Murphy's Multiverse

Author: dalbinosorio

  • Taking a Closer Look at the Potential Origin of Ms. Marvel’s New Abilities

    Taking a Closer Look at the Potential Origin of Ms. Marvel’s New Abilities

    The Marvel Cinematic Universe has consistently looked to the comics for inspiration in its adaptations. We saw it with the Superhero Registration Act being turned into the Sokovia Accords or even recently having Marc Spector waking up in an institution. Some adaptations are straightforward, while others are altered slightly to fit an overarching story. Carol Danvers, to give an example didn’t get her powers from the Space Stone in the comics. With Phase 4 seemingly being all about legacy and the responsibility that God-like beings hold, it shouldn’t be a surprise then to see more connections bringing these themes together. Perhaps they are already planning the seeds with Kamala Khan’s new powers.

    In the first trailer for Ms. Marvel, we got to see how Kamala’s powers are being adapted for Disney+. It revealed that she was going to become a more cosmic-powered superhero similar to the two other “marvels” that now exist within the MCU rather than the traditional Embigenning abilities from the comics. Yet, it opens up the question of where exactly these newfound powers come from. As mentioned previously, Captain Marvel received her powers from the Space Stone. The other member of The Marvels, Monica Rambeau, also was given abilities indirectly through an Infinity Stone. Could we see the same with Kamala?

    The trailer may be the key to finding out just how she gains her abilities. We see her put on bracelets of some kind and are surrounded by a mysterious energy. Perhaps there’s a chance that what she is wearing is the MCU’s version of the Quantum Bands? In the comics, the cosmic entity and Eternal known as Eon would acquire these mysterious artifacts from Kronos, the father of Zeus, who was just recently teased in the first Thor: Love and Thunder trailer.

    In the comics, Eon was originally trying to find ways to counteract Thanos’ plans. He gave Mar-Vell the knowledge and weapons needed to attempt to stop the Mad Titans. Perhaps something similar happened in the MCU. At the time, we all wondered how Carol Danvers arrived back on Earth at precisely the right time in Avengers: Endgame, and this could easily be how. As we see more and more godly entities within the MCU, it wouldn’t be too out there that Eon also has found his place within the cinematic universe and through Carol Danvers’ travel to earth, she brought them with her.

    As their name implies, they pull their energy from the Quantum Zone, which we were introduced to in the Ant-Man franchise as the Quantum Realm. So, there are already enough elements within the MCU to build up the connection of her abilities being based on the Quantum Bands. They might change the origin, as even the Tesseract was originally the Cosmic Cube and had no relation to the Infinity Stones in the comics. So, they could even have a connection to an Infinity Stone similar to keep the connective tissue between Marvel’s abilities. Perhaps upcoming trailers might help solidify that very connection as we near its June release.

  • The Multiverse NFL Mock Draft: Post-Combine Edition

    The Multiverse NFL Mock Draft: Post-Combine Edition

    We are full speed ahead here with our NFL coverage at the Multiverse HQ. Today, we bring you our first mock draft, and this comes on the heels of a flurry of moves by teams during this free agency period. We’ll have winners and losers up on the site soon, but let’s pivot to the NFL Draft and see what we think teams will do now that they’ve made all their big acquisitions.

    1. Jaguars select EDGE Aidan Hutchinson: once they franchise-tagged LT Cam Robinson and signed former Commanders OG Brandon Scherff, this firmly took them out of the Ikem Ekwonu/Evan Neal conversation. With Pro Bowl OLB Josh Allen being the only pass rushing threat on this team, the Jags get him some help in the form of the former Wolverine. Hutchinson had 14 sacks last year and should be a workhorse at the next level.

    2. Detroit Lions select QB Malik Willis: with two first round picks, the Lions select the most talented QB in this class with one of them. Willis is dynamic off platform and has shown the ability to make all the throws. Where he needs help the most (accuracy), he can work on while sitting behind Jared Goff.

    3. Houston Texans select S Kyle Hamilton: a new contract for LT Laremy Tunsil has me thinking the Texans don’t opt for OL in this scenario, and instead give Marvin Lewis a moveable chess piece on the backend of his Texans defense. Hamilton isn’t Ed Reed or Troy Polamalu, but he’s a good player with the kind of versatility you need from your safeties in this NFL.

    4. New York Jets select EDGE Kayvon Thibadeaux: the Jets will be tempted to go OL here if they don’t sign Cowboys OL La’el Collins, and Ikem Ekwonu is the 2nd best player in this class, in my opinion. However, Robert Saleh saw what the Niners got from a top-rated pass rusher added through the draft and I think that’s the pick they make here. Thibadeaux has been scrutinized to no end, but he’s got a Osi Umenyiora floor and a Javon Kearse ceiling, and improves this Jets pass rush.

    5. New York Giants select OT Charles Cross: the Giants get a best-case scenario in this setting where they get to pick which OL they want to pair with Andrew Thomas to bookend their unit. I think new Head Coach Brian Daboll prioritizes a nimble OL as oppose to a mauler, and this gives the slight edge to Charles Cross. Ekwonu and Evan Neal are both better, but Cross isn’t that far behind, and he helps the Giants keep Daniel Jones/Tyrod Taylor when he takes over upright.

    6. Carolina Panthers take OL Ikem Ekwonu: Sam Darnold and Matt Rhule will probably both be off this team next year, but Rhule leaves the Panthers with one parting gift in the form of the best OL in this class. Ekwonu could’ve gone at any slot ahead of this one, but falls here to Carolina where he will block for Darnold for a year before the Panthers GM cleans house and gets their QB of the future in here.

    7. New York Giants select EDGE Travon Walker: a player I’m not admittedly high on, as his pass rush repertoire is virtually non-existent at this point, but the NFL seems determined to make this happen. Walker had an insane combine and, coupled with no red flags, this means a team in the top 10 will most likely roll the dice. The only team that has that type of a leash to where they can sit and develop a guy is the Giants, so Walker goes here.

    8. Atlanta Falcons select WR Drake London: as of this writing, Matt Ryan is still their QB, and they need another pass catcher in the building given that Calvin Ridley is gone for a year and they lost Russell Cage to the Bucs. They could opt for the more-polished Garrett Wilson, but I think the Falcons prioritize the ability to win contested catches, and that’s London’s game. With this pick, Arthur Smith tries to replicate the bully pass catcher mantra he had with the Titans.

    9. Seattle Seahawks select CB Sauce Gardner: the first pick of the post-Russell Wilson era has Pete Carroll trying to shore up what was once a strength for this team. With Gardner, you get a confident player who has the results to back it up. He gave up no touchdowns in college, albeit against some weak competition.

    10. New York Jets select WR Garrett Wilson: if the Falcons had taken Wilson, the Jets would’ve taken London, in my opinion, but I don’t think the Falcons do that so the Jets get a top 3 WR in this class at 10. They have Elijah Moore and Corey Davis, and I’d trade for Robert Woods if I’m them because I don’t think you can have enough pass catchers, but giving Wilson to Zach Wilson after all the work up front means you’ve given him a chance now. Wilson is a polished route runner with the hands of a catcher, and he elevates the Jets pass catching group.

    11. Washington Commanders select LB Devin Lloyd: Ron Rivera wants his Luke Kuechly, and he gets that in the Utah standout. Lloyd is a modern LBer who can play sideline to sideline and cover, and is better than last year’s first rounder Jamin Davis. This pick allows Rivers to slide Davis to OLB, where the Commanders are currently playing Cold Holcomb. Lloyd and Davis give Rivera his Kuechly/Thomas Davis LB duo in the nation’s capital.

    12. Minnesota Vikings select CB Kair Elam: the film was always pretty good, but the great 40 time solidified him as a top 16 pick, in my opinion. There will be talk of the Vikings taking Derek Stingley, but I do not think the Vikings make him the first pick of a new regime given the Lisfranc injury he suffered. I think they opt for a lower ceiling corner with less injury concerns, and Elam slots in opposite Patrick Peterson from day one.

    13. Houston Texans select OT Evan Neal: Charlie Heck is currently starting at RT and, while I liked him coming out of UNC, that doesn’t mean the Texans should not try and uograde. They moved former first round pick Tytus Howard to LG, and now they add a monster in Evan Neal who can either play RT or slide into RG to replace Justin McCray. The Texans seem committed to giving Davis Mills a chance, and improving the OL with Neal gives him that chance.

    14. Baltimore Ravens select C Tyler Linderbaum: the best Center to enter the draft in a long time lands in the perfect spot. The Ravens have added Morgan Moses to start at RT, get Ronnie Stanley back at LT, and have a returning Kevin Zeitler who was very good for them last year. They are most likely losing Bradley Bozeman, so Linderbaum slots right into the starting C spot. He is perfect for the Ravens and their running game, and will become best friends with former MVP Lamar Jackson.

    15. Philadelphia Eagles select EDGE Jermaine Johnson: Jermaine Johnson is a better player and prospect than Travon Walker, but that doesn’t seem to be a universally-held belief in the NFL as we rarely see Johnson mocked ahead of Walker post-combine. Here, the Eagles are the beneficiary, as they add the more polished edge. Johnson will replace former first round pick Derek Barnett, and give the Eagles some much needed pass rush juice. A sound prospect who will produce at the next level, Johnson helps the Eagles here.

    16. Philadelphia Eagles select CB Derek Stingley, Jr: with their 2nd first round pick, the Eagles add the cornerback who owns the best tape of the last 5 years in Derek Stingley, Jr. The reason they can take this chance is because they have Darius Slay and Steven Nelson as their starters, which means Stingley can be brought along slowly if there are concerns about his injury. Javon Hargrave, Stingley, and Johnson become the cornerstones of this next era of Eagles defenses.

    17. Los Angeles Chargers select WR Treylon Burks: every move this team has made this off-season has been about winning now. There will be temptation to roll the dice on Jameson Williams, but I think Brandon Staley gives his QB a third big body pass catcher to overwhelm AFC West defenses with. Burks hasn’t had the best offseason, but the film is nasty, and he is a guy that will repeatedly feast on nickel cornerbacks at the next level. He can win outside, can beat press, and can win jump balls, and this gives the Chargers arguably the second best trio in football at WR.

    18. New Orleans Saints select QB Kenny Pickett: Dennis Allen wants to upgrade at QB, and the bar is low to do that after Taysom Hill. They could bring back Jameis Winston, who looked good early in Sean Payton’s offense, but I think they opt for the most accurate QB in the class in Kenny Pickett. He doesn’t have the arm strength you’d like to see from a signal caller, but with playmakers in place and former Saints QB Drew Brees not having the same arm he used to and the offense still being successful? That may not matter, so Pickett goes here.

    19. Philadelphia Eagles select LB Nakobe Dean: three first round picks, and they all go to defense? Yeah, I think that’s what the Eagles do because the offensive side of the ball in this class is substantially deeper, and I think they opt to add a WR in R2. The Eagles signed an edge in free agency in Haason Reddick, and now they get the leader in the middle of this defense with Nakobe Dean. Dean had an excellent season in Athens, and slots right into this young but talented Eagles defense. He is Nick Sirianni’s Darius Leonard.

    20. Pittsburgh Steelers select QB Desmond Ridder: the Steelers wish Malik Willis dropped this far, since they signed the bridge in Mitch Trubisky, but they still follow that plan here and add Desmond Ridder. Ridder is a project: he’s everything folks said Zach Wilson was last year, but Mike Tomlin and his staff have the leash to where they can sit him and develop him behind a guy who has won games in this league.

    21. New England Patriots select OG Zion Johnson: they just gifted Shaq Mason to the Bucs for a 5th round pick, and now need a replacement. They don’t look too far, as they go right to my alma mater and add a monster in Zion Johnson. There is no way Bill Belicheck goes into the season with James Ferentz up front protecting Mac Jones. They need to upgrade at WR, but Bill is old school: he opts for OL reinforcement here.

    22. Green Bay Packers select WR Chris Olave: with Devante Adams in the desert, the Packers need a new number one WR. Enter the former Ohio State Buckeye and best WR in this class. Olave gets to play with the league MVP not too far from where he shined in college, and goes to arguably the best situation for any of the young pass catchers drafted here. He’s a deep threat with great hands and is an excellent route runner: he reminds me of Roddy White.

    23. Arizona Cardinals select EDGE George Karlaftis: they lost Chandler Jones, and probably should trade Kyler Murray, so they replace the former here while hoping they don’t have to replace the latter. George Karlaftis was talked up as a potential top 10 pick early in this process, but this feels where he should go. He’s got some refining to do, but he’s a maximum effort guy now going to play with the NFL’s ultimate effort guy in JJ Watt.

    24. Dallas Cowboys select OT Trevor Penning: they foolishly cut Lael Collins, and look to the draft for his replacement. Penning didn’t have the best Senior Bowl, but the Cowboys overlook that because they like the traits he has. With this offense in a bit of a flux (trading Amari Cooper, cutting Collins), their saving grace is that they have drafted well. Now, if they could find a taker for Ezekiel Elliott or a coach that’ll actually use him, they’d be cooking.

    25. Buffalo Bills select DL Jordan Davis: a freakish combine from a guy that rotated snaps is going to be a good test to see what these GMs value more. I think film is still what matters to Brian Beane, which is why he loves that Davis falls to him here. With this pick, the Bills four man front is Ed Oliver, Gregory Rousseau, newly-signed Von Miller, and Davis, and that is music to Beane’s ears knowing that he’s going to have to build the DL that can get to these QBs. For Davis, it’s the best situation for him given how loaded the Bills defense is at every level.

    26. Tennessee Titans select WR Jameson Williams: the Julio Jones experiment very clearly didn’t work, and it cost the Titans two picks. One could argue they can’t afford to take a chance at the position, but this is a team that sticks to its board and the former Alabama WR at this spot is too good value to pass up. They will be tempted to take a QB, but I think it’s more likely they reset next year at the position. Williams, if healthy, gives AJ Brown a running mate that will beat one on ones all day. Last year, the Titans took Caleb Fairley regardless of injuries, and I think they do the same here.

    27. Tampa Bay Bucs select QB Sam Howell: Tom Brady’s short-lived retirement makes me think that he’s closer to being done, and I think Jason Licht is a very good GM who will plan for that. Taking a QB here gives you the fifth year option in case Brady does play until he’s 50. Howell is an accurate passer with limited arm strength, so Brady should see the young him in Howell, and will mentor him all while trying to win another SB ring.

    28. Green Bay Packers select OG Kenyon Green: after adding Chris Olave with their first 1st rounder, they opt to add to the OL with their second. Kenyon Green played literally everywhere, and his draft stock ironically took a hit for it. He can replace Bryan O’Neill at RT, or slot right in to RG over Royce Newman. Aaron Jones and AJ Dillon immediately will like him because of the holes he opens up for them, and who knows: maybe he will block for Jordan Love one day.

    29. Miami Dolphins select OT Bernhard Raimann: this Dolphins OL isn’t very good, and they need some talent up front. Raimann is still pretty raw, but if he develops you now have a potential bookend tackle. The problem is the Dolphins took Austin Jackson in round one with the same thinking, but Chris Grier doesn’t seem to know what he’s doing, so he repeats the same mistake again.

    30. Kansas City Chiefs select CB Trent McDuffie: the short arms cause this standout corner to fall, but the Chiefs are the beneficiaries. They lost their top corner, and now replace him with someone who fits seamlessly into their defense. McDuffie is a pest, and shows good patience when mirroring WR routes. He doesn’t bite often, and he has a knack for breaking on routes that will help him at the next level. Chiefs get a steal.

    31. Cincinnati Bengals select EDGE David Ojabo: the Achilles injury is brutal news for the Wolverine prospect, but the Bengals picking this late means they can essentially draft and stash him. Ojabo provides significant juice for a defense that really only got pass rushing production from Trey Hendrickson last year. Ojabo could be better than Aidan Hutchinson in three years.

    32. Detroit Lions select CB/S Daxton Hill: the Lions could’ve taken Kyle Hamilton at 2 and then taken whatever QB was left at 32. However, in this scenario they do the smart thing by taking the higher ceiling QB and the better safety later in the draft. Daxton Hill has the versatility to play corner or safety, is a sure tackler, and is a playmaker on the back-end. The Lions brought back Tracy Walker, but I do not think they are done adding talent to a secondary that was ranked 24th in yards allowed. Hill improves this secondary from when he steps on the field.

  • REVIEW: ‘The Dark Knight Rises’ Struggles To Stick The Landing

    REVIEW: ‘The Dark Knight Rises’ Struggles To Stick The Landing

    Following The Dark Knight, which is arguably one of the greatest comic book films, was always going to be an unenviable task for Christopher Nolan and his team. That the conclusion of the trilogy had to be almost entirely repurposed after the tragedy of Heath Ledger‘s death meant that his original premise for Batman’s three-film arc was never going to be completed. In that respect, The Dark Knight Rises feels like a movie that didn’t really know what story it wanted to tell, and suffered as a result.

    We begin with the canonization of Harvey Dent as a hero by the Gotham City Police Department after his death trying to stop Batman, which we know is a lie given the events of the previous film. Harvey was the Joker’s ace in the hole, and he was meant to bring Gotham crumbling down. In Rises, we see Gary Oldman‘s Commissioner Gordon desperately to make things right. His role is perfectly summarized in the line “I have to save Dent” from the previous entry; manic depression and all. Sadly, The Dark Knight Rises really doesn’t do his arc justice. His role is seemingly reduced by quite a bit and is cast to the side for other characters.

    Speaking of, we meet Anne Hathaway‘s take on Selina Kyle doing what she does best, trying to rob Bruce Wayne. He easily tracks her down to start their dysfunctional relationship from the comics. However, putting aside the missed opportunity that this Selina Kyle is never presented as Carmine Falcone’s daughter, Anne plays her like a socialist who wants the wealthy class to get what’s coming to her. It’s a very weird turn if you compare it to her character in the comics. While I get that directors update and adapt characters as they see fit, Nolan still kept recognizable elements in his last two entries. This time around d, it just doesn’t work as well as it could’ve, and I can’t help but wonder if she wasn’t even meant to be part of this story.

    Let’s turn our attention to the real villain in the story: how it wasted Marian Cotillard as Talia Al Ghul. The reveal is supposed to act as a gut punch but is telegraphed throughout the entire film. Furthermore, she’s never really built up as a threat. Even though she managed to steal Bruce’s company from him, cut Gotham off from the rest of the world in a half-assed take on No Man’s Land, and threatened to end the entire city, I never bought that she could pull this off.

    There are, however, some bright spots in the film. Tom Hardy taking on the role of Bane was an inspired choice, especially in him breaking the bat. This is a historic moment in the comics, and Hardy sells the threat that his character represents. Even with his weird accent, he is incredibly quotable to this day. He’s not angry with Bruce. This isn’t personal to him. He’s just disappointed in Bruce. Their fight in the sewers is brutal, as there’s no music playing, and all we hear are Bruce’s bones cracking. He does his best Frazier impression but Bane delivers the Ali-like beating.

    Of course, we can’t forget the titular Dark Knight. Christian Bale is one of the better actors of his generation, and he carries this film more than anyone else. Yet, Nolan seems to have trouble fitting Bruce into this story. He makes him disappear from Gotham to rehab his broken back in and tries to sell us on him healing up within a short span of time to return to Gotham. Keep in mind, he has no assets at this point in the film: it’s why he had to sell his company to Talia Al Ghul. Even with those restrictions, he still offers a cunning performance.

    This time around, he does get a sidekick in the form of Joseph Gordon-Levitt‘s character. Yes, he has a name but they make it a point to call him Robin later on and he was clearly being set up to be a version of Nightwing. However, the pain he feels when describing how the Wayne Foundation deserted the less fortunate and how betrayed he was when Gordon lied still hit hard. He, also, isn’t jaded by what he’s seen and still believes that Gotham can be saved. It would’ve been exciting to see Nolan try to crack a film starring a rookie Nightwing living in the shadow of Batman.

    If there is one thing the film nailed better than the previous entry is in its action choreography. The police taking on the League of Shadows is filmed beautifully, and the modified Batwing scenes fighting the repurposed Batmobiles are a blast. With most of the finale’s action shot in the daytime– quite a departure from the two previous entries–you really get to see every punch.

    When I watched this in theatres 10 years ago, I tweeted “Nolan did it.” At the time I meant killing Batman. I’m still of the belief that Alfred was imagining everything and nothing more in that Italian Cafe. I didn’t think Warner Bros. would let him kill one of the most iconic DC heroes, but Nolan had the cache to really do as he pleases with the character. While rewatching the film for this review, I find myself annoyed at some of the choices he made. He sadly didn’t end the trilogy on a high note all of us hoped for. It’s still the best Batman trilogy, but something tells me Matt Reeves might have something to say about that soon.

  • New ‘Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness’ Trailer Includes a Captain Marvel Tease

    New ‘Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness’ Trailer Includes a Captain Marvel Tease

    As expected, Marvel Studios unleashed a brand new trailer for Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. The incredible trailer, which has been rumored to drop for weeks, fully unleashed the Multiverse upon the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The trailer included a look at a returning Mordo, as well as a Wanda variant, while also seemingly confirming the rumored return of an X-Men actor. However, there’s one key part of the trailer that is sure to get folks buzzing.

    At the 1:35 mark of the trailer, we see a mysterious figure who is difficult to make out.

    While it’s hard to decipher just which character that is, it seems likely that it’s none other than Monica Rambeau’s Captain Marvel. In the comics, Rambeau took up the Captain Marvel mantle before Carol Danvers, and before she ultimately became known as Spectrum.

    Teyonah Parris took over the role of Monica Rambeau in last year’s WandaVision and is next set to appear as the character in The Marvels.

    Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness hits theaters on May 6.

  • REVIEW: ‘Three Swords’ is Good, Yet a Missed Opportunity

    REVIEW: ‘Three Swords’ is Good, Yet a Missed Opportunity

    Sometimes we read a synopsis for a novel and think, “Wow, what a great story this is going to be.” We are excited about the main characters and are fans of the writer, so we think we know what to expect. Then we read the actual story and it fails to meet those expectations. It could be because of the characters, or the writing style, or the pace of the story, or it could even be the reader’s own expectations. With Three Swords, this is one of those novels where the story failed to live up to the expectations set by the synopsis.

    Penned by C.L. Werner, the veteran writer of numerous short stories set in the Warhammer universe and the Black Plague trilogy, Three Swords tells the story of the Warriors Three as they receive an ominous set of predictions from the Enchanters as it pertains to Asgard. The Warriors Three must venture out into the cosmos to stop the Enchanters from enacting their plan to destroy the universe. This takes our titular heroes to many moments in history, from the actual civil war to important moments in England, and it is there where you really get some highlights that you can enjoy, even if you’re not well-versed in Marvel lore. Unfortunately, the story is not given much time to breathe before jumping to the next set-piece, and it seems Werner is ultimately in a rush to just get through the story. As such, the Warriors Three aren’t as fleshed out as they could’ve been. Whereas the little Easter eggs while they’re traversing the universe work without you having a vast array of Marvel knowledge, the characters are written as if you do have a vast array of Marvel knowledge. Due to this, it creates a disjointed narrative where characters do things and you’re almost expected to just understand why they did that. 

    The set pieces work pretty well, with Werner doing a great job of using words to paint the story of the action we are seeing. Because each Enchanter has a tower, or lair, it feels like a Mortal Kombat video game where you’re fighting waves until getting to the endgame boss. Fandral is the standout here, as he gets some really cool moments where we are reminded how good a swordsman and warrior he truly is. As I was reading it, I kept thinking “man, this would be a really cool adaptation on Disney+” because it kind of feels like the National Treasure films with their reverence for what came before in both Marvel and modern history with some really good action mixed in. I, also, enjoyed that this story really put someone other than Thor in charge of saving Asgard: too often, in Asgard’s history, the Warriors Three are just along for the ride, but putting them in charge here really makes the story feel small enough (their friendship shines) even though there’s so much at stake. 

    Lastly, I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the twist ending. No spoilers, but it is telegraphed from the beginning, and that made it feel a bit cheap. It lessens everything that came before the end, and it doesn’t really hold up to the rest of the story: if the story was a B before the ending, the twist is like a D and just soured me a bit on the story as a whole.

    All in all, a solid entry but one that could’ve been substantially better had a cheap twist not been added and had more effort been put into developing the characters beyond what we would know as Marvel fans. Werner deserves credit for writing the action and humor in a strong way, but in the end, the story falls to reach the heights teased.

  • Jason Momoa in Talks To Join Fast & Furious 10

    Jason Momoa in Talks To Join Fast & Furious 10

    Jason Momoa is headed to the Fast & Furious family.

    Per The Hollywood Reporter, Momoa will be joining Fast & Furious 10. Details surrounding the Aquaman actor’s role are unclear, however, it is thought he could be playing one of the film’s villains. Momoa will join Vin Diesel, Michelle Rodriguez, Tyrese Gibson, Ludacris and Sung Kang who are all returning. Also expected back is Charlize Theron as Cipher.

    Momoa and Universal have reportedly been trying to get the actor involved in the franchise for some time. In fact, he was nearly close to appearing in Hobbs & Shaw, but things didn’t work out. That project would’ve seen him star alongside Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, who has opted not to return for Fast & Furious 10 because of his past issues with Diesel. THR reports that, following Diesel’s decision not to return, a search was on to find someone to fill his place, leading to Momoa’s casting.

    Unfortunately, though, the script is still in progress, so knowing what role the actor will play is hard at the moment. Momoa, however, does fill the need for someone with “star power and muscle power.”

    Fast & Furious 10 is set to hit theaters on May 19, 2023. Justin Lin, who has directed numerous installments of the franchise including F9, is back in the director’s chair.

    Source: THR

  • The Abomination Will Appear in Human Form in ‘She-Hulk’

    The Abomination Will Appear in Human Form in ‘She-Hulk’

    Before Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, we hadn’t seen the Abomination since an Avengers tie-in novel revealed he was being held at the super villain prison known as The Raft. When we saw him in live-action, he was being trained by the new Sorcerer Supreme, Wong, and appeared to be in a more jovial mood than was to be expected. We know we will see him in She-Hulk next and, while in the comics Emil Blonsky is unable to transform back and forth between his human and savage form, it seems there will be even more changes to the character.

    In an exclusive interview with The DisInsider regarding his new movie Sundown, talk naturally turned to Tim Roth‘s confirmed appearance in She-Hulk. Roth was specifically asked if he’d return to human form like Bruce Banner, and he responded with an emphatic “oh yeah!”

    Given that this would be a change from the comics, we are now very curious to see how Marvel is able to explain this, and whether it ties into how Mark Ruffalo‘s Bruce Banner also returns to his human form after melding the Hulk and Banner into Professor Hulk.

    She-Hulk is expected to hit Disney+ sometime this year.

    Source: DisInsider.

  • ‘System Shock’ Finds Director in ‘Mortal Kombat’ Writer Greg Russo

    ‘System Shock’ Finds Director in ‘Mortal Kombat’ Writer Greg Russo

    Fresh off penning HBO Max’s most successful film, Mortal Kombat, Greg Russo will make the leap to directing. According to Deadline, the aforementioned Russo has been tapped to direct the Binge.com live-action series System Shock. The series will be based on the video game franchise of the same name, which first released in 1994, and has spawned sequels and spin-offs.

    Said Russo: “I’m honored to have the opportunity to work alongside the fantastic team at Binge and Nightdive Studios to bring the iconic System Shock franchise to life. I’ve been waiting for the right opportunity to make my directorial debut, and I finally found it.”

    This will be the 4th videogame adaptation for Russo, as he previously helped bring Mortal Kombat, Saints Row, and Space Invaders from the video game to the screen.

    Source: Deadline

  • Gal Gadot to Star in a ‘To Catch a Thief’ Remake, ‘Prodigal Son’s Eileen Jones Attached to Write

    Gal Gadot to Star in a ‘To Catch a Thief’ Remake, ‘Prodigal Son’s Eileen Jones Attached to Write

    Gal Gadot has been quite busy. She ended 2020 with the release of Wonder Woman 1984. Entered 2021 co-starring alongside Dwayne Johnson and Ryan Reynolds in Netflix’s original film, Red Notice. Now, the buzz is starting for her next starring role in Death On The Nile. While they are still preparing for Wonder Woman 3, it seems she has decided to add one more thriller to her list of upcoming projects.

    Deadline has revealed that she will star and produce a remake of the 1955 thriller To Catch A Thief. The original was directed by the legendary Alfred Hitchcock, and it starred Cary Grant as the titular thief. At the time, the incomparable Grace Kelly was part of the project as his love interest. She is producing the project with her partner Jaron Varsano through their Pilot Wave banner. There is no word who she is playing, but there is a chance she is a gender-swapped version of Grant‘s original character.

    That’s not all though, as the critically-acclaimed Prodigal Son writer Eileen Jones has been hired to write the remake. This news comes on the heels of her most recent pitch, Highwayman, which got picked up by New Line. She wrote the project alongside Margot Robbie and will be produced by Christina Hobson. The project seems to be in its early stages. So, we might not get an update for some time as Gadot has quite a few other projects she might prioritize.

    Source: Deadline

  • REVIEW: ‘School of X’ is a Strong Entry Into the X-Men Mythos

    REVIEW: ‘School of X’ is a Strong Entry Into the X-Men Mythos

    When you introduce time travel and multiverses, a story can sometimes be weighed down by the intricacies of the story if the rules aren’t properly explained. The DC Extended Universe will take its crack at the multiverse with the Flash’s first solo film, while Marvel has methodically begun to build out the rules of their multiverse. The comics these universes take their inspiration from, however, have never really cared for rules. What is canon today may not be canon tomorrow, and this has been true for some time. With that said, there has been more of an effort by DC and Marvel to streamline timelines over the last few years, and it is in that effort that School of X arrives. 

    A seven-story anthology edited by Gwendolyn Nix, School of X tells the story of the next generation of X-Men as they train under the watchful eye of Magneto, Emma Frost, and Cyclops. Jaleigh Johnson, Robbie Macniven, Cath Lauria, Amanda Bridgeman, Pat Shand, Neil Kleid, and Carrie Harris each get a story and they deliver fresh takes on the new X-Men as they fight alternate versions of themselves. Nix, in particular, deserves credit for editing together a cohesive story that doesn’t relegate the aforementioned X-Men into Dumbledore status, where they are merely just caring for the new mutants. Cyclops, given all he’s lost, does come off more ornery than in any other X-book, but it is earned and it feels like positive character development for Marvel’s boy scout. Magneto behaves like a surrogate Professor X, though, and I’m not really sure that worked so well, but Emma Frost is really the standout amongst the caregivers in part because she has the most emotional connection to the new mutants. 

    Each author puts their own spin on the mutants, but what stood out to me was how Emma Frost’s triplets (the Stepford Cuckoos) jump off the page every chance they get. This is particularly true in Of Dirt and Bones, the 5th story in the anthology: whereas Your 15 Minutes was on the shorter side, Of Dirt and Bones gives you what the family dynamic we’ve come to love from the best X-books. Depowered gives us a fresh look at Polaris, the oft-forgotten daughter of Magneto and sister of Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch, and she continues to be one of my favorite characters in the X-Men mythology. I hope Marvel brings her into the Marvel Cinematic Universe because she’s been written really well as of late, and remains one of the most powerful mutants. 

    The only story that doesn’t work in the anthology, for me, is Kid Omega Faces The Music. A Grant Morrison creation, I’m admittedly not the biggest fan of him in the comics, but this story also does him no favors. He comes off annoying and arrogant and, even when faced with his demons, doesn’t really display much growth in comparison to his peers. For example, in Call of The Dark Graymalkin comes face to face with his biggest fear and ultimately comes out of that encounter in a much more interesting place. The same cannot be said for Kid Omega. 

    Overall, a strong addition to the X-Men mythology, with particular shoutouts to Amanda Bridgeman for Eye Of The Storm and Pat Shand for writing Phoebe Cuckoo in a really powerful way in Of Dirt And Bones. You get some action-packed stories that really supplement the more familiar X-Men themes (family, teamwork, independence), and you get a Polaris that has to come out of her father and siblings’ shadow. All in all, a really good read.