Murphy's Multiverse

Author: Charles Murphy

  • Kevin Feige Confirms ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’ Co-Star

    Kevin Feige Confirms ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’ Co-Star

    Jon Bernthal may currently be busy filming scenes in New York City for The Punisher Special Presentation but according to Marvel Studios’ One Above All, Kevin Feige, it won’t be the only project the actor films this summer. Earlier this year, rumors and a trade report indicated Bernthal was set to star alongside his buddy Tom Holland in Spider-Man: Brand New Day. Now, in an interview with Collider, Feige has confirmed that is indeed the plan.

    “I think there’s a promise at the end of No Way Home, that for as sad as it is that Peter is forgotten by everyone in his life, we are seeing for the first time in the Tom Holland Spider–Man stories him being a proper Spider-Man,” said Feige of how the previous Spider-Man film has set up the story for the upcoming fourth installment in the franchise, set to be directed by Destin Daniel Cretton. “Him being by himself, dedicated to saving the city, and dealing with — for lack of better terms — street-level crime, as opposed to world-ending events,” he added.

    And with the Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man fighting crime on the streets of New York City, it’s only a matter of time before he runs into Frank Castle. “So when you do that, you say, ‘okay, who are the other street-level characters that we’ve never seen him interact with?’ And of course, I love that The Punisher started in a Spider-Man comic. That great cover… I don’t want to say too much, but Destin — I will say too much — Destin is doing an amazing job right now on that movie, which starts shooting very soon. And he’s got eight or nine comic covers up on his wall in his art department that he is bringing to life in this movie, which is super cool.”

    Additional rumors indicate that Bernthal won’t be the only established Marvel Studios star joining Holland in the film. While it’s yet to be confirmed, Mark Ruffalo has been linked to the project as well, with more than one rumor suggesting that his Hulk will go savage and take on Spider-Man and Punisher for at least some portion of the film. Throw in Sadie Sink’s yet-to-be-revealed role and it sounds as though Spider-Man: Brand New Day will be quite the entry in the MCU-based Spidey franchise.

    Spider-Man: Brand New Day is currently set to swing into theaters on July 31, 2026.

    Source: Collider

  • Kevin Feige Teases Marvel’s Post-‘Secret Wars’ Slate Which Runs Through 2032

    Kevin Feige Teases Marvel’s Post-‘Secret Wars’ Slate Which Runs Through 2032

    Marvel Studios won’t be making a splash by revealing its upcoming slate in Hall H during SDCC this weekend but that doesn’t mean the powers that be at the studio aren’t working hard on putting it together. As of now, the studio has only scheduled films through 2028, but as always, Marvel Studios’ One Above All, Kevin Feige is kicking the can quite a bit further down the road. “It’s traditionally a five-year plan,” he said. “I think it goes to 2032 right now.”

    With the studio looking to release between 1 to 3 films a year and having only officially commented on a few projects in the works (Black Panther 3, X-Men and the long-delayed Blade film), that leaves quite a few holes to fill on that new slate. Given the looming success of The Fantastic Four: First Steps, a sequel to that film seems all but a sure thing and there are plenty of other projects that have either been rumored or known to be in development but, as of now, Feige would only offer up a tease of how the studio hopes to return to one of its greatest strengths.

    “We were talking about a structure of an upcoming post-‘Secret Wars’ movie that I won’t name,” he said during a recent press event. “But I will say, like Shang-Chi, [it’s] getting back to what genre haven’t we done and want to do and how could this movie be that genre? [We would] focus on a singular storyline by embracing a certain genre we haven’t seen in a while. [It’s] remembering what cinema is and what movie going is and what entertaining audiences is,” said the Marvel boss.

    While that’s about all he gave away in terms of teasing upcoming projects, Feige did reveal that the seven-year plan will see 2027’s Multiverse Saga finale, Avengers: Secret Wars, “reset” the Marvel Cinematic Universe rather than reboot it.” “Reboot is a scary word,” said Marvel’s Big Cheese. “Reboot can mean a lot of things to a lot of people. Reset, singular timeline — we’re thinking along those lines.”

    According to Feige, resetting the MCU means recasting roles, some of which have been filled by beloved actors for more than a decade…or two. “X-Men is where that will happen next,” he revealed while talking about the studio’s upcoming film, which he confirmed will be helmed by Thunderbolts* director Jake Schreier. However, the future won’t just feature new actors as Cyclops and Jean Grey; it will also include the studio eventually recasting the roles of Captain America, Iron Man and Black Panther, among others.

    They have been a place to tell stories about young people who feel different and who feel Other and who feel like they don’t belong. That’s the universal story of mutants, and that is where we’re going.

    -Kevin Feige on Marvel Studios X-Men

    “Amy Pascal and David Heyman are now searching for a new James Bond,” said Feige of Sony’s efforts to relaunch the 007 franchise. “David [Corenswet], the new Superman — he was awesome. That will always be the case,” Feige said of seeing new names take over roles from previous stars. “I think it’s hard for anybody to do that when an actor has done such a great role,” he said of replacing actors such as Chris Evans and Robert Downey Jr. in iconic roles before adding. “How are they going to ever replace Sean Connery [as James Bond], right?“

    It’s interesting that Feige chose to sat down with reporters rather than attempt to thrill fans at SDCC; however, given the major changes to the plans the studio revealed at SDCC ’19 and SDCC ’22, the days of the major slate reveals may be behind Marvel Studios or, at the very least, they’ll be done in much smaller doses. For now, it’s clear that the bulk of the studio’s attention is being directed toward making sure Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars leave fans satiated with the Multiverse Saga before taking yet another step into the unknown in 2028.

    Source: Variety

  • Kevin Feige Reveals Why Miles Morales Has Yet to Appear in the MCU

    Kevin Feige Reveals Why Miles Morales Has Yet to Appear in the MCU

    Since first appearing in Marvel Comics Ultimate Fallout #4 in 2011, Miles Morales has become one of Marvel’s most popular and important characters. In addition to becoming a major player for the publisher, Morales is also the centerpiece of both a video game franchise and an animated movie trilogy by Sony, while also appearing in a handful of other animated projects. In less than 15 years, Miles Morales has developed into one of Marvel’s most marketable characters and has popped up everywhere…except in a live-action film.

    In 2023, producer Amy Pascal indicated that Sony was developing a live-action Miles Morales feature film and in 2024, Marvel Studios’ Big Cheese, Kevin Feige, shared his hopes that the character would one day appear in a live-action MCU film once the animated Spider-Verse trilogy concluded. Now, in a wide-ranging press event, Feige has revealed why the character has not yet appeared in a Marvel Studios film despite being referenced in Spider-Man: Homecoming.

    When asked to update the status of the live-action Morales-centric project, Feige provided a blunt response. “That is nowhere,” he stated, before adding some context.”Sony has their brilliant, genius, incredible Spider-Verse animated franchise going and until that finishes, we’ve been told to stay away,” Feige explained, dampening hopes for the character to make an appearance in next year’s Spider-Man: Brand New Day.

    Sony’s Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse, the finale of the Spider-Verse trilogy, will release on June 25, 2027, six months before Marvel Studios wraps up the Multiverse Saga in Avengers: Secret Wars on December 17, 2027. Perhaps coincidentally, both films have seen their release dates changed in the past few months, creating the opportunity for Morales to debut in Avengers: Secret Wars, should Sony and Marvel Studios be able to agree upon a fitting entrance. Given the lengths Marvel has gone to include characters from non-MCU films in the Multiverse Saga and the fact that the Spider-Verse franchise is also rooted in the Multiverse, it’s entirely possible that there’s more than serendipity at work and that a dovetail from the Spider-Verse to Secret Wars may be carved, allowing the popular animated version of the character to enter the live-action fray.

    Source: Variety

  • Kevin Feige Updates the Status of Marvel Studios’ Long-Delayed ‘Blade’ Reboot

    Kevin Feige Updates the Status of Marvel Studios’ Long-Delayed ‘Blade’ Reboot

    Somehow, Wesley Snipes‘ Blade made a full-fledged appearance in an MCU film before Mahershala Ali‘s take on the character. Six years ago, when Marvel Studios One Above All, Kevin Feige, electrified the Hall H crowd during Marvel’s SDCC ’19 panel by announcing the Ali-led Blade film was in development, that would have seemed impossible; however, getting that film off the ground has proven quite a chore for Feige and the Marvel Studios Parliament.

    Production on Blade has been delayed multiple times beginning with the decision of original director Bassam Tariq to leave the film in 2022. At least five different writers have taken a turn on the script after original scribe Stacey Osei-Koffour parted ways with the project with Marvel Studios’ vet Eric Pearson (Black Widow, Thunderbolts*) having most recently penned a draft. Without a director since Tariq’s replacement, Yann Demange, bailed in June 2024, there was simply no way Blade was making it in front of cameras and was ultimately removed from the studio’s 2025 theatrical slate. Fans have begun to believe that they may never see the film but according to Feige, that’s simply not the case as the studio and Ali remain committed to the project.

    “You can start and have a good script and make it a great script through production, but we didn’t feel confident we could do that on Blade,” said Feige during a recent press event at Marvel HQ. “We didn’t want to do that to Mahershala and didn’t want to do that to us.“

    “We didn’t want to put a leather outfit on [Ali] and have him start killing vampires,” he explained, adding that after looking at a couple of different versions of the film that would have been period pieces, the studio “landed on modern day and that’s what we’re focusing on.”

    As for when the studio expects the film to begin principal photography or hit theaters, Feige didn’t say, choosing to tease a seven-year plan that would keep the MCU going strong through 2032…if we’re all lucky, Blade might make it to theaters between now and then.

    Source: Deadline

  • James Gunn Addresses the Status of DC Studios ‘Swamp Thing’

    James Gunn Addresses the Status of DC Studios ‘Swamp Thing’

    When James Gunn and Peter Safran pulled back the curtain to reveal their initial plans for DCU Chapter One: Gods and Monsters in January 2023, there were plenty of surprises. While the DC Studios’ co-chairs intended to–and in fact did–launch the new connected universe with one of comic’s greatest characters, Superman (originally titled Superman: Legacy), the slate also included projects featuring some DC Comics characters that aren’t necessarily household names.

    One such project announced to be in development was a Swamp Thing feature film with James Mangold attached to direct. Described by Safran as a horror film intended to “investigate the dark origins” of the character, the film was said to be “tonally different” than other DCU fare while still being “interconnected” to the rest of the slate.

    That slate has changed considerably, however, since being announced, leaving fans to wonder if many projects, Swamp Thing among them, are still being developed. In an interview with Josh. Horowitz, Gunn was asked to update the status of Swamp Thing and revealed that for the time being, the project is still being worked on.

    “We talked to James (Mangold) the other day. No, he hasn’t delivered a script. He’s been distracted with his billion of movies,” said Gunn. “We’re talking about it again.”

    One of those films distracting Mangold may be his Star Wars: Dawn of the Jedi movie which was recently said to have been coming together relatively quickly and moved ahead of the Daisy Ridley-led Star Wars: New Jedi Order project. If that’s the case, it’s highly unlikely that Swamp Thing finds its way into theaters at any point within the next two years which was the original plan for the first ten projects revealed in 2023. However, with a Wonder Woman film gathering momentum at the studio, it seems the focus has somewhat shifted toward getting DC’s Trinity and other heavy hitters to the screen sooner than expected, while still leaving room for other projects such as Clayface or Sgt. Rock.

    Source: Happy Sad Confused

  • New BTS Videos Show Jon Bernthal Back in Costume and in Action on the Set of ‘The Punisher’ Special Presentation

    New BTS Videos Show Jon Bernthal Back in Costume and in Action on the Set of ‘The Punisher’ Special Presentation

    As has been the case with both seasons of Daredevil: Born Again, The Punisher: Special Presentation is filming out in the open in the streets of New York City. As such, it is to be expected that plenty of plset photos, snapped by paps and the public alike, will make their way online and so far, that’s exactly how it’s played out.

    The Special Presentation, co-written by star Jon Bernthal and Reinaldo Marcus Green, began principal photography earlier this week and it didn’t take long for images of a hard-boiled looking Frank Castle to make the rounds. While Castle was laying low on those photos, a trip of new videos show the former Marine back in action…and suited up in his iconic vest.

    The action looks to be taking place in and around Gnucci’s Family Restaurant, owner by the rumored villain of the feature, Ma Gnucci. Though she’s yet to appear, Frank wiped out several members of the Gnucci Crime Family, including her son Tony, in Episode 1.01 of Netflix’s The Punisher. It’s likely that Ma would be out for vengeance and equally likely that Frank would be up for finishing the job.

    The Punisher Special Presentation will debut on Disney Plus in 2026.

  • The Ultimate List of What to Watch Before ‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps’

    The Ultimate List of What to Watch Before ‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps’

    WandaVision director Matt Shakman was tasked with solving everything and finding a way to bring Marvel’s First Family into the MCU. By setting the film in a retrofuturistic alternate universe, Earth-828, Shakman freed it–and the fans–from the shackles an increasingly gargantuan shared narrative.

    Set against the vibrant backdrop of a 1960s-inspired, retro-futuristic world, Marvel Studios’ The Fantastic Four: First Steps introduces Marvel’s First Family—Reed Richards/Mister Fantastic, Sue Storm/Invisible Woman, Johnny Storm/Human Torch and Ben Grimm/The Thing as they face their most daunting challenge yet.

    -Synopsis for The Fantastic Four: First Steps
    (L-R): Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Ben Grimm/The Thing, Vanessa Kirby as Sue Storm/Invisible Woman, Pedro Pascal as Reed Richards/Mister Fantastic and Joseph Quinn as Johnny Storm/Human Torch in 20th Century Studios/Marvel Studios’ THE FANTASTIC FOUR: FIRST STEPS. Photo courtesy of 20th Century Studios/Marvel Studios. © 2025 20th Century Studios / © and ™ 2025 MARVEL.

    Originally announced by Kevin Feige at SDCC ’19, The Fantastic Four: First Steps, originally intended to be directed by Jon Watts, is finally hitting theaters next week and that means it’s time for…The Ultimate List of What to Watch Before…The Fantastic Four: First Steps.

    It is a no-homework-required movie. It literally is not connected to anything we’ve made before.

    -Kevin Feige

    For the first time in a long time, maybe since Iron Man launched the Marvel Cinematic Universe in 2008, there’s no required reading, no homework and nothing to watch that will add to the experience of a Marvel Studios film. Incredibly enough, The Fantastic Four: First Steps stands completely on its own.

    Tier 1

    Not a single thing

    Tier 2

    Yep, still nothing

    Tier 3

    Nothing

  • Wonder Woman Casting: The Search for a New DCU Star

    Wonder Woman Casting: The Search for a New DCU Star

    The future of the all-new DCU was riding on the successful launch of James Gunn‘s Superman. As the new film , which was a hit with audiences and critics, closes in on $200 million at the domestic box office, it seems safe to say that, at least for now, the future is secure… though it certainly won’t look much like the original plan laid out by Gunn and SC Studios’ co-chair Peter Safran.

    While Supergirl and Lanterns, which were both included in the first look at the studio’s Gods and Monsters slate, are on track for release in 2026, they’ll be joined by Clayface, a true horror film, which only took shape over the past year. Beyond that, projects such as Booster Gold, Swamp Thing and Paradise Lost, seem to have lost all creative momentum; however, there’s no shortage of ideas in the queue and it sounds as though one of them is starting to move ahead quickly.

    After a recent report by Variety claimed that a Wonder Woman movie was being fast tracked at DC Studios, longtime industry insider Umberto Gonzalez has added fuel to that fire. According to Gonzalez, who recently appeared on The Box Office Podcast, the studio has begun the search for an actress to portray the DCU’s Princess Diana of Themyscira.

    Gonzalez indicated that Gunn and Safran are following the same plan that led them to Milly Alcock as the shared universe’s Supergirl and are looking for a not-so-household name with a TV-heavy resume rather than an actress with a background in big studio fare. It’s a new age at the box office and it appears that saving salary will be a primary concern as the new studio gets up and running.

    For his part, Gunn has confirmed that Wonder Woman is in development, though he certainly has not given any indication it has been fast tracked. “I mean, it’s not going to be until the scripts are ready,” Gunn said recently when asked about when fans might expect to see Batman and Wonder Woman join Superman in the DCU. “So, both the scripts (The Brave and the Bold and Wonder Woman) are being written now, and, if they’re good, then we’ll go into production immediately.”

    Given Gunn’s recent comments that one planned film was abandoned because the writer could not put together a good script, the news is equal measures good and not so good; however, the studio is unlikely to bail on a member of the Trinity, meaning a new Wonder Woman film WILL happen, even if we can’t say when just yet.

    Source: The Box Office Podcast

  • Welcome Back, Frank! Photos Reveal Jon Bernthal’s Hard-Boiled Frank Castle on Set of ‘The Punisher’ Special Presentation

    Welcome Back, Frank! Photos Reveal Jon Bernthal’s Hard-Boiled Frank Castle on Set of ‘The Punisher’ Special Presentation

    In the finale of Daredevil: Born Again, after taking a beating at the hands of the Anti-Vigilante Task Force, Frank Castle is imprisoned in Wilson Fisk’s facility at the Red Hook free port, alongside other enemies of Fisk, including Tony Dalton‘s Jack Duquesne, aka The Swordsman. In a relatively ridiculous post-credits scene, Frank talks to a guard named Anthony Petruccio, who idolizes the Punisher. Frank uses his charisma to convince the guard to shake his hand. When the guard extends his arm through a small opening in the cage, Frank breaks his arm, snags his keys and makes his escape, setting the stage for Marvel Television’s 2026 The Punisher Special Presentation.

    With principal photography on the Special Presentation, co-written by star Jon Bernthal and Reinaldo Marcus Green, now underway in New York, set photos have begun to circulate online. Earlier today, photos of an NYC storefront being remade into Gnucci’s Restaurant seemingly confirmed that mob boss Ma Gnucci will serve as the main antagonist of the project, backing Marvel insider Daniel Richtman’s claim about the feature’s big bad. Now, a new series of photos has provided a first look at Bernthal‘s Castle, who is once again sporting the “no, I’m not The Punisher” beard.

    To check out the entire series of set photos, you’ll have to head over to Just Jared but from the looks of it, The Punisher Special Presentation is likely to begin with Frank on the down low, looking to avoid the kind of attention walking around with a giant skull painted on his chest might bring.

    Marvel Studios has had very little to say about the new project, which is set to film for just a few weeks in New York. With that in mind, it’s unclear exactly what the timeline for it is, making it possible it takes place right after Frank escapes from Fisk’s dungeon or following the conclusion of Season 2 of Daredevil: Born Again, making it a bridge to Bernthal’s next MCU appearance in Spider-Man: Brand New Day. Either way, with the Special Presentation possibly adapting Garth Ennis‘ BRUTAL 12-issue “Welcome Back, Frank” arc, fans are likely in for some more of that dark, gritty and violent fare straight from the old Netflix days.

    Source: Just Jared

  • New Report Reveals Mephisto’s Next MCU Stop

    New Report Reveals Mephisto’s Next MCU Stop

    Sacha Baron Cohen‘s secret role in Marvel Television’s Ironheart was one of Hollywood’s worst-kept secrets. Despite efforts to keep the true identity of Cohen‘s “Mystery Man” from leaking, word of the actor portraying the role of Mephisto made its way online in early 2022, more than three years before the Great Corrupter popped up in the Ironheart series finale.

    Cohen brilliantly brought Mephisto to life, bringing a superficial graciousness to the character whose only true goal is collecting souls. With major changes to Marvel Studios’ plans between the production and release of Ironheart, fans have been theorizing when–if at all–Mephisto May next appear and it seems as though there may not be an answer.

    According to Marvel Studios insider Daniel Richtman, Cohen will step back into the shoes of the Master of Malice in the long-rumored supernatural team-up film, Midnight Sons.

    Though Marvel Studios has never officially addressed the property, a Midnight Sons film has been rumored to be in development since 2022, with Werewolf By Night director Michael Giacchino having originally been attached to direct. In 2024, Fede Álvarez‘s name popped up on the radar as a potential director with Logan scribe Michael Green working on a screenplay for Marvel and the studio hoping to fast track the project.

    With the studio potentially looking to get Midnight Sons off the ground ahead of the long-troubled Blade reboot, it tracks that they’d be starting to move toward putting together a cast and having Cohen’s Mephisto front and center as a major antagonist is a great start.