Murphy's Multiverse

Author: Charles Murphy

  • Marvel Updates Release Info for Two Upcoming Live-Action Streaming Projects

    Marvel Updates Release Info for Two Upcoming Live-Action Streaming Projects

    Both Marvel Animation and Marvel Television provided updates to their respective 2026 streaming slates on October 11th, with five total projects in the spotlight. On the animation side, streaming skipper Brad Winderbaum talked about the second seasons of X-Men ’97 and Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man, two shows the studio hopes to roll out annually for the foreseeable future. Winderbaum also brought news on three live-action projects set to debut in 2026: Wonder Man, Daredevil: Born Again Season 2 and VisionQuest, with Wonder Man‘s January 27th release date being revealed while the other projects were given more general windows.

    Coming out of NYCC, the 2026 streaming slate shaped up as follows:

    • January 27th: Wonder Man
    • TBD March: Daredevil: Born Again Season 2
    • Summer: X-Men ’97 Season 2
    • Fall: Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man Season 2
    • TBD 2026: VisionQuest

    Following the presentation, Disney has updated the information available about each project via their respective media kits, revealing a release date for Daredevil: Born Again Season 2 and a more defined release window for VisionQuest.

    The sophomore season of Daredevil: Born Again is now confirmed to begin streaming on March 4th, 2026 while VisionQuest has now been given a Fall 2026 release window.

    It is notable that Season 1 of Daredevil: Born Again debuted on Tuesday, March 4th, 2025 and that March 4th, 2026 will be a Wednesday. Over the past couple of years, Marvel Television has not established any real consistency in releasing episodes on Tuesdays or Wednesdays and the March 4th date is as true to Winderbaum‘s promise of the series being a flagship that fans can look forward to being released annually.

    In the case of VisionQuest, the Fall 2026 release sets up the series to be the final live-action project fans will take in before heading to theaters for Avengers: Doomsday on December 18, 2026. While the studio continues to work on reducing the number of projects that feel too intricately connected to the larger narrative, rumors have begun to swirl that VisionQuest may indeed include a major MCU plot point, connecting the series and its cast to the conclusion of the Multiverse Saga.

  • Marvel Reportedly Reviving a Second Netflix Defenders-Verse Series

    Marvel Reportedly Reviving a Second Netflix Defenders-Verse Series

    In a development that even Matt Murdock could see coming, Marvel Studios has bigger plans for Krysten Ritter‘s Jessica Jones than showing up in Daredevil: Born Again.

    With Daredevil: Born Again set to become Marvel Television’s flagship show–a third season is set to enter production next spring–it looks as though the Netflixification of Marvel’s streaming series will continue with a Jessica Jones revival. And while there’s no official word just yet, Season 4 will be “coming sooner than you think,” according to Marvel’s streaming skipper, Brad Winderbaum.

    While talking to Phase Hero’s Brandon Davis following NYCC, Winderbaum broke the news and then was joined by Ritter, who indicated that a new season may already be deep into development.

    “There’s a lot of stuff that I’ve felt there was room to explore, and Brad and I talked about it,” said Ritter, before adding “and I am not going to say any of it, because we’re going to be doing it.”

    Ritter’s portrayal of the drunk dick was nearly as popular with fans as Charlie Cox’s Daredevil. Season 1 of Jessica Jones was also one of Marvel’s most consistently great series, though subsequent seasons left a bit to be desired. With Marvel Television adopting a little different strategy, it’s likely a new season of Jessica Jones won’t debut until 2027 at the earliest but that the studio will be developing that season with an eye on future seasons.

    Source: Phase Hero

  • Marvel TV Boss Addresses the Future of ‘X-Men ’97’

    Marvel TV Boss Addresses the Future of ‘X-Men ’97’

    X-Men ’97 left fans wanting more when the first season wrapped its 10-episode in May 2024. One of Marvel’s most consistently excellent projects, the revival of the beloved X-Men: The Animated Series was originally planned to return to D+ in 2025 for Season 2; however, following the dismissal of original showrunner Beau DeMayo, the gap between seasons expanded. During New York Comic Con, Marvel’s streaming head honcho, Brad Winderbaum, gave fans a peek at Season 2 revealed plans for it to stream Summer 2026, more than two full years since Season 1 completed its run.

    Winderbaum has expressed a desire to have future seasons of X-Men ’97 “get to an annual cadence,” joining Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man as “something that people can rely on.” To that end, new showrunner Matthew Chauncey and the rest of the creative team have fallen into a groove, already working on Season 3…and beyond.

    What’s exciting about the next few years is that we’re going to get subsequent seasons of X-Men ’97 and Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man on an annual cadence. So every year, there’ll be a new season and we can map out a longer arc to those stories.

    -Head of Streaming, Television, and Animation at Marvel Studio, Brad Winderbaum

    “Season 3 is…I’ve almost seen animatics for the entire season, and it is incredible. I saw an episode the other day,” Winderbaum said in an interview with Collider following the Marvel Animation and Marvel Television panel. But he didn’t stop there.

    After he was fired, DeMayo revealed he had a five-season plan in place when he created the series and it looks like Winderbaum and the creative team behind X-Men ’97 will continue to work from that outline. “There is definitely, more than possibly, more to come from X-Men ‘97. We’re talking about Seasons 4 and 5 now,” said Marvel’s TV big cheese.

    Assuming Winderbaum’s “annual cadence” is kept, new seasons of X-Men ’97 will continue to hit D+ until at least 2029, giving fans their mutant throughout the decade!

    Source: Collider

  • ‘VisionQuest’ Timeline Opens Door for Major MCU Crossover

    ‘VisionQuest’ Timeline Opens Door for Major MCU Crossover

    Though it has been in development since late-2022, details about the Paul Bettany-led Vision-centric series–including an official title–proved difficult to pin down. That all changed during New York Comic Con 2025 when Bettany made a surprise appearance to discuss the series, now confirmed as VisionQuest.

    Described by Marvel.com as “the final installment in the trilogy that started with WandaVision and continued in last year’s Agatha All Along,” VisionQuest was originally developed by Jac Schaeffer before being handed off to Terry Matalas. The series, set to release in 2026, will follow the White Vision, last seen in the WandaVision finale, as he tries to regain a sense of who he was before being destroyed in Avengers: Endgame and rebuilt by S.W.O.R.D. as a weapon.

    What’s different about Vision right now is that Red Vision gave Vision all of his memories, including the memories from within the Hex. But White Vision is having real difficulty connecting to them.

    -Paul Bettany

    Part of that journey will involve a heavy dose of artificial intelligences that, like Vision, are part of Tony Stark’s legacy, including Henry Lewis as D.U.M.-E, Jonathan Sayer as U, James D’Arcy as J.A.R.V.I.S., Orla Brady as F.R.I.D.A.Y., Emily Hampshire as E.D.I.T.H, and James Spader as Ultron. And if that won’t put enough on the plate if the Synthezoid Avenger, the soul of his son Tommy is now inhabiting the body of Thomas Shepard, played by Ruaridh Mollica. Suffice it to say, there will be quite a bit going on in VisionQuest, however, where and when it takes place may just make things even more complicated.

    While discussing the series at NYCC, Bettany revealed that VisionQuest is set roughly one year after the events of WandaVision. At first glance, that may seem a relatively boring but of info; however, given a large portion of the series takes place in Madripoor, it’s possible the new series could share some narrative fabric with The Falcon and The Winter Soldier.

    First seen in The Falcon and The Winter Soldier, Madripoor is a lawless archipelago in Southeast Asia ruled by The Power Broker. In one of that series’ biggest twists, The Power Broker was revealed to be Sharon Carter, who fled to the island nation after stealing Steve Rogers’ shield and Sam Wilson’s EXO-7 Falcon wings from the Joint Counter Terrorist Centre. Despite being pardoned and rejoining the CIA, Carter continuedto work as The Power Broker. Though Emily VanCamp has not been reported to be part of the cast of Vision, it seems possible she might have a role in the project, perhaps as the one who puts Todd Stashwick‘s Paladin on the trail of Vision’s tech.

    In the MCU timeline, The Falcon and The Winter Soldier takes place in 2024 and is set one year after the events of WandaVision. Bettany‘s comments certainly don’t confirm that VisionQuest will take place when Sam and Bucky are in Madripor with Zemo but it does open the door to any of them or Carter making an appearance in the series. Could this be why Matalas described a scene in the finale of VisionQuest as “kind of a Marvel dream”? Or is he referring to the finale reuniting the Maximoff boys? We’ll have to find out together in 2026.

  • NYCC Exclusive ‘X-Men ’97’ Season 2 Trailer Leak Reveals New Teams, Alliances and Villains

    NYCC Exclusive ‘X-Men ’97’ Season 2 Trailer Leak Reveals New Teams, Alliances and Villains

    The first season of Marvel Animation’s X-Men ’97 found the right mix of nostalgia and discontent and became an instant hit. Following a season finale full of cameos and cliffhangers, the wait for Season 2–originally set for 2025--got a little longer following the dismissal of showrunner Beau DeMayo as the studio made some changes to the new season’s story. If the first look at the sophomore season of the revival, unveiled at New York Comic Con, is anything to go by, it was time well spent.

    The first trailer for X-Men ’97 Season was shown twice at NYCC and was not intended to be released to the public just yet; however, a fan in attendance recorded it and shared it on X and fans of the show are certain to be glad he did.

    https://twitter.com/searcher_gold/status/1977161534376726966?t=3p2yXqNnpev4a8b_AMCsyQ&s=19

    Apocalypse is front and center in the trailer, indicating that DeMayo‘s plan to adapt “Age of Apocalypse” for the second season remained intact after Matthew Chauncey replaced him. The first look also reveals what became of Cyclops, Jean, and the rest of the time-displaced X-Men, while also showing that those left behind have teamed up with some surprising allies. Omega Red, X-Factor, Danger and Polaris all popped up in the trailer as well, expanding the roster of characters and potential stories which is necessary for a story that remains told at a breakneck pace.

    Season 2 of X-Men ’97 will stream on Disney Plus Summer 2026!

  • ‘Wonder Man’ Trailer Canonizes Another Shared Universe into the MCU

    ‘Wonder Man’ Trailer Canonizes Another Shared Universe into the MCU

    As part of the Marvel Animation and Marvel Television panel at New York Comic Con, the first teaser for the upcoming eight-episode streaming series Wonder Man was released. The series, starring Yahya Abdul-Mateen II as Simon Williams and Sir Ben Kingsley as Trevor Slatter, follows Williams as the actor “seeks to make his mark in the world of blockbuster Super Hero movies.”

    From the minds of Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings director Destin Daniel Cretton and Brooklyn Nine-Nine writer Andrew Guest, Wonder Man will dive into the entertainment industry and looks to be fairly self-aware. While the main premise revolves around Williams hoping to land the role of Wonder Man in a modern-day remake of a superhero film from his youth, it looks as though it won’t be the only role Williams plays.

    As seen in the trailer, Williams will play the role of Professor Harpin in an episode of an in-universe season of American Horror Story.

    At the :46 mark of the teaser, a trailer door reveals that Professor Harpin is a character in American Horror Story, as the logo for the popular horror anthology can be seen.

    While it’s nothing more than a fun Easter egg, it does indeed canonize the beloved Ryan Murphy series into the Marvel Cinematic Universe, giving it a little touch of reality. Though AHS is an FX Original, Disney acquired the network in its 2019 deal with 21st Century Fox, allowing the show to be included.

    Source: Marvel

  • ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’ Set Video Sets Off Speculation on the Identity of Liza Colón-Zayas’ Role 

    ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’ Set Video Sets Off Speculation on the Identity of Liza Colón-Zayas’ Role 

    Since Tom Holland returned to the set of Spider-Man: Brand New Day, photos and videos from the set have indicated that one of the film’s major set pieces will involve Michael Mando‘s Mac Gargan being pursued by Jon Bernthal‘s Frank Castle. Recently, Mando was spotted on set exiting a helicopter in the same prison gear he was wearing at the end of Spider-Man: Homecoming. Fans have generated plenty of theories about what might happen in that scene, including the potential for the adaptation of an incredible action sequence based on a portion of a scene from a video game but whatever the case, it looks like the aftermath will be nothing short of disastrous.

    A new behind the scenes video shared by X user @batuhansafakk shows Spidey working with first responders in the midst of a significant mess in the streets. At one point during the footage, a female police officer approaches Spider-Man and the two have an extended conversation. Even given the distance from which the footage was recorded, it seems clear that the actress working with Holland is Liza Colón-Zayas, who was cast in the film earlier this year. And given that she’s a police officer working closely with Spidey, speculation about the identity of her character has taken off.

    When she was originally cast, fans speculated that Colón-Zayas may end up playing Miles Morales mother, Rio. Now, thanks to online scooper My Time To Shine Hello, a new theory has taken hold and it does indeed track with Marvel Studios and Sony setting Spider-Man: Brand New Day on the streets.

    MTTSH believes Colón-Zayas could be playing NYPD Detective Jean DeWolff, an ally of Spidey’s created by Bill Mantl and first introduced in 1976’s Marvel Team-Up #48. The two formed a close working relationship over the years and her death at the hands of her partner Stan Carter, the Sin-Eater, took a major toll on the Web-Slinger. In the Ultimate Universe, DeWolff worked with Spidey but was ultimately revealed to be a pawn of the Kingpin.

    Should Colón-Zayas indeed be playing a version of DeWolff, she’ll be this version of Spidey’s first NYPD ally and could end up as a recurring character, setting up an adaptation of Peter David‘s four-part “The Death of Jean DeWolff” arc, considered one of the best Spidey stories of all time.

  • Marvel Studios Reportedly Sets ‘X-Men’ Release Date

    Marvel Studios Reportedly Sets ‘X-Men’ Release Date

    Work is well underway on Marvel Studios X-Men which Kevin Feige has said will come after Avengers: Secret Wars, kicking off “a new age of mutants.” Directed by Jake Schreier, the “youth-focused reboot” will be markedly different than Fox’s take on the mutant heroes and has been expected to be on track to be one of the studio’s four 2028 releases. Now we know which one.

    According to Jeff “The In” Sneider, Marvel Studios plans to release X-Men on May 5, 2028.

    As Sneider mentioned in his report, the film will be releasing nearly 20 years to the day after Iron Man kicked off the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Given the studio’s struggles during its current Multiverse Saga, Disney will be looking to ensure Marvel’s X-Men gets the next saga off to a hot start, especially with Feige’s claim that finally having the live-action rights to the characters is a “dream come true.”

    Source: The InSneider

  • Matthew Lillard’s Antagonistic ‘Daredevil: Born Again’ Role Revealed

    Matthew Lillard’s Antagonistic ‘Daredevil: Born Again’ Role Revealed

    When OG Ghostface killer Matthew Lillard joined the cast of Daredevil: Born Again in March 2025 ahead of production on Season 2, fans theorized that the modern day horror icon might be playing Daredevil baddie Mister Fear. A bit of a Scarecrow analog, the moniker of Mister Fear has been filled by four different characters over the years and unless there’s a real big lie being told, Lillard won’t be playing any of those when the series hits D+ next March.

    In an interview with EW, Marvel TV boss Brad Winderbaum revealed that Lillard will be playing named Mister Charles, an international power player and an antagonistic force working against Wilson Fisk.

    “The story is about power. When Wilson Fisk takes over New York, not just as a mayor but as a king in a way, it puts him in a new class of power players on the international stage,” said Winderbaum of Season 2.

    “Matthew Lillard’s character represents that. So he’s a bit of a new antagonist on the field, but he’s as influential in many ways as Fisk is. That power negotiation at a very high level of politics and international diplomacy is also fun to watch. He is dealing with Mr. Charles up here and Daredevil down here for different reasons. So he’s getting squeezed a little bit.”

    While he’s certainly not Marvel’s most famous Charles, a Mr. Charles does exist in  the comics, having made just one appearance in 2013’s AAFES #15. Interestingly, though he was entirely inconsequential on the page, Mr. Charles was affiliated with the powerful Roxxon Corporation which could indeed become involved with Fisk’s bourgeoning empire as attempts to expand offshore.

    Though it hasn’t even had a major presence in the MCU, Roxxon appeared in all three Iron Man films and played a more significant role in the Netflix Defenders-verse series.

    Source: EW

  • Marvel Studios Delays the Release of Its Next Streaming Series

    Marvel Studios Delays the Release of Its Next Streaming Series

    In an effort to ensure it gets a fair shot with audiences, Marvel Studios is shuffling its next streaming series into 2026.

    Originally set to debut in December 2025, the Marvel Spotlight series Wonder Man will now stream in January 2026. According to Head of Streaming, Television, and Animation at Marvel Studios, Brad Winderbaum, the studio took inspiration for the move from the release schedule of WandaVision, which debuted on January 15, 2021.

    “We don’t want it to get swallowed up by people watching Home Alone and Die Hard and Elf,” said Winderbaum of the move, which comes ahead of Marvel Animation and Marvel Television’s appearance at New York Comic Con.

    Created by Spider-Man: Brand New Day director Destin Daniel Cretton and Andrew Guest, Wonder Man stars Yahya Abdul-Mateen as Simon Williams and his journey trying to make his way as an actor in Hollywood. 

    Source: EW