Murphy's Multiverse

Author: Charles Murphy

  • More BTS Photos from ‘Captain America 4’ Tease New Setting, More Serpents

    More BTS Photos from ‘Captain America 4’ Tease New Setting, More Serpents

    With principal photography on Captain America: New World Order having shifted out of the studio this past week, photographer Christopher Oquendo has staked out the Brown Airport location of the production and shared several rounds of excellent behind-the-scenes material. The photographer’s latest shots have unveiled not only a new setting for the film but also some more members of the villainous Serpent Society.

    It turns out the Serpent Society has its own private jet, complete with some gold and green accents that look like they match the costumes worn by WWE Superstar Seth Rollins and an as-yet unidentified co-star from a prior batch of set photos. While set photos never provide much context, it seems safe to say that the Serpents have used their private jet to make their way to Cancun, where their fight with Captain America and Falcon is likely to take place.

    In addition to revealing a new setting for the fourth entry in the Captain America franchise, the most recent set photos also provide a shadowy look at another member of the Serpent Society. It’s expected that there will be five of them in the film (Asp, Bushmaster, Cobra, Constrictor and Diamondback), and, at the moment, it’s still unclear which one of those Serpents will be played by Rollins; however, the photographer–who may be working with some additional information–teased that the shadowy member of the team might be its leader, King Cobra.

    It’s not clear what role the Serpent Society plays in the film just yet but given the amount of time spent on the production on this particular set of scenes, it’s safe to say they at least have a fairly large role in the film and will occupy quite a bit of Captain America and The Falcon’s time! Captain America: New World Order is currently slated for a May 3rd, 2024 release.

  • Winona Ryder Rocks a Familiar Look in Set Photos from ‘Beetlejuice 2’

    Winona Ryder Rocks a Familiar Look in Set Photos from ‘Beetlejuice 2’

    It took 35 years to get it off the ground but production on the sequel to the 1988 cult classic Beetlejuice is underway. Director Tim Burton is returning to the world of The Ghost with the Most for the sequel, reuniting with stars Michael Keaton, the lovely Catherine O’Hara and Winona Ryder who played the titular bio-exorcist and iconic goth girl Lydia Deetz, respectively. Cameras have been rolling on the sequel for over a week and now the first behind-the-scenes look at Ryder has hit the internet!

    Yep, that’s Lydia Deetz! Ryder’s return to the role came complete with looking damn near identical to the character’s memorable late-80s look from the original. Ryder has had an incredible second act to her career with her role on Stranger Things putting her back in the spotlight and now, in this legacy sequel, she’ll be stepping back into one of her most famous roles over three decades later.

    While next to nothing is known about the plot of the film, it will star Jenna Ortega as Lydia’s daughter and Willem Dafoe as an afterlife cop. Justin Theroux and Monica Bellucci have also signed on for the sequel, which is currently set for a September 6th, 2024 release.

  • ‘Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny’ Opens to Inauspicious Reviews from Cannes

    ‘Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny’ Opens to Inauspicious Reviews from Cannes

    Harrison Ford‘s swan song as Dr. Henry Walton Jones, Junior has been the source of significant buzz since it was revealed that James Mangold was brought on board to helm the film. Trailers and promotional material for the film continued to generate excitement for the film ahead of its June 30th wide release; however, after debuting at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival, the film’s place in the franchise is already being called into question.

    While it’s not all doom and gloom for the fifth entry in the series, early reviews that have been made available via Rotten Tomatoes will certainly cause some concern. Though it’s currently just a small sample size of 26 reviews, only 50% of those who have reviewed the film have had primarily positive things to say about Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny.

    (L-R): Helena (Phoebe Waller-Bridge) and Indiana Jones (Harrison Ford) in Lucasfilm’s INDIANA JONES AND THE DIAL OF DESTINY. ©2023 Lucasfilm Ltd. & TM. All Rights Reserved.

    While it’s not typically the kind of fare that debuts at Cannes, it is a bit shocking that Ford’s farewell to the character has been so harshly hit. Obviously, at 50%, it’s currently split right down the middle in terms of positive and negative reviews; however, even some of the more positive takes on the film echo some of the negative review’s concerns. Though AwardsWatch’s Ben Rolph calls Dial of Destiny “a thrilling, action-packed swan song for the iconic character“, the Playlist’s Robert Daniels firmly states that “some relics should just stay buried,” calling into question if the new film was necessary. “The jokes, the zest and the exuberance just aren’t there,” said BBC’s Nicholas Barber, adding to that narrative, “so instead of a joyous send-off for our beloved hero, we get a depressing reminder of how much livelier his past adventures were.”

    Fortunately, most critics, including Geoffrey Macnab from the Independent, are quick to praise the film’s star in his last turn as Indy. “Harrison Ford is the hero of the hour. He never loses either his scowl or his doggedness. He plays even the flimsiest scenes with conviction and dry humour. His performance carries the movie.” Rolph, who gave the film a B score, added that Ford’s performance in Dial of Destiny is “a fitting end to one of cinema’s greatest action heroes, and one of the most iconic roles of his career, with this film.” With the film set to be screened at least a few more times ahead of its premiere, the Rotten Tomatoes score will certainly change. The only question is whether or not that will be for the best.

    Source: Rotten Tomatoes

  • BTS Video Provides the Best Look Yet at Sam Wilson’s Underwhelming New Costume in ‘Captain America 4’

    BTS Video Provides the Best Look Yet at Sam Wilson’s Underwhelming New Costume in ‘Captain America 4’

    As page-to-screen adaptations go, the first Captain America costume Sam Wilson sported in The Falcon and The Winter Soldier is truly about as good as it has gotten for Marvel Studios. Pulling off a white costume goes against one of the old-school principles of costume design, but Michael Crow and his crew were more than up to the challenge, putting Anthony Mackie into one of the MCU’s best costumes. As production continues on Captain America: New World Order, it seems the studio decided they could not leave well enough alone and, as seen in previous set photos, decided to craft a new, more traditional Captain America costume for Mackie’s Wilson. Those low-resolution set photos only caught bits and pieces of the suit but now a new behind-the-scenes video has provided a little better look at the new drip.

    The video comes from footage taken at Atlanta’s Brown Airport by the same user who has provided the first looks at Wilson’s suit, Danny Ramirez‘s Joaquin Torres’ Falcon suit and WWE Superstar Seth Rollins‘s Serpent Society villain and looks as though it’s been taken during a stunt rehearsal.

    While it’s still a low-resolution look, it’s by far the best look yet at Sam’s new suit…and it’s uninspiring. Gone are the white accents on the chest, shoulders and sleeves and the result is what looks like Sam borrowed one of Steve Roger’s old costumes. Let’s hope that Sam’s other suit is just at the cleaners during this scene and this isn’t the new look for the all-new, all-different Captain America.

  • ‘Ahsoka’ Release Date May Have Been Revealed

    ‘Ahsoka’ Release Date May Have Been Revealed

    Lucasfilm’s next Star Wars streaming series, Ahsoka, has been slated for an August release since Star Wars Celebration 2023. However, as Bob Iger‘s return to Disney has slowed the roll of the company’s big hitters on its streaming service, it’s been tough to pin down exact release dates…until recently. Kevin Feige just revealed when the next two Marvel Studios’ series, Loki and Echo, would hit Disney Plus and now it seems the release date for Ahsoka may have made its way out into the world, although not intentionally.

    In a page now unavailable, Disney Movie Insiders indicated that Ahsoka is scheduled to premiere on Disney Plus on August 31st. Of course, on the internet nothing is ever truly gone and a screenshot of the information was captured before it was taken down.

    Disney Plus has been releasing Star Wars and Marvel Studios on Wednesdays for some time and August 31st is a Thursday but there’s some reason to believe the date for Ahsoka might be accurate. Feige’s recent release of the start dates for Loki and Echo revealed that those Marvel Studios series will drop on Disney Plus on Fridays. With Loki set to debut on August 6th, Ahsoka’s last 3 episodes would run concurrently with Loki’s first 3 episodes (assuming both of the shows are releasing one episode per week). By moving Ahsoka to Thursday and running Loki on Friday, Disney Plus original series would more often than not dominate the weekend discourse on social media. We’ll continue to monitor the situation but until Lucasfilm releases the date officially, don’t etch it into your stone calendars just yet.

  • REVIEW: ‘White Men Can’t Jump’

    REVIEW: ‘White Men Can’t Jump’

    Reboots, remakes, requels, revivals and legacy sequels have carved out quite a niche in Hollywood. 2022 put Robert Pattinson in the cowl and Tom Cruise back in the cockpit as Maverick 36 years later. 2023 has already rolled out a superior Super Mario Bros. film, a new installment in the Evil Dead franchise, a requel sequel in Scream VI and will see a live-action The Little Mermaid, Timothee Chalamet bring Willy Wonka back to the screen and Harrison Ford back in action as Indiana Jones 15 years after his last big-screen adventure. Lost in the shuffle of all those big tentpoles films is a retelling of the 1986 classic White Men Can’t Jump and while it may not have been on your radar, you’ll want to add it to your list.

    Directed by L.A.-born and raised Calmatic, 2023’s White Men Can’t Jump smartly avoids one of the biggest pitfalls that too often plague remakes: trying to actually remake the original film. Calmatic, who cut his filmmaking teeth in the world of music videos, describes the film not as a remake but as “sampling” of the 1986 original in which he made bits of the classic feel new and familiar. Given the 1986 version starred two Hollywood icons in Woody Harrelson and Wesley Snipes, Calmatic’s choice to create two original characters who could capture the spirit of the original film’s odd couple dynamic with modern sensibilities gave his film a chance to stand on its own…and it certainly does. Sinqua Walls‘ Kamal and Jack Harlow‘s Jeremy don’t have to be Sidney Deane and Billy Hoyle because 37 years later, why would they be? So while the name of the game remains the same–hustling the streetball circuit of L.A.–the players come complete with modern glow ups that give the film a foundation of heart and soul beneath the humor.

    (L-R): Jack Harlow as Jeremy and Sinqua Walls as Kamal in 20th Century Studios’ WHITE MEN CAN’T JUMP, exclusively on Hulu. Photo by Parrish Lewis. © 2023 20th Century Studios. All Rights Reserved.

    And while the film and its actors exhibit plenty of range, White Men Can’t Jump is simply a good time. Walls and Harlow share an easy chemistry that allows the comedy between the two to feel as natural as their on-court game. Myles Bullock and Vince Staples, who play Walls‘ Kamal’s buddies Renzo and Speedy, might not add much in the way of support on the court but more than fill their roles as additional comedic relief. Laura Harrier and Teyana Taylor, the partners of Harlow’s Jeremy and Walls‘ Kamal, respectively, may not get quite enough to do–and neither gets as much to do as Rosie Perez’s memorable Gloria in the 1986 film–but certainly help fill out who Jeremy and Kamal are. Given what the film sets out to accomplish in its modest 101-minute runtime, the bulk of it is understandably focused on developing its co-leads. So much so that not even the great Lance Reddick, in one of his final performances, gets much to do. Ultimately, however, the focus on Jeremy and Kamal pays off as both Harlow and Walls give solid individual performances but truly shine when their together.

    Hulu’s White Men Can’t Jump works in such a way that fans of the 1986 film will find resonance in Calmatic’s sampling and those who have never seen the original will find plenty to enjoy. Whether revisiting the courts of Venice Beach, recreating the original film’s “Rodney” scene with a flamethrower or giving Kamal an origin that would never have fit in 1986, Calmatic didn’t miss with his directorial choices. As one of my top five favorite Pistons always said, “Ball don’t lie.” White Men Can’t Jump should be on your list of 2023 re-whatevers.

  • New ‘Captain America 4’ Set Pics Provide First Looks at New Costumes for Two Heroes

    New ‘Captain America 4’ Set Pics Provide First Looks at New Costumes for Two Heroes

    Marvel Studios loves a good costume change for their heroes. Even if subtle, changes to costumes move merchandise from lunchboxes to Marvel Legends and beyond and so it comes as no surprise that with each new appearance, the MCU heroes get new gear. Perhaps the biggest upgrade in the MCU’s history was Sam Wilson’s Vibranium Captain America suit that he sported in The Falcon and The Winter Soldier. Now, new set photos show Cap has another new suit and so does his new sidekick.

    Set photos from Captain America: New World Order show Anthony Mackie‘s Sam sporting a more “true blue” Captain America suit while Danny Ramirez‘s Joaquin Torres looks to be stepping out in a comic-accurate costume, his first “super suit.”

    The best look at the new Captain America suit comes courtesy of the same Twitter account that provided the first look at WWE Superstar Seth Rollins‘ Serpent Society character (presumably Cobra) on set. The new suit incorporates Sam’s chest logo into a more traditional Captain America color scheme, aka blue.

    Another, albeit low-resolution, look at Sam’s new suit comes complete with a hint of Torres’ new costume. After having been handed the Falcon wings at the end of The Falcon and The Winter Soldier, it seems Torres is ready to suit up as The Falcon.

    Though it’s just a glimpse from the rear, the Falcon suit seems to at least share the same color scheme as the suit Torres first sported in 2016 in Nick Spencer‘s Sam Wilson: Captain America #6 which ended an arc that saw Sam take on…the Serpent Society.

    Given that principal photography on Captain America: Probably-No-Longer-Sub-titled-New World Order has just about a month left to go, its possible that these set photos are from a fairly major second act battle between Cap and Falcon and the Serpent Society, though not all parts of all projects are filmed in order. Whatever the case, you can start saving up for that Cap 4 wave of Marvel Legends right now.

    Sources: Twitter and IG

  • Disney Plus Reveals Where ‘Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania’ Falls on the MCU Timeline

    Disney Plus Reveals Where ‘Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania’ Falls on the MCU Timeline

    After becoming available for purchase as physical media on May 16th, Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania was added to Disney Plus on May 17th. The third film in the Ant-Man series kicked off Marvel Studios Phase 5 by introducing Jonathan Majors‘ Kang the Conqueror and taking the Ant-Family into the Quantum Realm for a mind-bending B-movie adventure. But with all the time wimey shenanigans that come with spending time in the sub-atomic universe, where exactly do the adventures of Scott, Hope, Cassie, Janet and Hank take place on the MCU timeline?

    Thankfully, for fans who enjoy trying to watch the Marvel Cinematic Universe chronologically, Disney Plus continues to have you covered. As expected, the events of Quantumania take place AFTER Thor: Love and Thunder, Werewolf By Night and The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special meaning the threequel is set farther into the future than any MCU project to date.

    Thanks to Scott Lang Easter eggs planted in Ms. Marvel and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, it can be deduced that Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania is set in 2025. That idea is something backed up by Marvel Studios Parliament member Nate Moore, who indicated that Quantumania takes place “potentially concurrent” with Thor: Love and Thunder.

    Yeah I mean, look if you think about… This movie clearly happens after No Way Home and Eternals. I think it probably happens potentially concurrent with [Thor: Love and Thunder]. New Asgard does exist in our universe, for instance, or in our film. And almost concurrent with Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, which is coming out in February.

    Nate Moore on where the events of Quantumania fall on the MCU timeline

    Truly, with an unknown amount of time passing between the beginning and end of Quantumania, it’s hard to nail down exactly what MCU events transpired during the time the Ant-Family was in the Quantum Realm. Fortunately, Marvel Studios The Marvel Cinematic Universe An Official Timeline, “the definitive, filmmaker-endorsed guide to the lore, timelines, and characters of the Marvel Cinematic Universe”, will be released in December 2023 and, hopefully, clear up some of the muddied waters of the official timeline.

    Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania is now streaming on Disney Plus.

  • ‘Doctor Strange’ Star Chiwetel Ejiofor Joins Cast of ‘Venom 3’

    ‘Doctor Strange’ Star Chiwetel Ejiofor Joins Cast of ‘Venom 3’

    The multiverse is a murky place. Despite Tom Hardy‘s Eddie Brock crossing over into the Marvel Cinematic Universe–and leaving a piece of his symbiote there–the actor behind one of the MCU’s fairly major recurring characters has joined the cast of Venom 3.

    While it’s entirely unclear why a third film in the Venom franchise is being made, Deadline is reporting that Doctor Strange and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness star and Oscar nominee Chiwetel Ejiofor has joined the cast of Venom 3. There’s no word who Ejiofor will be playing in the film though the trade report referred to him as a co-star.

    Production on the threequel is expected to start this summer though the film is currently without a release date. Kelly Marcel, who co-wrote the film with Hardy, will direct the new installment in the series, taking the reigns from Andy Serkis.

    Source: Deadline

  • Set Photos Reveal First Look at WWE Star’s ‘Captain America 4’ Villain

    Set Photos Reveal First Look at WWE Star’s ‘Captain America 4’ Villain

    Production on Captain America: New World Order continues to move along despite the WGA strike having indefinitely postponed production on Blade and shut down Daredevil: Born Again and Wonder Man for short periods of time. Principal photography on the film kicked off in March and produced some interesting behind-the-scenes looks at Anthony Mackie’s Sam Wilson, Shira Haas‘ Sabra and others attending a funeral as well as first looks at Harrison Ford as President Thunderbolt Ross and the return of Tim Blake Nelson‘s Samuel Sterns. Now, a new look from the set of the film has revealed a pair of villains, one of whom is being played by WWE Superstar Seth Rollins.

    Photographer Christopher Oquendo was able to capture Rollins along with an unidentified co-star as they prepared to shoot scenes with Mackie. It seems as though Rollins has joined the cast of the film as one of the members of the villainous Serpent Society. While it’s unclear which member of the group he’s playing, it appears as though the co-star sporting a similar costume is Diamondback, who has long been rumored to appear in the film.

    In the comics, the members of the Serpent Society typically sport much more garish costumes than what Rollins and his unidentified co-star are wearing here and, would make them much easier to identify. However, it seems pretty likely that Rollins is playing Klaus Vorhees, aka Cobra, aka King Cobra, one of the many former leaders of the Serpents. What role they villains will have in an already busy film remains to be seen! Captain America: Probably No Longer Subtitled New World Order is tentatively slated to hit theaters May 3, 2024.

    Source: Twitter