Murphy's Multiverse

Author: Charles Murphy

  • RUMOR: James Spader Set to Return to the MCU as Ultron

    RUMOR: James Spader Set to Return to the MCU as Ultron

    Over decades of Marvel Comics, Ultron has never stopped finding a way to return as a thorn in the side of the Avengers. It appears his cinematic counterpart is going to take up that habit as well. A new rumor shared by the mods at Reddit points to the return of the rogue A.I. in an upcoming Marvel Studios property.

    According to the rumor shared in Tales from the Mod Queue, James Spader will return as the voice of Ultron for Armor Wars. Originally announced as a streaming series, Armor Wars is now getting the big-screen treatment and giving James Rhodes his time to take center stage. Though it’s currently not on the slate, rumors have suggested that the film could go into production as early as late 2023.

    Fans have hoped for the return of Spader, whose Ultron is one of the MCU’s best and most memorable villains, for some time. While the plot of Armor Wars is unknown, it is said to spin out of Rhodes’ arc in Secret Invasion. In the comics, Armor Wars centered around the technology of Tony Stark falling into the hands of criminals who used it to enhance their own suits. Given that Stark created Ultron in the MCU, it would be terrifying to think that he kept some sort of backup that could allow for the reemergence of the AI should it fall into the wrong hands.

    Yassir Lester has been tasked with scripting Armor Wars for Marvel Studios which producer Nate Moore said was being developed as a film to allow for some of Lester’s big ideas to be realized under a big budget.

    Source: Reddit

  • ‘Avengers: Secret Wars’ Reportedly Facing a Lengthy Delay

    ‘Avengers: Secret Wars’ Reportedly Facing a Lengthy Delay

    The Marvel Studios slow down was bound to cascade. As the studio pulls back under a mandate from Bob Iger to space out their projects, a new rumor suggests that the Multiverse Saga will face a delay of almost 3 years compared to the slate revealed at SDCC ’22.

    According to anonymous sources in contact with the mods at r/MarvelStudiosSpoilers/, Avengers: Secret Wars, the final project in the Multiverse Saga which was originally slated to release on November 7, 2025, will now be pushed until 2028. The report goes on to add further speculation that part of the reason for the delay would be to release the final movie of the Multiverse Saga on the 20th anniversary of the MCU which began in 2008 with Iron Man.

    While several projects are said to be delayed following this new mandate from Iger, no official word has come from Disney on any changes to the MCU slate since Iger’s return. The last update to Marvel Studios’ slate came in October when the following changes were made:

    BLADE moved from 11/3/23 to 9/6/24

    UNTITLED DEADPOOL MOVIE moved from 9/6/24 to 11/8/24

    FANTASTIC FOUR moved from 11/8/24 to 2/14/25

    UNTITLED MARVEL moved from 2/14/25 to 11/7/25

    AVENGERS: SECRET WARS moved from 11/7/25 to 5/1/26

    Presumably, Disney will address any official changes to the slate in the near future with the upcoming CinemaCon providing one possible opportunity. Until then, it’s best not to start tattooing release dates just yet.

    Source: Reddit

  • ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.3’ to Have the Longest Runtime of the Trilogy; Still Too Short for You

    ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.3’ to Have the Longest Runtime of the Trilogy; Still Too Short for You

    With just under two months to go until the May debut of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, director James Gunn has remained fairly active in social media discussions about the film despite being engrossed in his new role as co-chair of DC Studios. The final installment in Gunn’s Guardians trilogy promises to be an emotional roller coaster as it brings an end to the story of this iteration of the team and not every member is expected to survive their encounter with the film’s villain, Chukwudi Iwuji‘s High Evolutionary.

    Gunn has consistently praised Iwujij’s performance in the film and recently took to Instagram to hype the High Evolutionary, who is responsible for the experiments/torture of Rocket. Gunn’s post simply teased “Can’t wait for you all to meet this guy” along with a creepy picture of High Evolutionary’s face stretched over some enhancements but fans took the chance to interact with Gunn to ask about the film’s runtime.

    Though he didn’t give an exact runtime for the sequel, Gunn did respond that “It’s longer than 1 & 2.” As can be seen here, Guardians of the Galaxy checked in at 2 hours and 2 minutes and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 at 2 hours and 17 minutes, a runtime that included 5 stingers. Gunn’s statement means that not only will Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 be the longest Guardians film but also the longest film of his directorial career and one of the ten longest MCU films. That checks out as there’s a lot to do in the film. Time will have to be spent on exposition about the High Evolutionary and Adam Warlock, exploring the new dynamics of the Guardians with a time-displaced Gamora, killing someone(s) and setting the stage for the future of the team. Given all that, a 2 hour and 18+ minute runtime seems fair.

    Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 debuts in theaters on May 5th!

  • Leaked Set Photos Show Colin Farrell’s Oz Back in Action in ‘The Penguin’

    Leaked Set Photos Show Colin Farrell’s Oz Back in Action in ‘The Penguin’

    As James Gunn and Peter Safran empty the cupboards of the old DC Universe, Matt Reeves‘ Gotham-verse remains alive and well under the newly formed DC Studios Elseworlds banner. That expanding universe includes The Batman-Part II, scheduled for a 2025 theatrical release, and multiple streaming projects in different stages of development. Among those, the Colin Farrell vehicle, The Penguin, was always known to be the furthest along and now it seems production has kicked off on the project.

    Via the Daily Mail, videos and pictures from the set of The Penguin have arrived and show Farrell once again unrecognizable as Oswald Cobblepot.

    The events of The Penguin are reported to pick up right where The Batman left off and tell the story of how Farrell’s Oz rises to power in Gotham following the death of Carmine Falcone. Things won’t be easy for Oz, however as Cristin Milioti’s Sofia Maroni and her father, Gotham gangster Salvatore, played by Clancy Brown, will be standing in the way.

    Source: The Daily Mail

  • Joaquin Phoenix Returns to Gotham in BTS Video and Pics from ‘Joker: Folie à Deux’ 

    Joaquin Phoenix Returns to Gotham in BTS Video and Pics from ‘Joker: Folie à Deux’ 

    2019’s Joker stands as one of DC’s most successful films. The film grossed over $1B and won several awards, including star Joaquin Phoenix‘s Oscar for Best Actor and Warner Bros. quickly went to work on getting Phoenix back in the saddle for a sequel. That sequel, Joker: Folie à Deux, is now in production in Los Angeles and as it was filming on location recently, some glimpses of Phoenix back in action as Arthur Fleck were captured.

    The video could be a bit misleading if not for some follow-up photos. Though there’s a man running down the road in Fleck’s suit and makeup from Joker, that is NOT Fleck.

    It’s not entirely clear what’s taking place in the scene being filmed, but Joaquin Phoenix Updates speculates that this may be Fleck’s escape from Arkham and the man in the Joker suit from the first film is helping Fleck escape by drawing attention to himself. According to the site, articles on the set of the sequel indicate it is set in 1983, two years later than the original.

    Joker: Folie à Deux, which will be part of the new DC Studios Elseworlds banner, will co-star Lady Gaga, Brendan Gleeson and Catherine Keener and is slated for ann October 4th, 2024 release.

    Source: Joaquin Phoenix Updates

  • Clancy Brown Joins ‘The Penguin’ as Salvatore Maroni

    Clancy Brown Joins ‘The Penguin’ as Salvatore Maroni

    After being referenced in The Batman, Gotham mob boss Salvatore Maroni is set to appear in the HBO Max streaming series The Penguin and will be played by Clancy Brown. The eight-episode series will be set in the aftermath of the events of The Batman and is rumored to chronicle the rise of Colin Farrell‘s Oswald Cobblepot through the ranks of Gotham’s organized crime.

    Maroni’s appearance in the series could complicate things for Cobblepot. As explained in The Batman, Maroni ended up in prison after fellow gangster Carmine Falcone, played by John Turturro, ratted him out, which allowed Falcone to fill the void. With the death of Falcone in the last act of The Batman, Cobblepot looked poised to repeat the pattern and make moves through the organized crime scene in Gotham. However, with Salvatore Maroni and his daughter, Sofia, played by Cristin Milioti, in the mix, things won’t be easy for Oz.

    In comic book continuity, Salvatore Maroni was responsible for the disfigurement of Harvey Dent that led him down the road to becoming Two-Face. Though Dent isn’t known to be appearing in The Penguin, there have been rumors of him appearing in The Batman-Part II. If the events of The Penguin serve as a bridge between the two films, it’s possible Brown could reprise the role of Maroni in the sequel.

    Source: Variety

  • Fede Alvarez’s ‘Alien’ Film Adds Cast Ahead of Production Start

    Fede Alvarez’s ‘Alien’ Film Adds Cast Ahead of Production Start

    Director Fede Alvarez‘s installment in the Alien movie franchise found its lead in Cailee Spaeny and now as it gears up for a March 9th start of production in Budapest, 20th Century Studios has revealed the supporting cast.

    In an official press release, 20th Century Studios announced the castings of David Jonsson, Archie Renaux, Spike Fearn and Aileen Wu and confirmed the casting of Isabela Merced.

    20th Century Studios’ new “Alien” film starring Cailee Spaeny (“Mare of Easttown”) will begin production in Budapest on March 9. Joining Spaeny in the cast are David Jonsson (“Industry”), Archie Renaux (“Shadow and Bone”), Isabela Merced (“Rosaline”), Spike Fearn (“The Batman”) and Aileen Wu (“Away from Home”). Fede Alvarez (“Evil Dead,” “The Girl in the Spider’s Web,” “Don’t Breathe”) directs from a screenplay he wrote with his frequent collaborator Rodo Sayagues. Ridley Scott, who directed the original “Alien” and produced and directed the series’ entries “Prometheus” and “Alien: Covenant,” and Michael Pruss (“Boston Strangler” upcoming) are producing under their Scott Free banner, with Brent O’Connor (“Bullet Train”), Elizabeth Cantillon (“Persuasion”) and Tom Moran (“The Donut King”) serving as executive producers.



    In this ninth entry in the immensely popular and enduring film series, a group of young people on a distant world find themselves in a confrontation with the most terrifying life form in the universe.

    The new film as announced to be in development in November 2023 and has come together fairly quickly. As of publication, no further details about the plot have been uncovered nor has a release date been set. It’s also unclear where the film will fall in the Alien chronology.

  • Further Evidence Emerges Confirming Sydney Sweeney’s ‘Madame Web’ Role

    Further Evidence Emerges Confirming Sydney Sweeney’s ‘Madame Web’ Role

    Despite rolling out one of the most poorly received and mocked superhero films in the Golden Age of the genre in Morbius, Sony Pictures is still wheeling and dealing in the business of making films about obscure Spider-Man characters. Kraven the Conservationist is up next for the studio this October and then, just a few short months later in February 2024, Madame Web will arrive in theaters. Despite being littered with characters most fans have never heard about, Madame Web has an impressive cast led by Dakota Johnson, Sydney Sweeney, Adam Scott and Emma Roberts and is rumored to tell a pretty wild story taking place somewhere in the Spider-Verse.

    Set photos from the film had some fans crossing wires on who was playing whom until a report last Summer seemed to straighten all that out: Johnson is portraying the titular Madame Web and Sweeney is playing Julia Carpenter, aka Spider-Woman #2 (Jessica Drew, who as far as we know is not in this movie is Spider-Woman #1; however, there is another Spider-Woman in this movie, Mattie Franklin, and she is Spider-Woman #4!). Now a new report from a popular YouTuber seems to back up that info.

    The Hot Mic Podcast shared some information about Sony’s Spidey projects, including an unconfirmed bit of info that a Spider-Woman film may go into production in 2024–though it’s unclear which of the three Spider-Women it may follow–and info on Sweeney’s role. Simply put, the host of the HMP shared that he’d heard Sweeney is in fact portraying Spider-Woman in Madame Web. Of course, in the comics, this Spider-Woman, Julia Carpenter/Spider-Woman #2, also goes on to become Madame Web and comes into conflict with Charlotte Wittier, Spider-Woman #3. Given Sony’s love of nonsensical stories, it’s easy to see why they’ve chosen to go the route they have with Madame Web.

    Source: YouTube

  • Ben Affleck Rumored to Be in the Mix to Helm DC Studios ‘The Brave and The Bold’

    Ben Affleck Rumored to Be in the Mix to Helm DC Studios ‘The Brave and The Bold’

    Once upon a time, Ben Affleck was set to direct a solo Batman project set in DC’s Snyderverse. That project never materialized, the Snyderverse is no more and DC films are entering a new era under the leadership of James Gunn and Peter Safran. Affleck is set to appear as Bruce Wayne/Batman in The Flash before hanging up the cowl, presumably for good, though Gunn has expressed an eagerness to work with Affleck as a director on projects set within the new DCU. A new rumor has surfaced that indicates while Affleck may be willing to step aside as Batman, he may have a hand in shaping the new vision for the character.

    According to a rumor from Above the Line, Affleck may be Gunn and Safran’s choice to helm The Brave and The Bold, a Batman and Robin story that will introduce Bruce’s son, Damian, to the DCU. The Brave and The Bold was one of the projects revealed by Gunn to be a part of Chapter One: Gods and Monsters, the first wave of projects in the new DCU.

    Interestingly enough, though Gunn has actively called out false reports and rumors frequently over the years, he has not addressed Affleck’s involvement with the film despite otherwise addressing parts of the Above the Line report. This shouldn’t be taken as confirmation of the report, though it does at least allow for the conversation to continue on.

    Source: Above the Line

  • Steven Yeun’s ‘Thunderbolts’ Role Reportedly Revealed

    Steven Yeun’s ‘Thunderbolts’ Role Reportedly Revealed

    Marvel Studios’ search for its “evil Superman” is over if a new round of rumors and reports is to be believed. As work on Thunderbolts progresses ahead of its scheduled June production start, it appears that The Walking Dead star Steven Yeun has landed the role of Robert Reynolds/Sentry.

    Rumors of the involvement of the Sentry in the plot of Thunderbolts have swirled since late Fall of 2022 when a casting call for an “evil Superman” circulated online. After sorting through a few of Marvel’s Superman analogs, Sentry rose to the top of the list of possible choices and additional information from reliable insiders has continued to build the case that he’ll make his MCU debut in the film. Now a slew of reports, including one from The Illuminerdi, all indicate that the 39-year-old Yeun has landed the part, which will make him a key player in the MCU beyond the events of 2024’s Thunderbolts.

    Though Yeun is most well known (and beloved by fans) for his long-running role as Glenn on AMC’s The Walking Dead, should he have landed the role of Sentry it won’t be his first rodeo as a nigh-omnipotent and indestructible hero. Yeun has served as the voice of Mark Grayson, the Viltrumite-human hybrid hero known as Invincible, for 2 seasons of the animated Amazon Prime series Invincible. For all their similarities in terms of powers, however, Sentry and Invincible are far from the same character and stepping into the role of Sentry would provide Yeun an opportunity to explore a character with a much, much darker side. In the comics, that darker side is, in part, due to an entity known as The Void, and that entity is rumored to appear in Thunderbolts as a key part of Sentry’s character arc.