Murphy's Multiverse

Author: Hunter Radesi

  • REVIEW: ‘The Rings of Power’ Explores Trauma in Heartfelt ‘The Eye’

    REVIEW: ‘The Rings of Power’ Explores Trauma in Heartfelt ‘The Eye’

    Ashes fill the air, bodies cover the ground, and even those with the strongest of will have been brought to their knees. With this week’s episode, The Rings of Power takes a deep dive into a topic it’s been dancing around since the very beginning. Trauma, and the grief that comes with it, weighs heavy on The Eye, the penultimate episode of Prime Video’s hit Lord of the Rings prequel. Last week saw Adar and his army of orcs emerge from the battle of Ostirith victorious, laying waste to the Southlands and giving rise to Mordor at the cost of countless innocent lives. Now, the heroes of Middle-earth must deal with the fallout – something they aren’t incredibly well-equipped to handle.

    The Eye is a necessary step back in energy after last week’s action-packed installment. Before the series can go full throttle into what will undoubtedly be a hectic finale, it needs to let its characters settle into the next status quo. The people of Númenor and the Southlands suffered great losses, and the episode does a wonderful job of letting them confront it honestly. Lloyd Owen‘s Elendil, especially, is the standout of this week’s entry. All season, the Captain has presented himself stone-cold and unfeeling, even if his underlying soft side was always threatening to break through the surface. In The Eye, the disappearance and presumed death of his son, Maxim Baldry‘s Isildur, finally pushes the emotion through. Owen‘s performance is heartbreaking and genuine. In an episode where the likes of Morfydd Clark‘s Galadriel and Cynthia Addai-Robinson‘s Queen Regent Míriel are faced with unthinkable challenges, it’s Elendil who forces viewers to feel the true pain of loss.

    This feeling extends to the caverns of Khazad-dûm, where Owain Arthur‘s Prince Durin painstakingly claws his way through familial relations in an attempt to help his friend, Robert Aramayo‘s Elven favorite Elrond. Probably the other best performance in the episode, and this one has a lot of great performances, Durin’s tearful commitment to chosen family and the good of Middle-earth turns out to be the centerpiece of hope for the realm’s future. While all feels lost, Durin is willing to sacrifice his own birthright for what he knows to be good in his heart. Hope has been a theme throughout The Rings of Power, and many of the characters fashion themselves as symbols of it, but it’s the little Dwarf with a golden soul who makes it all feel real.

    The writing for the show has really been kicked up a notch in the season’s back-half. The issues with pacing that were present in the first few episodes have all but vanished, with even the slower moments feeling faster and less arduous than they did before. It makes the anticipation for the finale more grand than one might have anticipated in the beginning. Even the Harfoots, who have been largely absent from the last couple weeks, have made their way into tie-in territory with the rest of the series. As it turns out, their humble encampment is not immune to the horrors of Middle-earth, and their loss – simultaneous with the events in Ostirith – hits surprisingly hard. The development of the Harfoot characters truly shines through in this sequence, as they look for ways to carry on and accept new methods of survival. After a full season of build-up, it’s nice to see how it all occurs so organically.

    As with every week, there is also the usual commentary on set design and the beauty of the show’s effects. Mordor looks haunting, as it should, and the mines of Khazad-dûm are as stunning as the look on Durin’s face suggests they’d be. Among those effects, however, are several terrifying hints toward the future of the show. It would appear that the Balrog is still alive, deep in the mountain, and there are still many questions surrounding the identities of the mysterious stranger and the group of sketchy magic-wielders who are seemingly after him. Let’s hope the cast of characters in The Rings of Power got their fill of recovery in The Eye, because they still have much to take care of when the show’s finale drops next week.

  • ‘Werewolf by Night’ – Monster Hunters Ranked

    ‘Werewolf by Night’ – Monster Hunters Ranked

    Marvel Studios’ first Special Presentation, Werewolf by Night, introduced fans to an unknown world of monsters, and perhaps just as important, the secret cabal of hunters who’ve spent their lives tracking them down. As one might expect, this collection of killers is both terrifying and eccentric, quickly making their mark on the Marvel Cinematic Universe as a group not to be reckoned with. However, some of these menacing murderers are more masterly than others, begging the question of who might be the best of them all. As such, Murphy’s Multiverse – home of fandom’s spookiest minds – has taken the liberty of digging in and breaking down every Monster Hunter the special has to offer, ranking them by order of skill and appearance.

    6. Barasso

    Daniel J. Watts‘ quiet monster hunter is ranked dead last for a few reasons, but none of them have to do with performance. Watts is actually quite charming in the role when he has his brief moments of dialogue and interaction, but otherwise, he doesn’t get to do very much. Despite surviving longer than most of the other characters on this list, Barasso sort of just stands around for most of Werewolf by Night‘s runtime. When he finally does get to put his skills to use, he’s slaughtered by the titular monster pretty quickly. The fact he sort of just exists without doing anything especially memorable puts him behind the rest of the pack, but maybe one day he’ll get to make a return appearance in another project. After all, Marvel Studios is scheduled to do quite a bit of time-jumping over the next few years.

    5. Azarel

    Eugenie Bondurant‘s Azarel is in a similar boat to Barasso, but gets the slight edge for at least having a memorable character design. The David Bowie-esque monster hunter is striking, and has a looming presence through the entirety of Werewolf by Night. Although they don’t get to show off their fun scythe-like weapon until the special’s climax, and are promptly expired by Marvel’s wolf-man, they do seem to have a suspicious beat on Gael Garcia Bernal’s Jack Russell from the very start. That alone shows signs of Azarel being pretty sharp, a trait that any good hunter should possess if they hope to make an impact in their field. Unfortunately, Azarel doesn’t get to do much more than look great and die trying, so they fall toward the bottom of the list.

    4. Jovan

    Kirk Thatcher‘s bombastic Jovan boasts frequently about his fifty-seven confirmed monster kills. His big personality and entertaining role as Jack’s first on-screen foil earn him a higher spot on this list than his fellow fallen hunters, even if he wasn’t able to make it out of Bloodstone Manor’s intricate maze alive. The axe-wielding maniac certainly makes an impression by befriending Mr. Russell before immediately trying to chop him in half, and his delightful comments about wishing he had a signature look likely endeared him to fans right off the bat. Also, being the first person killed by Man-Thing in the MCU is a pretty nice thing to have on the ole’ monster-hunting resume – if he were still among the living for it to matter.

    3. Verussa Bloodstone

    The true big bad of Werewolf by Night. At first, Harriet Sansom Harris’ Verussa Bloodstone appears to only be a mouthpiece for her recently deceased husband. However, circumstance leads to the revelation that Verussa is quite capable of hunting monsters on her own, and might have even been the true mastermind behind the Bloodstone dynasty. She’s certainly the most bloodthirsty of the bunch and might have killed her own step-daughter if Man-Thing didn’t intervene. The Bloodstone matriarch ranks third on the list as a perfectly cheesy villain with some of the best shots throughout the special.

    2. Liorn

    Leonardo Nam’s Liorn got to the second spot on this list by way of being oddly interesting without too big of a role. Helping matters, he happens to have the best death in the entire special, and his cool factor is undeniable. Another mostly silent monster hunter, Liorn gets a full-blown fight sequence with Laura Donelly’s Elsa Bloodstone that’s equal parts grotesque and breathtaking. It ends with him losing a hand and taking his own arrow through his head, which is awesome. Of all the hunters in Werewolf by Night who aren’t being obviously set up for a future in the MCU, Liorn is the one who probably most deserved a little more screen time. Rest in pieces to a true legend.

    1. Elsa Bloodstone

    This was a no-brainer, but it’s still worth throwing out there. Laura Donnelly’s Elsa Bloodstone is the runaway Most Valuable Player of Werewolf by Night, which is saying something when one considers how good Bernal and Man-Thing are throughout. She has some of the best fight choreography the MCU has ever seen, and could probably rival either Black Widow in hand-to-hand combat. She’s also ridiculously charming in an Addams Family sort of way. Hopefully, there will be plenty of Elsa in Marvel’s future. The world deserves more of whatever her deal is.

    Special Mention: Ulysses Bloodstone

    Ulysses Bloodstone is dead by the time Werewolf by Night begins, but he deserves a special mention if only because he was supposedly the greatest monster hunter to ever live. Viewers never get to see him in action, but a manor full of mementos and a legacy that haunts the entire monster-hunting community is probably enough evidence to prove he was as good at killing monsters as he was at graveyard humor. The comic book version of Ulysses was just as prolific as his MCU counterpart, and while fans may never get to see him as more than a talking corpse in live-action, it’s worth giving him the nod here as a genuine player in Marvel’s mortuary scene.

  • NYCC: Mindy Kaling and Charlie Grandy Tease their HBO Max ‘Scooby-Doo’ Prequel ‘Velma’

    NYCC: Mindy Kaling and Charlie Grandy Tease their HBO Max ‘Scooby-Doo’ Prequel ‘Velma’

    One of New York Comic-Con’s most exciting panels is for Velma, a new animated series from executive producer Mindy Kaling and showrunner Charlie Grandy. The former The Office breakout, a multifaceted talent in her own right, will voice Velma Dinkley in a reimagining of the character that sees her come from South Asian descent. Velma, who is billed as “the mystery before the Inc.”, will explore the origins of the title character and the rest of the iconic Scooby-Doo gang from an adult-oriented viewpoint. Kaling and Grandy were on hand at NYCC to discuss the series in-depth for the press, and Murphy’s Multiverse was in attendance to make note of it all.

    Kaling began the panel by explaining that Velma was chosen as the protagonist because she offered the most unique perspective for storytelling. She also mentioned that she was happy to play the character because Dinkley was always the one she related to the most. Projects like Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse and Riverdale were mentioned as inspirations for telling diverse stories about teenagers in the modern world, with a change to adult-oriented comedy giving fans of the franchise a new way of looking at the Scooby-Doo universe. Kaling clarified the series will not be for children and will cover topics like “teenage urges“. Grandy mentioned he wanted to take a look at why a group of kids would commit their lives to hunting criminals and solving murders, which Kaling ensured the press would be actually sort of terrifying.

    Finally, the creative team confirmed Velma would take cues from the original 1960s series but would mostly have its own voice. Fans can expect to see origins for Velma’s famous “JINKIES!” catchphrase, and Shaggy’s well-known nickname. He’ll be called by his birth name otherwise. Velma’s relationship with her father will also be a major part of the series, something Kaling was especially excited about. More will be revealed when the cast and crew take the Main Stage later today, but for now, fans can feast their minds on more Velma information than ever before.

  • Barry Keoghan’s ‘The Batman’ Audition Tape Is Now Public

    Barry Keoghan’s ‘The Batman’ Audition Tape Is Now Public

    When Matt Reeves’ The Batman was released earlier this year, one of its most hotly debated features was the surprise casting of Barry Keoghan as yet another live-action Joker. As it turns out, however, the iconic arch-nemesis was not the member of Bruce Wayne’s rogues’ gallery Keoghan originally auditioned for. According to an audition tape, which has just been made public, the Irish actor had actually been trying out for the role of Edward Nashton, better known as the film’s main baddie – The Riddler.

    The footage shows Keoghan waltzing around an empty hallway with a cane and an outfit inspired by the character’s comic book appearance. According to the Eternals star, via a report by GQ UK, he sent his tape unsolicited to Reeves’ team before being told that the production had already filled the role. Of course, Paul Dano eventually landed the part after Jonah Hill passed, playing a version of the Riddler that felt far more original than most fans were expecting. Luckily for Keoghan, the film wasn’t done casting, and he received news from his agent four months later that The Batman wanted him for The Joker instead.

    The tease that Joker does exist in Reeves’ universe seemed like a set-up for the sequel, but the director has gone on record to say that isn’t exactly the case. Whether or not the villain appears in The Batman 2 is still up in the air, but Keoghan says he’ll be ready if the call does come in:

    As soon as that call comes I’m there, man, I’m there.

    Barry Keoghan

    Source: Variety

  • ‘House of the Dragon’ – Best & Worst of ‘Driftmark’

    ‘House of the Dragon’ – Best & Worst of ‘Driftmark’

    HBO’s hit series House of the Dragon returned this week to remind everyone that, in it’s heart of hearts, it’s really just a big budget soap opera. The episode begins with a funeral and ends with a wedding, both of which are lined with the messiest of family drama one could possibly imagine. Nanna Blondell‘s Lady Laena Velaryon has recently died by self-inflicted dragon immolation, a real thing, and now everyone from both sides of the Velaryon-Targaryon family tree must unite at Driftmark to say their goodbyes. Unfortunately, neither of these bloodlines can ever maintain niceties, and the gathering quickly devolves into drunken shenanigans and children beating the life out of each other in the middle of the night. Normal, typical reunion stuff.

    Emma D’Arcy‘s Princess Rhaenyra Targaryan clings to what she has, ultimately wedding her Uncle Daemon (played by Matt Smith) after faking the death of her husband Ser Laenor (played by John Macmillan). The Queen Regent, Olivia Cooke‘s Alicent Hightower, can’t handle the situation and tries to cut a person’s eye out after her own son is attacked, but everything turns out alright when young Aemond (played by Ewan Mitchell) bonds with a dragon well beyond his own years. It’s quite a bit to pick through, but here at Murphy’s Multiverse, that’s never been a problem. So, without further ado, here are the best and worst moments from this week’s episode – Driftmark.

    BEST – The Funeral

    There’s a lot of good in Driftmark. In fact, it was actually kind of difficult to select a specific part of the episode as the very best it had to offer. However, one would be remiss if they didn’t single out the opening funeral sequence as the epitome of what the entire series has been over the last several weeks. It’s one of those rare television moments when every major player left on the board is in one place at the same time, and they all act exactly the way viewers would hope. Tom Glynn-Carney‘s Prince Aegon immediately gets drunk, Laenor stands forlorn in the water, Daemon laughs at the most inappropriate time, Rhaenyra and Alicent are at each other’s necks, Harry Collett‘s Prince Jacaerys is thinking about his illegitimate father, Paddy Considine‘s King Viserys goes to bed way too early, and Matthew Needham‘s Lord Larys Strong stares unabashedly at the Queen for far too long. It’s a chaotic masterpiece.

    Every minute of the funeral that passes is more entertaining than the last. It’s the show at its very best, with high-stakes politics and poor familial relations clashing to create the kind of drama tornado fans and critics both live for. The rest of Driftmark is also incredibly well-done, but the first chunk sets the tone so beautifully it simply must be recognized. More of this in the future, please.

    WORST – It’s Still The Incest

    Truthfully, it’s insane how many times this website has had to state that incest is bad. True to its source material, it seems House of the Dragon will continue to double down on incestual romance for the long haul. While it might have been more fun if the series kept examining the false marriage between Rhaenyra and Laenor, it will instead pivot to showing a lot of an uncle making love to his niece in a super uncomfortable manner. Strap in, because it appears this whole family-that-hates-each-other-but-also-really-loves-each-other vibe is part of the show’s package deal. With any luck, the creatives will at least include less graphic visuals in the last few episodes of the season. Until then, viewers can only hope Rhaenyra one day sees the light and moves on to another Ser Harwin Strong.

  • REVIEW: ‘The Rings of Power’ Finally Comes Together in Action-Packed ‘Udûn’

    REVIEW: ‘The Rings of Power’ Finally Comes Together in Action-Packed ‘Udûn’

    Pretty much from the very start, Amazon’s The Rings of Power has had a bit of a pacing issue. The show has been awe-inspiring in nearly every other facet of storytelling, but from episode to episode, it’s slowly become clear that this season of television was going to be a little slow. This feeling of creeping along has been due, in large in part, to multiple different plots occurring fairly separately from each other, with no immediate signs of coming together anytime soon. The lack of connectivity and variance in strength between arcs could often lead to difficulty with viewer engagement or cause the series to feel aloof despite the actual quality of the scripts being filmed. With this week’s ‘Udûn’, however, that problem vanished into thin air.

    Udûn is an incredibly satisfying payoff to two of the four concurrent storylines happening on The Rings of Power. Ismael Cruz Córdova’s Arondir and Nazanin Boniadi’s Bronwyn attempt to lead the people of the Southlands in combat against Joseph Mawle’s Adar and his dastardly army of orcs, while Morfydd Clark’s Galadriel sails toward Middle-earth with the forces of Numénor in tow. The ultimate culmination of these arcs leads to the show’s most epic, emotional, action-packed hour yet, gleefully pulling from weeks of build-up and suspense to craft an episode that feels like a season finale despite having multiple installments left to air. As per usual, the visuals are glorious, and the nearly episode-long battle between man, elf, and orc appeared to be pulled from a feature length film.

    The intensity of the action in Udûn was rather impressive, with stunts and fight choreography that should remind audiences they’re watching the most expensive show on television. A moment between Arondir and an especially large orc stands out for its immaculate camera work and character design. When The Walking Dead was at its peak, it seemed that anyone and everyone had dreams of putting on zombie makeup and wandering around the set. The Rings of Power, especially in this episode, is making a great case for changing that dream to raiding villages in full orc regalia. It’s amazing how much fun it can be to watch a show when its best moments happen in broad daylight, and there’s no darkness to mask the stupendous work of the costume department and set designers.

    Most of the action bits work as well as they do because the character moments in-between allow the chaos to feel earned. After a few weeks in which it sometimes seemed the show’s leads were just running in circles, most everyone in Udûn took leaps and bounds toward becoming as unique and interesting as the first few episodes had promised. The series’ villains, in particular, finally have a genuine motivation for viewers to understand, something that makes Adar and his vile crew even more entertaining to watch. Charlie Vickers‘ Lord Halbrand and Maxim Baldry‘s Isildur, along with Lloyd Owen‘s Elendil, also get some much-needed backstory and character progression that will hopefully make them more intriguing to follow going forward.

    The episode’s ending, which plays out in spectacular style, has also undoubtedly left fans craving more. It was the perfect ending to an episode that felt like all gas and no breaks from the word “go.” Obviously, a show can’t survive on pulse-pounding action alone, but hopefully The Rings of Power has spent enough time slowly constructing its plots that the rest of the season can be as exciting as Udûn. If it sticks that landing, there’s no telling what kind of joy the series will bring as it moves on to greater pastures.

  • THEORY: ‘Deadpool 3’ Will Adapt ‘Deadpool Kills The Marvel Universe’

    THEORY: ‘Deadpool 3’ Will Adapt ‘Deadpool Kills The Marvel Universe’

    Well, folks, it’s finally happening. Hugh Jackman and Ryan Reynolds are officially teaming up as Wolverine and Deadpool for the latter’s long-awaited third solo film, which is now set to hit theaters on September 6th, 2024. The reunion will be the first time the duo comes together on the big screen since 2009’s X-Men Origins: Wolverine, and while fans likely have their hopes up for a more comic-accurate pairing than that film offered, it’s still unknown exactly how the story will allow for a meet-up to happen as it is. Jackman famously retired from his signature role following the character’s death in 2017’s Logan, and while nothing is confirmed, it doesn’t seem very probable that he sticks around for the Marvel Cinematic Universe long-haul following Deadpool 3‘s release. So, how could the Deadpool threequel simultaneously bring back the Aussie actor’s Wolverine for “one last time” and set Reynolds up as a member of the MCU going forward? A surprising comic may hold the answer.

    In 2011, Marvel began publishing a new Deadpool limited series from writer Cullen Bunn and artist Kaare Andrews. Titled Deadpool Kills the Marvel Universe, the brief arc quickly became a popular run with fans of the character. The plot was pretty simple and spelled out pretty efficiently in the title itself. Set in an alternate timeline to the mainstream Earth-616, the story begins with Wade Wilson being sent to a mental institution, against his will, by a concerned group of X-Men. Little do the mutants know, however, that the doctor at the hospital is actually Psycho-Man – a tiny mad scientist who originates from the Microverse – piloting a human-sized robot body. His plan is to brainwash as many villains as possible and create his own superhuman army, but when he tries to indoctrinate Deadpool, his devices have an unexpected effect. Wilson’s brain is already so discombobulated with voices and varying personalities, that Psycho-Man is unable to put him under his control. Instead, the voices in Deadpool’s head become increasingly violent, sending him on a murderous rampage through the entirety of the Marvel Universe.

    After squishing Psycho-Man, the out-of-control Merc With a Mouth sets out to systematically put an end to Earth’s Mightiest Heroes. He kills the Fantastic Four, Spider-Man, Ghost Rider, the Avengers, and even Howard the Duck. He steals Reed Richards’ gadgets to slay Uatu the Watcher, and uses Pym Particles to crush Thor with a giant version of his hammer Mjolnir. After a while, when all hope seems lost, the relatives of Marvel’s deceased heroes pool their money together to hire the only person they feel can actually put a stop to Deadpool’s killing spree: Taskmaster. Tasky then trails Wilson as he goes up against Charles Xavier and the X-Men. Of course, Deadpool succeeds in wiping the last superteam off the map, manipulating Xavier’s telepathy to help him in his goal and share what he knows to be true with the world. It turns out, Wilson is killing everyone because he knows they exist in a comic book, and suffer purely for entertainment. He only wants to stop the cycle.

    After finishing off what’s left of the Marvel Universe, ranging from galactic entities like Galactus to street-level heroes like Daredevil, his mission brings him face-to-face with Man-Thing and the Nexus of All-Realities. Before he can conclude his business, though, Taskmaster swoops in and the duo duke it out in one climactic last stand. After beating Taskmaster, with Man-Thing’s help, Deadpool uses the Nexus of All-Realities to jump to the real world and slaughter the writers who created him and his series in the first place. Now, as crazy as it may sound, a loose version of this story could be exactly the thing Deadpool 3 needs to accomplish all of its objectives. Many fans are under the assumption that Deadpool 3 will be the first entry in the franchise set within the MCU, but what if, possibly, it actually tells the tale of how Reynolds‘ unkillable mercenary makes it from his original timeline to the mainline MCU instead?

    In theory, Deadpool Kills the Marvel Universe could work on the big screen as Deadpool Kills the X-Men Universe – or, something like that. Doing this would allow for Marvel Studios to stay true to Deadpool’s typical R-rated fashion while creating a definitive end for Fox’s former cinematic universe and giving fans their Wolverine/Deadpool meet-up all at once. The beginning of the story could remain the same, with the X-Men finally having their fill of Wade Wilson and sending him off to a mental asylum. There, he could be brainwashed by Psycho-Man, who in the film version could be from the MCU’s Quantum Realm as opposed to the comic Microverse. After all, Deadpool 3 will be released not long after Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania. The first major difference could also occur here, with Wilson going berserk not because he realizes everyone is in a comic book, but because he realizes himself and the other mutants are living in the wrong Cinematic Universe. He becomes aware of the MCU, perhaps through Quantum means, and decides he’d like to end the Fox-Verse so he can switch gears and join the more popular franchise.

    Admittedly, Ryan Reynolds‘ take on Deadpool has been much softer than the comic version, with romantic plotlines and found family scenarios turning him into more of a hero along the way. It’s entirely possible Marvel and Reynolds find a way to incorporate this into the film while adapting this excruciatingly dark plot. Maybe, as Wade makes his way through every mutant in the universe (goodbye to James McAvoy‘s team of merry misfits), characters like Zazie Beetz‘ Domino or Julian Dennison‘s Firefist try to stop him but ultimately join him on his mission as they realize what’s really going on. Either way, the baseline story arc remains, and it only needs a few tweaks to continue working surprisingly well. Partway through the movie, where Taskmaster would have come into play in the comic, Jackman‘s Wolverine could step in as the theatrical replacement hellbent on ending Deadpool’s reign of terror.

    With his specific abilities – tracking, healing factor, adamantium claws, etc. – Logan could be the one hunting Wade throughout the movie, resulting in the epic final duel fans have waited years for on film. The ending, hypothetically, could also be the same as the book, with Man-Thing (who is set to make his MCU debut in October’s Werewolf by Night) and the Nexus of All-Realities allowing Wade to finally make his jump to the MCU with the Fox-Verse all but dust behind him. Feige and company could also engineer the ending to include whatever Fox-based characters they’d like to have in the MCU with their original actors.

    This theory is currently pretty baseless, but it is fun speculation, and if true, would tie Deadpool 3 in perfectly with the Multiverse Saga. If they really want to have fun with it, they could even include other formerly Fox-owned properties in the film to show their demise as well. John Krasinski joked about appearing alongside Jackman and Reynolds as Reed Richards on Twitter, which perhaps implies that he’s been contacted to perish on screen once more as the official Fox-Verse variant of Mr. Fantastic. That would be a wonderful running gag, and, along with really this entire theoretical pitch, is something that feels incredibly up Deadpool’s dark, twisted, sardonic alley.

  • EXCLUSIVE: Tim Blake Nelson Set For Boxing Movie ‘Bang Bang’

    EXCLUSIVE: Tim Blake Nelson Set For Boxing Movie ‘Bang Bang’

    Welcome to the Tim Blake Nelsonaissance. The actor, who recently reentered the spotlight when Marvel Studios announced he’d be returning as The Leader for 2024’s Captain America: New World Order, has booked another starring film role. Nelson is attached to play the title character in the upcoming boxing flick Bang Bang, which is set to begin production at the end of October. The film revolves around Nelson‘s Bernard ‘Bang Bang’ Rozyski, a fictional former featherweight boxer who was once considered among the greatest punchers of his time. Bang Bang’s life escalates when his grandson comes to stay with him, and he sees the boy as a chance to relive his glory days and get back at his old boxing nemesis, Darnell Washington, played by Glenn Plummer.

    Bang Bang will be directed by Vincent Grashaw, who is best known for his work on films like What Josiah Saw and Coldwater. The filmmaker will direct from a script by Will Janowitz, an actor-turned-writer who previously held a recurring role on HBO’s hit series The Sopranos. Executive producers include Jesse Ozeri and Dane Eckerle, with Ran Namerode, Angelia Adzic, and Cole Payne also on board in a producing capacity. Bang Bang is only the latest project added to Nelson‘s busy schedule. The popular character actor can next be seen in Guillermo del Toro‘s stop-motion Pinocchio adaptation, before going on to star in the aforementioned fourth Captain America and Dexter Fletcher‘s action pic Ghosted, alongside Chris Evans and Ana de Armas.

  • Finn Jones Confirms Plot of ‘Iron Fist’ Season 3 Would Have Featured Orson Randall

    Finn Jones Confirms Plot of ‘Iron Fist’ Season 3 Would Have Featured Orson Randall

    Of all the Marvel shows produced by Netflix, Iron Fist stands out as the one least loved by fans. The series was noted for its many departures from the source material, with viewers and critics both agreeing the project was far too light on the magic that made the comics so much fun. After a few behind-the-scenes changes, Iron Fist’s second season improved the show by leaps and bounds, but the alterations came too late and weren’t enough to save the series from an early cancellation. This meant that several plotlines, including a massive cliffhanger hinting at a major comic book story for the show’s third season, were left unfinished and untold by showrunner Raven Metzner and his creative team.

    Speaking exclusively with Comic Book, series star Finn Jones discussed the potential surrounding Iron Fist Season 3 and the conscious efforts made to fix the show after its poorly received debut outing:

    The second season was really all about course correction. Y’know, it’s like, how do we just change the course and the conversation around the show and just bring it up to a place that we can feel proud of, and then we can take the show in the direction that we really want to take it.

    Finn Jones

    The direction they wanted to take Iron Fist, it seems, was toward writers Ed Brubaker and Matt Fraction’s acclaimed run from the late 2000s. That series featured Danny Rand learning more about the former owners of the Iron Fist mantle, and teaming up with his immediate predecessor, Orson Randall. Iron Fist Season 2 ended with Jones’ take on Rand traveling to Asia with his new pal Ward, channeling his chi into two pistols and bringing himself closer to Randall than ever. Meanwhile, in New York, Jessica Henwick’s Colleen Wing took over as the next official Iron Fist.

    When asked directly if this meant Metzner and Jones planned on adapting The Immortal Iron Fist and using Orson Randall in the third season, the British actor confirmed this was the case:

    Oh, yeah, we definitely were. I love Danny Rand. I love Danny Rand. I love that character, I love everything about him. I think he’s such a joy. And so did Raven, as well. And we really would just vibe out and geek out together about the prospects of what we could create with that character.

    Finn Jones

    He elaborated, breaking down the unmade season’s potential structure:

    Raven, especially, wanted to see Danny and Ward off in distant lands, like, fighting crime and having the guns and stuff. And Orson Randall, like taking on that kind of persona. And then Colleen would be in New York with the Iron Fist, kind of coming to terms with that responsibility. Then eventually, over the course of that season, they would find each other again and become whole. Yeah, there were a lot of interesting ways we could have moved forward with that show.

    Finn Jones

    While Metzner was never able to make this plot a reality, it’s not impossible that fans see it play out on screen in the future. Marvel Studios has been steadily returning its Netflix characters to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and it may be only a matter of time before Danny Rand makes his second grand debut. Whether or not Jones is still in the role when that happens remains to be seen.

    Source: Comic Book

  • ‘Blade’: Five Directors Who Could Replace Bassam Tariq

    ‘Blade’: Five Directors Who Could Replace Bassam Tariq

    The news is out! Blade, the long-awaited cinematic reboot of Marvel’s resident vampire hunter, is now without a director. Bassam Tariq, who had been attached to the project since the summer of 2021, relieved himself of his duties after multiple delays in production forced the film past his range of availability. Marvel Studios is said to already be in search mode for a new filmmaker to take over Mahershala Ali‘s much-anticipated bloodsucking debut, but with relatively short notice and a tight schedule to work with, it might not be easy to lock a creative down. Luckily for Kevin Feige and the folks at Marvel, Murphy’s Multiverse has a few suggestions that just might do the trick.

    When thinking of a potential new director, it’s important to keep in mind that Marvel will need somebody who can step in quickly and pick up the reigns of production with ease. It’s very likely the studio will reach out to talent they already know, and keep to names that likely won’t demand a total restart of the creative process once they’re on board. This narrows down the list considerably, but also provides an excellent list of helmers that would be sure to make the best Blade film possible.

    Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah

    Adil & Bilall

    When one thinks of directors who’ve worked with Marvel Studios in the past and recently had their schedule pretty cleared up, one thinks of the duo Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah. The creative pairing have had a rollercoaster year, and essentially all of it has been within the realm of live-action superheroism. Adil and Bilall spent the last couple years directing the first and last episodes of the Disney+ series Ms. Marvel before moving on to make DC’s Batgirl film. As has been widely reported in recent months, only one of those two projects actually released. At one point, the team was supposed to take over Eddie Murphy‘s Beverly Hills Cop IV, but that job has also since fallen through.

    The point being made here is that, despite an immense amount of talent between the both of them, Adil and Bilall are not currently tied down to any known movie or series. Following the loss of Batgirl, Marvel boss Feige sent the duo an apologetic email that implied he hoped to work with them again soon, and their previous directing credits (namely Bad Boys For Life) suggest they’d be a perfect fit for the action-packed world of Blade. The biggest setback in this plan would be if Feige prefers they return for a potential second season of Ms. Marvel instead, but since that project is merely a rumor and not officially in the cards, the betting man would be smarter to put it all on Blade and hope for the best.

    Antoine Fuqua

    Antoine Fuqua

    Similarly to the previous entry on this list, filmmaking veteran Antoine Fuqua is currently without an immediate project. The director, known for his work on films like Training Day and The Equalizer, recently lead production on a Will Smith-starring movie titled Emancipation for Apple TV+. However, controversy surrounding the actor’s now-infamous Oscar’s slap and a handful of filming delays have caused Emancipation to be put on the back burner. Couple that with the fact Fuqua supposedly met with Marvel Studios about the potential of directing something back in 2018, and there may be cause to believe the filmmaker could be on the list of talent being sought out by Feige at this very moment. While it has been a long time since that widely-reported meeting took place, Marvel is well-known for their ability to circle back around to creatives and concepts that didn’t work out in the past. At the very least, Feige has Fuqua‘s phone number, and the latter’s notable filmography of gritty, action-based plots with plenty of real-world symbolism would mix perfectly with a take on Blade that has Mahershala in the titular role.

    Gina Prince-Bythewood

    Gina Prince-Bythewood

    A name that’s currently hot in Hollywood, Gina Prince-Bythewood could be an incredible sleeper pick for Blade if her schedule allows it. The director has spent the last couple of years building an impressive resume in the action genre, adapting The Old Guard graphic novel to positive reviews in 2020 before releasing The Woman King to critical acclaim just this past month. Both projects were praised for their fight choreography and story elements, putting Prince-Bythewood at the top of the list of people who could likely handle what Blade requires.

    Not only that, but the former Love & Basketball filmmaker has a history with Marvel projects, having worked on Freeform’s Cloak & Dagger in 2018 before developing the unmade Silver & Black for Sony’s Spider-Man universe. With Sony and Marvel Studios now so friendly, it seems plausible that Feige could have a standing relationship with Prince-Bythewood that leads to her taking over directorial duties for Blade. The creative already passed over directing The Old Guard 2, so the next few months might be open enough for her to slide in and make her mark on the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

    F. Gary Gray

    F. Gary Gray with Vin Diesel

    Bringing it all the way back to 2015, when F. Gary Gray topped Marvel Studios’ shortlist of possible directors for the megahit Black Panther. Obviously, he didn’t take the gig, which ultimately went to Ryan Coogler with Gray helming Universal’s The Fate of the Furious instead. However, the fact Marvel was so high on the filmmaker at that point could mean he’s still on their radar nearly a decade later, with his only upcoming project being the undated Kevin Hart heist film Lift. The creative has a history of crafting movies with over-the-top action scenes, and has worked with major studios on summer blockbuster-style products on many occasions. All of this could make Gray the perfect veteran presence to step in and course-correct Blade in an efficient manner.

    Regina King

    Regina King

    The least likely name on this list, but one that could be a lot of fun. Best known for her stellar acting career, Regina King has spent the last decade dabbling with work behind the scenes as well. She’s been directing episodes of television since 2013 and made her feature film debut with One Night in Miami… in 2020. According to showrunner Cheo Hodari Coker, the iconic creative almost directed an episode of Marvel’s Luke Cage during its two-season run, and although she’s since denied it, King was once listed as a name in contention for DC’s Superman reboot. Her busy schedule may not permit it, but if she could find the time to fit Blade in, it could make for one of the most exciting and original directing choices Marvel Studios has ever made.

    Source(s): CBR, Collider, Entertainment Weekly