream come true.
“Marvel Universe LIVE!” incorporates a unique blend of aerial stunts, pyrotechnics and cutting-edge special effects that really bring the show to life for audiences. Both Huber and Holoman feel the use of projectors to create the scenery and set the mood really bring the show to life.
“The stage itself is painted in such a way that all the scenes are projected onto it. I don’t know how many exactly, but there’s a ridiculous amount of projectors above the floor that projects these scenes and creates the scenery on stage for every scene,” Huber said. “There’s so many different scenes — from the Extremis lab to Loki’s lair, which is a cave, and being on Hydra Island.”
Holoman, having spent the first eight years of her life living in the Stone Mountain area, is excited the show’s come to her original stomping grounds, especially around the holiday season.
I have a lot of family here and am hoping I get to see everyone,” Holoman said. “I came into the city and was like I’m home. The culture in Atlanta is really great, and I feel like there’s a vibrance to the city. I love Atlanta. I always have.”
For more information about “Marvel Universe LIVE!,” visit marveluniverselive.com.
