Murphy's Multiverse

Author: Hunter Radesi

  • Jamie Foxx Reflects On Almost Spoiling ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’ 

    Jamie Foxx Reflects On Almost Spoiling ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’ 

    The release of Spider-Man: No Way Home was shrouded in studio secrecy. Multiple major characters were returning from previous films, including all three live-action Spider-Men, and the information was being kept under heavy wraps. However, despite the studio’s best efforts, rumors about a multiversal team-up taking place in the film were making the rounds almost from day one. This was in huge part because, very early in the production process, Jamie Foxx announced his own return to the franchise as the villain Electro, with an Instagram post that included an image of more than one Spider-Man.

    The post was quickly deleted, but the damage was irreparable. Foxx’s social media became ground zero for a storm of theories and Internet whispers that were ultimately mostly correct. Speaking with CinemaBlend about the incident nearly two years later, the actor admits he made a mistake in almost blowing Sony’s cover:

    It was crazy. It was like a- it was like a rock concert, when we did that film. And I thought Sony did a fantastic job of mystique. You know what I’m saying? Holding things, keeping things – you know, I kind of almost blew it… But I think they did a great job in doing that, bringing some mystique. And I think that that’s what was needed to get people back in the theater.

    Jamie Foxx

    Foxx also commented on what it was like to see Tom Holland, Andrew Garfield, and Tobey Maguire suited up together for the first time. The excitement of the moment almost made the Django Unchained star “blow it” again, until someone else on set put a stop to what could have been the most infamous spoiler in film history:

    As soon as I got on the set and there was all three Spider-Mans, I was like this (picks up cell phone). ’Oh, we up in here, baby, ‘bout to go live…’ And somebody just dove on me like I was a fire. I was like, ‘What the hell?’ ‘Shh! No one’s supposed to know.’ ‘Okay, my bad. Okay, we ain’t supposed to know that all three of them are here!’

    Jamie Foxx

    Holland is well-known for his history of spoiling, but it looks like he wasn’t the one Sony should have been worried about. Now that the secret is out, however, fans can experience all the thrilling action again in Spider-Man: No Way Home – The More Fun Stuff Version, an extended cut of the film that hits theaters on September 1st.

    Source: CinemaBlend

  • Idris Elba Confirms DC Project In Development 

    Idris Elba Confirms DC Project In Development 

    Idris Elba is one of the few actors getting to play in both the Marvel and DC sandbox at the moment. Now a household name, Elba has starred concurrently as the Asgardian warrior Heimdall in Marvel’s Thor films and the ruthless mercenary Bloodsport in Warner Bros.’ The Suicide Squad for the last few years. Thor: Love and Thunder brought the former character back after a long absence, while the latter character’s journey has seemingly only just begun. However, since each of his last comic book-based projects was released, his future with either company has been up in the air. That is, until now.

    During a recent interview with Erik Davis, the actor confirmed he’s in the process of cooking up something big for DC right now. Davis took to Twitter to share the news ahead of the interview’s release. Without any further information, it’s impossible to say exactly what it is Elba is working on. That being said, director James Gunn has been teasing the exciting future of his work with HBO Max creating DC television series. The creative already produced Peacemaker, a spin-off of The Suicide Squad, and has stated he’s developing more unrevealed spin-offs as well. Deductive reasoning would indicate Elba might be returning to his Bloodsport role in one of Gunn’s shows, but without any official word, that should still be considered simple conjecture. Hopefully, more information comes sooner than later.

    Elba’s next picture, Beast, in which the actor battles a ferocious lion, hits theaters on August 19th.

    Source: Twitter

  • Michael Rosenbaum Confirms Return as Martinex in ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3’

    Michael Rosenbaum Confirms Return as Martinex in ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3’

    It seems there may be a full-blown Ravager reunion in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. It was confirmed in November that Hollywood icon Sylvester Stallone would reprise his role as Stakar Ogord, a high-ranking member of the Ravagers and leader of Yondu Udonta’s former squad, from 2017’s Vol. 2, and now it looks like he won’t be alone. Michael Rosenbaum recently took to his Instagram to reveal he would be returning as Martinex, the sparkling Plutonian, in Marvel Studios’ intergalactic threequel.

    The actor shared the news by posting an image of his character from the unreleased trailer that played for fans at San Diego Comic-Con. He captioned the photo, “See a familiar face in the new GOTG trailer?”.

    Rosenbaum is a longtime friend and frequent collaborator of director James Gunn, so it’s not a big surprise that he would appear in the creative’s next project. However, his appearance combined with Stallone’s would indicate at least part of the movie will pay off the Vol. 2 post-credits scene that involved the original Ravagers. When last fans saw the group, they had reunited on Ogord’s ship after years apart, mourning the loss of Michael Rooker’s Yondu and gearing up to “steal some shit”.

    If the whole team is truly back, that would mean Vol. 3 could also see the return of Michelle Yeoh as Aleta Ogord, Ving Rhames as Charlie-27, and Miley Cyrus as Mainframe. This would put Yeoh in the unique position of playing two Marvel Cinematic Universe characters concurrently, after also appearing prominently in Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings.

    Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 hits theaters on May 5th, 2023.

    Source: Instagram

  • ‘Doctor Strange’ Storyboard Artist Reveals Mordo’s Grisly Original Fate

    ‘Doctor Strange’ Storyboard Artist Reveals Mordo’s Grisly Original Fate

    Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness did a pretty good job of continuing the threads established in Stephan Strange’s first solo outing, but there was one major loose end that never wrapped up. While Chiwetel Ejiofor did return for the sequel to reprise his role as Karl Mordo, the Ancient One’s top former student and Strange’s one-time mentor, it wasn’t in the way most fans expected. Mordo had ended 2016’s Doctor Strange disillusioned with magic users and promising to rid the world of it’s “too many sorcerers”. Many assumed this meant the sequel would see him follow his comic book arc to become Strange’s arch-rival on Earth, but instead, the mainstream timeline’s version of the character never appears at all.

    Audiences were treated to an alternate Earth-838 Mordo, who lives in a world where Strange has died and he has ascended to become both Sorcerer Supreme and a member of the Illuminati. The film leaves the fate of Earth-616 Mordo completely up in the air, but according to storyboard artist Jeremy Simser, that was not always the case. Months after the release of Multiverse of Madness, the artist has unveiled a series of panels that confirm Ejiofor‘s potential villain was once supposed to perish at the hands of Elizabeth Olsen‘s Scarlet Witch:

    There had previously been rumors that the film’s original script had Mordo losing his head after trying to stop Wanda Maximoff on his own, but this is the first solid look at how that might have played out. Luckily for fans of the character, and those hoping to see him fulfill his comic book role down the line, Simser mentions in his caption that deleted scenes don’t count as part of Marvel Cinematic Universe canon. So, perhaps there’s still room for Mordo to flex his villainous muscle in Doctor Strange 3.

    Source: Instagram

  • ‘Shazam 2’, ‘Aquaman 2’ and ‘The Flash’ May Get Delayed Again

    ‘Shazam 2’, ‘Aquaman 2’ and ‘The Flash’ May Get Delayed Again

    In perhaps the most shocking film news of the year, Warner Bros. Discovery made the move to cancel HBO Max’s Batgirl after it had already completed filming. The project was axed alongside Scoob!: Holiday Haunt, an animated sequel to 2020’s Scoob!, which was also nearly finished with its production process. These decisions came as the result of a change in leadership at the company, with new CEO David Zaslav making drastic modifications to Warner Bros. Discovery’s project output in an attempt to save the business money. Other such changes include the removal of multiple previously released HBO Max Originals, such as The Witches and An American Pickle, from the streaming service for the sake of partial tax write-offs.

    A new article from The Hollywood Reporter indicates more release alterations may be coming, specifically to the company’s slate of upcoming DC films. While fans are mostly concerned about projects that have yet to begin marketing, like Angel Manuel Soto‘s Blue Beetle or Andy Muschietti‘s The Flash, THR reports that imminent entries on Warner Bros. Discovery’s schedule could be in motion as well. Shazam!: Fury of the Gods and Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom are both listed as projects that might see a change in release dates in the near future. Fury of the Gods, which just had a grand showing at San Diego Comic-Con and recently dropped its first trailer, is currently set for a December 21st release, while The Lost Kingdom is supposed to hit theaters on March 17th, 2023.

    No reason was given for any potential shift, but THR did note that Aquaman may be undergoing some changes in its Batman department. Michael Keaton was reportedly set to reprise his role as Bruce Wayne from the original Tim Burton films, The Flash, and Batgirl, replacing Ben Affleck from the Zack Snyder universe as the Caped Crusader going forward. However, a recent video posted to Jason Mamoa‘s Instagram seemed to hint that Affleck would indeed return. The cancellation of Batgirl and uncertainty surrounding The Flash could mean the switch to Keaton has been undone, with THR also noting that Keaton’s original scene as Batman in The Lost Kingdom caused confusion among early test audiences. Warner Bros. Discovery has an earnings call on Thursday, and all eyes are directed toward Zaslav for answers.

    Source: THR

  • ‘Eternals’ Star May Have Accidentally Confirmed Sequel in Development, Chloe Zhao to Return

    ‘Eternals’ Star May Have Accidentally Confirmed Sequel in Development, Chloe Zhao to Return

    Patton Oswalt might have just confirmed an Eternals sequel is in development. A Tweet circulating the internet features the actor and comedian discussing an “announced” Eternals 2, where he states Chloé Zhao will return to direct and he hopes to reprise his role as Pip the Troll. Oswalt was part of a surprise post-credits scene last year which introduced his character and Harry Styles‘ Starfox, the more handsome and charming brother of Josh Brolin‘s Thanos, to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Eternals released in November of 2021 to mixed reviews from critics and audiences alike, causing concern from fans that a second installment might never come to fruition. There have been virtually no updates on a potential sequel since the first film hit theaters.

    Patton Oswalt might have just confirmed an Eternals sequel is in development. A Tweet circulating the internet features the actor and comedian discussing an “announced” Eternals 2, where he states Chloé Zhao will return to direct and he hopes to reprise his role as Pip the Troll. Oswalt was part of a surprise post-credits scene last year which introduced his character and Harry Styles‘ Starfox, the more handsome and charming brother of Josh Brolin‘s Thanos, to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Eternals released in November of 2021 to mixed reviews from critics and audiences alike, causing concern from fans that a second installment might never come to fruition. There have been virtually no updates on a potential sequel since the first film hit theaters.

    https://twitter.com/neverland__pete/status/1554947788596989953?s=20&t=r0fl5sjicM6iw9B3niLIKA

    Despite a lot of silence on the part of Marvel Studios, Eternals did a lot in it’s nearly 3-hour runtime to set up a future for it’s large cast of characters. The movie ended with it’s ensemble cast splitting in two, with one half staying on Earth to face the judgement of the Celestial Arishem and the other half jetting into space to recruit other unseen Eternals to their cause. Kit Harrington‘s Dane Whitman was included mostly as a means of propping up future appearances. Other A-List stars are also attached to the franchise and would likely return for a second entry, including Angelina Jolie and Kumail Nanjiani.

    It’s not known if a possible Eternals 2 would be set within the “Multiverse Saga” – the collective name for Marvel’s fourth, fifth, and sixth phases – or if it would come sometime after 2025’s Avengers: Secret Wars. There are a few film release slots still open for Phase 6, so it seems entirely plausible fans could see some sort of Eternals 2 in that time frame.

    Source: TikTok via Twitter

  • ‘She-Hulk’ Director Teases How Daredevil Fits Into Series

    ‘She-Hulk’ Director Teases How Daredevil Fits Into Series

    She-Hulk is about to make her big debut in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and she won’t be alone when she does it. Mark Ruffalo will star in the series alongside Tatiana Maslany, reprising his role as Dr. Bruce Banner from previous Marvel entries, acting as Jennifer Walters’ cousin and mentor. Yet, Ruffalo is still not the co-star fans are most excited to see when She-Hulk: Attorney at Law premieres on August 18th. Charlie Cox was finally confirmed to be returning as Matt Murdock, a.k.a. the blind vigilante Daredevil, at San Diego Comic-Con, and has since become one of the project’s most talked about aspects online.

    In a recent interview with Entertainment Weekly, series director Kat Coiro discussed the character’s inclusion and what a relief it’s been for the information to be public. While Coiro couldn’t reveal much about Daredevil’s time on the series, she did crack a joke about how perfectly he fit into the world of She-Hulk as both a fellow lawyer and superhero:

    Can I tell you how excited I was when the audience was able to see that and I realized that I did not have to keep that secret anymore? Yes, Daredevil is in the show. I mean, how can you have a legal comedy and not have Daredevil come into it?

    Kat Coiro

    Head writer Jessica Gao previously mentioned the writers thought Marvel’s approval of Daredevil in the series was a prank, and Coiro‘s excitement seems to sell that comment as being true. Continuing to elaborate, the director explained how Matt Murdock and Jennifer Walters interact as equals, and referred to Daredevil as the expected “crowd favorite” of the show:

    They match each other’s wits, is what I can say. I am definitely excited for Daredevil to make his appearance, because I think he’s going to be a crowd favorite. But I can’t tell you anything else about that. The Marvel police is a real thing and I don’t want to get arrested by them

    Kat Coiro

    It’s not currently known how much Daredevil will actually be present in the show’s runtime, but the trailer tease and the constant hype coming from the project’s creative team at least indicate his appearance will be special. Even if the Man Without Fear is only in a single episode, fans still have Echo and Daredevil: Born Again to look forward to on Disney+.

    Source: EW

  • ‘John Wick’ Director Had Discussions With Marvel Studios to Tackle ‘Blade’

    ‘John Wick’ Director Had Discussions With Marvel Studios to Tackle ‘Blade’

    The John Wick franchise has been nothing but successful for Lionsgate and filmmaker Chad Stahelski. After spending years as a stunt coordinator and second unit director on various projects, Stahelski received his big break helming the Wick films, which launched him into stardom and helped rejuvenate Keanu Reeves’ career.

    Apparently, the series also earned Stahelski a meeting with Marvel Studios boss Kevin Feige, whom he’d worked with before as the second unit on Captain America: Civil War, as stated by Stahelski during a recent interview with Comic Book. According to the director, Feige set up some time for a chat that meant a lot more than the producer might have realized:

    Marvel was very influential in my career. I owe them a great deal. Kevin [Feige] is an awesome guy and I’ve worked for him many times on second unit. After John Wick 3, he was nice enough to carve out a big chunk of time and have a nice talk. He’s been a…in a way…a very strong mentor, even though it was a short period of time. I’ve only talked to him a few times, but he has been very influential in mindset and how to do it.

    Chad Stahelski

    While the meeting seems to have been a general one, Stahelski revealed that Feige did inquire about signing him to a future project. Stahelski apparently only had one in mind:

    And he actually asked me, ‘What could we ever do?’ I was like, ‘Look, I’m not going to lie to you. I don’t know if I fit that kind of studio mold, but Blade would be the one interesting thing I’d like to do. I don’t know if I would’ve been the best choice for that in the direction they wanted to go. If you want to do the edgy rated R version, yeah, give me a call. If you want to be non-apologetic, yeah. That’s me. But I think they’re protecting their brand, they’re doing their thing. The individual they selected, I think is a very good director, and I think will do a great job in the direction that I think they want to take the property.

    Chad Stahelski

    Blade, which was announced in 2019 with Mahershala Ali attached to the starring role, is now set to be directed by Bassam Tariq and will release on November 3rd, 2023. The Mogul Mowgli creative will bring to life a script from Stacy Osei-Kuffour, with Delroy Lindo and Aaron Pierre having since joined the cast. Stahelski, on the other hand, is busy preparing for John Wick: Chapter 4 to drop on March 24th, 2023.

    He has yet to direct anything outside the John Wick franchise, but perhaps his meeting with Marvel Studios will open the door for something else down the line. After all, there is no shortage of opportunities in Marvel’s plans for the next decade.

    Source: Comic Book

  • Zazie Beetz Plays Coy on Possible ‘Deadpool 3’ Return

    Zazie Beetz Plays Coy on Possible ‘Deadpool 3’ Return

    Zazie Beetz left her mark on the Marvel franchise when she appeared in Deadpool 2. The Atlanta actress portrayed Domino, a mutant mercenary and longtime comic book affiliate of Wade Wilson, in the well-received sequel project. She was introduced to the franchise alongside Josh Brolin‘s Cable, and before the merger of 20th Century Fox and Disney, many fans expected Beetz to reprise her role in the trilogy’s third installment. Now, with Deadpool 3 being part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, pretty much everything aside from Ryan Reynolds‘ involvement is up in the air.

    Speaking with Variety at the premiere of her new film Bullet Train, Beetz was asked to comment on her potential future as Domino in Deadpool 3. Of course, the actress couldn’t really confirm anything, but her response felt far from an actual denial:

    It’s unknown how much of the Deadpool series’ storyline will carry over into the MCU, especially considering the concept of mutants is only just being realized in the franchise timeline. Luckily, Deadpool 3 could possibly fall within the ongoing “Multiverse Saga”, which would leave several doors open for performers like Beetz and Reynolds to enter the MCU from another dimension. After all, Domino does operate using the power to manipulate luck, so it’s entirely plausible that she has a hand in landing herself and the Merc with a Mouth in the multiverse’s most popular timeline.

    Deadpool 3 will be directed by Shawn Levy, from a script by Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick, and currently has no release date.

    Source: Variety

  • ‘Deadpool 2’ Director Explains Why He Didn’t Return for the MCU Sequel

    ‘Deadpool 2’ Director Explains Why He Didn’t Return for the MCU Sequel

    David Leitch has made a name for himself in Hollywood. The former stunt man-turned-director is gearing up for his latest action film, Bullet Train, to hit theaters this weekend, and spoke to Uproxx about the many projects that have brought him to where he is today. After co-directing the first John Wick with Chad Stahelski, Leitch carved his own path and made more action hits with films like Atomic Blonde and the Fast & Furious spin-off Hobbs & Shaw. Perhaps his most popular work, however, is 2018’s sequel Deadpool 2, which he boarded after the first film’s maestro, Tim Miller, departed over creative differences.

    Curiously, Leitch has never returned to a franchise after working on it once. This could change in the future, but for now, the director explained to Uproxx that it’s almost entirely circumstantial:

    It’s probably more of what I’m doing and some circumstance. I love all of those worlds, and they’re all precious to me. Starting with John Wick. Chad has taken over that franchise and executed it beautifully. And Deadpool is amazing. And Atomic Blonde, I would love to go back. When I look back, I would love to go back to those worlds, but I think the way it’s worked out for me, or fate has brought me to this place, is that I get new opportunities and they’re really awesome, interesting, as well. Now moving on and doing The Fall Guy with Gosling, we’re prepping right now.

    David Leitch

    When asked if his upcoming production of The Fall Guy played a role in his not coming back for Marvel Studios’ upcoming Deadpool 3, Leitch made it clear this was not the case. In fact, the creative revealed he had actually spoken to Marvel about another Deadpool adventure, but simply couldn’t find the right window to make it happen between the studio and himself:

    No. Look, we had conversations about Deadpool 3, but I just was … I had things in the pipeline, too. And it was never, “Hey, do you want to do it or not want to do it?” or whatever. I think it was more we knew our dance cards were kind of full on both sides. And we have a window. And Marvel has calendars.

    David Leitch

    Deadpool 3 will be helmed instead by Ryan Reynolds‘ frequent collaborative partner Shawn Levy. There is not currently a release date, but fans can check out Leitch‘s Brad Pitt-starring Bullet Train on August 5th.

    Source: Uproxx