Murphy's Multiverse

Author: Charles Murphy

  • Marvel Exec Teases “Sparks” Between Sam Wilson, Thunderbolt Ross in ‘Captain America: New World Order’

    Marvel Exec Teases “Sparks” Between Sam Wilson, Thunderbolt Ross in ‘Captain America: New World Order’

    With the confirmation that the legendary Harrison Ford was joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe as General Thunderbolt Ross, replacing the late William Hurt, came speculation that Marvel Studios must have plans to have Ross finally become the Red Hulk and take on the Hulk. As it turns out, the studio has plans Ross to end up at odds with another hero: Captain America.

    In an interview with Collider, Marvel Studios’ Parliament member Nate Moore confirmed Ford’s casting and gave some insight into what fans can expect from him when he turns up in Captain America: New World Order.

    Well, look, Sam Wilson’s Captain America, he is going to bring his own team to play. It’s no secret that Samuel Sterns is making his return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, which is fantastic because Tim Blake Nelson’s the best. Harrison Ford is taking on the role of General Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross, and to see Sam Wilson and Thunderbolt Ross, which if you remember actually threw him in prison at the end of Civil War because he violated the Sokovia Accords. There’s going to be some natural sparks there, which I think are going to be really fun.

    Nate Moore

    With the project not expected to start filming until February or March, Moore’s comments stand as some of the best insight into the plot of the film to date. Director Julius Onah has gone on record in sharing his excitement about Tim Blake Nelson’s The Leader serving as the villain of the piece, saying he’ll “put Sam through the wringer” in what he’s calling a paranoid thriller. And now it sounds like Sam might have more than just The Leader standing in his way in his first big screen outing as Captain America.

    Captain America: New World Order is currently set to hit theaters on May 3, 2024.

    Source: Collider

  • Cristin Milioti Cast as Sofia Falcone in ‘The Penguin’

    Cristin Milioti Cast as Sofia Falcone in ‘The Penguin’

    Cristin Milioti, who starred as Hazel Green in the HBO Max series Made for Love, has been cast as Sofia Falcone in the upcoming streaming series The Penguin. The series, which will also head to HBO Max, is part of The Batman director Matt Reeves’ growing Gotham-based universe of DC characters.

    In the comics, Sofia is the daughter of crime boss Carmine Falcone, who was played by John Turturro in The Batman. The character was first introduced in Batman: The Long Halloween and went on to become a serial killer known as The Hangman who targeted members of Gotham PD.

    According to Variety, Milioti’s character will be in a power struggle with Colin Farrell’s Penquin in the HBO Max series. Reeves is serving as an executive producer on the series while he continues to develop both a sequel to The Batman and other series, such as one based in Arkham Asylum. The Penguin will be written by showrunner Lauren LeFranc with Craig Zobel helming the first two episodes of the series which, according to Farrell, will consist of either 6 or 8 episodes.

    Source: Variety

  • ‘DC’s Stargirl’ to End with Season 3

    ‘DC’s Stargirl’ to End with Season 3

    DC’s Stargirl will not be renewed for a fourth season on the CW. According to a report by Deadline, the series will conclude following the Season 3 finale on December 7th, joining Nancy Drew, The Flash and Riverdale as CW network series that have been canceled since Nextstar Media Group assumed control following an acquisition in early October that saw them take ownership of 75% of the company.

    The trade report indicated that the writing team of the series was tipped off at the potential for the cancellation of the series, allowing for them to craft a fitting ending for the series rather than leaving it in limbo. Geoff Johns, who created the character in 1999 and has served as the showrunner of the CW series, gave the following statement:

    Stargirl has always held a special place in my heart for many reasons. With all the brewing changes at the network, we were aware this was possibly the last season, so we wrote with that in mind and have delivered what I believe to be the best season of Stargirl yet, with complete creative closure. The cast and crew are extraordinary, and I’d like to thank them for helping me bring this series to life. Brec embodied Courtney in every way possible — with grace, strength and humor — exceeding my wildest expectations. I am grateful to WBTV and The CW for giving us a home to tell this story and to honor my beloved late sister, and I’m beyond thankful to the press and fans who have always championed us for three amazing seasons. Most series never get this far. We couldn’t be more proud of our show and the fan community it’s built!

    Geoff Johns

    Star Brec Bassinger, who portrayed lead character Courtney Whittmore/Stargirl for three seasons also shared her thoughts on the series coming to an end.

    Getting to play Stargirl and be a part of the DC Universe has been the greatest honor, and I am so grateful for every moment of it. I would like to thank our fearless leader Geoff Johns, along with WBTV, The CW, the cast and crew of Stargirl, and of course, the fans. Thank you. This show will forever live in my heart.

    Brec Bassinger

    With DC’s Stargirl and The Flash coming to an end, only Superman & Lois remains alive as DC content on the CW, though its future is reportedly up in the air as well. Johns already has his next project in line with an adaptation of his Image Comics’ series Geiger in the works at Paramount.

    Source: Deadline

  • Marvel Studios Held a Special Screening of ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’ in Support of The Chadwick Boseman Foundation for the Arts

    Marvel Studios Held a Special Screening of ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’ in Support of The Chadwick Boseman Foundation for the Arts

    Marvel Studios held the purple carpet World Premiere of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever last week in Hollywood and early word is that the film is not only action-packed but serves as a touching emotional tribute to Chadwick Boseman. To continue to honor the star, who passed away from cancer in 2020, director Ryan Coogler and several members of the cast were in Washington D.C. on Sunday, October 30th for a special screening of the film at the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture in support of The Chadwick Boseman Foundation for the Arts.

    WASHINGTON, DC – OCTOBER 30: Danai Gurira, Tenoch Huerta Mejía, Winston Duke, Lupita Nyong’o, Angela Bassett, Letitia Wright and Kevin Youngattend the Black Panther: Wakanda Forever Red Carpet Screening at the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture on October 30, 2022 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Shannon Finney/Getty Images for Disney)

    Director Ryan Coogler and stars Letitia Wright, Lupita Nyong’o, Danai Gurira, Winston Duke, Tenoch Huerta and Angela Bassett attended the red-carpet event last tonight hosted by Walt Disney Studios, Marvel Entertainment, Chadwick Boseman Foundation for the Arts and the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture.

    Disney

    Founded in 2020, The Chadwick Boseman Foundation for the Arts is a non-profit organization with the mission “to encourage, support, and promote the intellectual, spiritual, and artistic growth of young people of the African Diaspora.”

    Black Panther: Wakanda Forever will be in theaters beginning November 11th.

  • Hugh Jackman on Return to Wolverine: “I’m Gonna Have the Time of My Life”

    Hugh Jackman on Return to Wolverine: “I’m Gonna Have the Time of My Life”

    The news of Hugh Jackman’s return to the role of Wolverine for Marvel Studios 2024 Deadpool 3 is still generating buzz even a few weeks after the news broke. Jackman is so beloved in the role and so well-associated with the character that the news was well-received by most all fans, something that seems almost impossible most of the time. While talking with the Associated Press, Jackman made it clear that it’s not only the fans who are excited.

    I can tell you I’m gonna have the time of my life. I can tell you that I’ve started back at the gym and I’m eating a lot and I feel bad for the cast of Music Men, the amount of protein shakes I’m having. But it’s a lot of fun. It’s been five years and I really never thought I’d come back and I’m really, really excited about it. Actually, I do know a bit about the script, but I’m not gonna tell you.

    Hugh Jackman

    While Jackman didn’t want to let any plot info out of the bag just yet, he was willing to answer one of the AP’s questions about whether or not his return to the role was going to bring with it a kinder, gentler characterization.

    There’s no choice. He’s definitely the angry and acerbic, grumpy…and he’s gonna take a lot of free shots at Ryan Reynolds, let me tell you. Physically, that is.

    Hugh Jackman

    Deadpool 3 is set to begin filming next year ahead of a 2024 release.

  • RUMOR: ‘Agatha: Coven of Chaos’ Will Adapt a Major Scarlet Witch Comic Event

    RUMOR: ‘Agatha: Coven of Chaos’ Will Adapt a Major Scarlet Witch Comic Event

    Amid word that Paul Bettany is set to return as White Vision, who was last seen in WandaVision, in a Disney Plus streaming series currently being called Vision Quest comes an interesting rumor about another WandaVision spinoff. According to a sensationalist YouTube pundit, Agatha: Coven of Chaos, which is reportedly headed into production this November, may adapt the nine-issue Marvel Comics’ event series Young Avengers: The Children’s Crusade.

    On the surface, The Children’s Crusade provides the perfect opportunity to continue the story of Wanda Maximoff in the MCU. Following her multi-year arc as a villain which concluded in House of M, Wanda Maximoff lived powerlessly and without her memories for years. It wasn’t until her son, Billy Maximoff, aka Wiccan, began to lose control of his own immense powers that a search began for her in earnest. While it’s hardly the same sequence of events, Wanda’s heel-turn as the Scarlet Witch over the course of WandaVision and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness and her apparent death in the final act of the latter provide the opportunity for a similar story to be told within the shared tapestry of the MCU.

    The possibility of an aged-up Billy appearing as a lead character in Agatha: Coven of Chaos certainly advances the opportunity for the series to, at the very least, tell the story of the search for the Scarlet Witch. Despite the fact that the Scarlet Witch was last seen seemingly trapped inside the collapsing Mount Wundagore, Marvel Studios One-Above-All Kevin Feige has promised that there is “so much more to explore“ with Wanda, adding that they “still haven’t touched on many of her core storylines from the comics.” Given that Young Avengers: The Children’s Crusade falls within the recently revealed 10-year page-to-screen rule, it’s very likely that Agatha: Coven of Chaos could serve to adapt what is unarguably a core Wanda storyline to the MCU.

    Interestingly enough, this rumor of a potential adaptation of Young Avengers: The Children’s Crusade (and a potential Scarlet Witch solo series follow-up) fall directly in line with word that Murphy’s Multiverse has shared before. Using Agatha: Coven of Chaos as the vehicle for The Children’s Crusade provides the perfect gateway for a solo The Scarlet Witch project to make its way into the MCU before the end of The Multiverse Saga. Of course, not every part of The Children’s Crusade is adaptable to the MCU, but the concept of Wanda suffering from amnesia in the aftermath of her actions and then found in the company of another incredibly powerful sorcerer has been put on a tee for Jac Schaeffer and the creatives behind Agatha: Coven of Chaos. The only question is whether or not Marvel Studios will take the swing.

    Source: YouTube

  • BREAKING: Henry Cavill Departs ‘The Witcher’

    BREAKING: Henry Cavill Departs ‘The Witcher’

    In the wake of his return to the DC Universe as Superman, Henry Cavill has exited the Netflix streaming series The Witcher. According to an official release from Netflix, Liam Hemsworth will take over the role of Geralt of Rivia in Season 4. Cavill shared the news on Instagram.

    It’ll be some time before fans see Hemsworth in the role. Season 3, Cavill’s last, isn’t set to hit Netflix until Summer 2023 and no word has come as to when production on Season 4 is expected to get underway. Indeed the renewal for the fourth season of the series only came today along with the news of Cavill’s departure. Still, Hemsworth also took to Instagram to share his excitement.

    Despite the success of Cavill’s time on The Witcher, it’s nearly impossible not to conflate this news with the star’s return as Superman in Black Adam. After years of speculation about the future of Cavill’s Superman, his post-credit scene in Black Adam, word of development on a Man of Steel sequel and the news of James Gunn’s ascendancy to the top of the newly minted DC Studios all seem to portend great things for Cavill’s future as Kal-El.

    Source: Netflix

  • ‘WandaVision’ Scribe Joins Writer’s Room of ‘Agatha: Coven of Chaos’

    ‘WandaVision’ Scribe Joins Writer’s Room of ‘Agatha: Coven of Chaos’

    According to her Writer’s Guild profile, WandaVision staff writer Megan McDonnell is among the team of writers working on the upcoming Disney Plus streaming series Agatha: Coven of Chaos. McDonnell joins fellow WandaVision writers Peter Cameron, Laura Donney and Cameron Squires in the writer’s room with creator and executive Jac Schaeffer, who also worked on WandaVision, overseeing the project.

    According to the WGA, McDonnell is credited with writing Episode 3 of WandaVision, “Now in Color”, and co-writing Episode 4, “We Interrupt This Program”, with Bobak Esfarjani. Neither of those episodes heavily featured Kathryn Hahn’s Agnes/Agatha.

    According to Hahn, production on Agatha: Coven of Chaos should kick off “in about a month.” The series was officially announced by Marvel Studios and is expected to stream on Disney Plus sometime in late 2023 or early 2024. Though little is known about the plot of the series, casting calls may hint at it introducing an aged-up Billy Maximoff and his boyfriend, Hulkling, to the MCU.

    Source: Writer’s Guild via Reddit

  • Daniel Bruhl Teases the Return of Zemo

    Daniel Bruhl Teases the Return of Zemo

    When Marvel Studios introduced the roster of characters set to appear in their 2024 Thunderbolts film, fans were immediately stunned by the absence of Baron Zemo from the team. In the Marvel Comics, the first iteration of characters to take on the mantle of Thunderbolts (like every Marvel Comics team, the roster has changed many times over the years) were led by Zemo under the guise of a hero known as Citizen V. With Zemo nowhere to be found among the members of this MCU-based team, fans began to wonder if Marvel Studios was simply withholding him from the public reveal to serve as a surprise later. After all, following the events of The Falcon and The Winter Soldier, there’s no readily recognizable reason that fans shouldn’t expect Zemo to return to the MCU.

    Actor Daniel Bruhl took his performance as Zemo up a notch in the Disney Plus streaming series and was given much more to do than in his previous turn in the role, making the lack of Zemo even a little more confusing to fans. He danced, he fought, he betrayed, he came back…by the end of the series, it would be hard to argue that Zemo wasn’t among the highlights of it. With fans anxious to have him back in the role and no news about him being attached to any upcoming projects, Radio Times asked Bruhl if he could say whether or not fans might expect him to turn up in Thunderbolts when it hits theaters. Bruhl, unfortunately, didn’t give much away.

    Even if I could… I couldn’t, you know. The only thing I can say, everybody knows – is I’m not dead!

    Daniel Bruhl

    Not only is Zemo not dead, his last scene in The Falcon and The Winter Soldier showed that he was still able to orchestrate large-scale operations from inside his prison cell in The Raft. Zemo, of course, is a man of great patience, so while he may not appear in the Thunderbolts, at least not as a member of the main team, it’s very likely there’s still some use for the character down the road which means fans will have to adopt his patience while they wait. But it does sound like Bruhl expects to revisit the character sometime soon.

    Source: Radio Times

  • Kevin Feige Teases Marvel Studios ‘Young Avengers’

    Kevin Feige Teases Marvel Studios ‘Young Avengers’

    Marvel Studios Phase 4 has seen the introduction of Billy and Tommy Maximoff, Elijah Bradley, Kate Bishop and America Chavez. Those characters join Cassie Lang as members of the comic book team knowns as the Young Avengers who are currently making their respective ways through the MCU. With fans now familiar with the members of the core team, it seems just a matter of time before they find themselves assembling and avenging. At last night’s premiere of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Marvel Studios One-Above-All Kevin Feige was asked what he could say about the potential future for the Young Avengers.

    I think people pick up what we’re putting down, sometimes, and we take our cues from the comics. And yes, introducing as many characters as we can from the comics is what I’ve spent the last 22 years doing and those are among the many that we’ve introduced.

    Kevin Feige

    It’s no secret that Marvel Studios was looking to develop a Young Avengers project not too long ago. As the Multiverse Saga goes on, it’s not clear if that project will be part of Phase 6, which now looks to begin in 2025 with Fantastic Four, or if their first team-up might take place in another live-action project. But given Feige’s response, it feels like fans should feel good about the chances of seeing them together sooner rather than later.