Murphy's Multiverse

Author: Joseph Aberl

  • James Gunn’s DC Projects and ‘The Batman’ Spinoff Still in Development

    James Gunn’s DC Projects and ‘The Batman’ Spinoff Still in Development

    There’s been a lot of discussions about what exactly the future has in store for Warner Bros. Discovery’s various DC Comics adaptations. The sudden cancelation of Batgirl raised the question of whether other projects might face a similar sudden cancelation. There’s still no word on what exactly the future looks like–besides a tease of a ten-year plan–but luckily it seems that some projects are definitely safe moving forward. James Gunn took to Twitter to confirm that Peacemaker‘s upcoming second season will be safe.

    The director has also gone on record to confirm that his other secret projects are still in development at this point. While they haven’t been announced outside of one that’ll focus on Viola Davis‘ Amanda Waller, it’s good to know that Warner Bros. isn’t shooting everything to the curve at this point.

    That is not all, as The Wrap‘s Brandon Katz has also taken to Twitter to hear that the upcoming The Batman spinoff series focused on Colin Farrell‘s Penguin is also safe. So, luckily those excited to further explore that new corner of the DC adaptation’s multiverse won’t have to worry much longer.

    It’s definitely a relief that these projects are safe, especially with the potential surrounding them. Peacemaker was a sleeper hit for HBO Max and there’s quite a bit of excitement surrounding the other projects he’s working on. While he’s still busy on the third entry of the Guardians of the Galaxy, he’s got a slate of projects in some form of development over at Warner Bros. and DC. Plus, Matt Reeves is also spearheading his own mini-universe that might offer something very grounded in contrast. So, it seems they aren’t just throwing everything out just yet.

    Source: Twitter

  • ‘Daredevil’ Actress May Have Confirmed Jon Bernthal’s MCU Return as Punisher

    ‘Daredevil’ Actress May Have Confirmed Jon Bernthal’s MCU Return as Punisher

    Not sure what is happening over at C2E 2022 but the event has become a breeding ground for leaks on Marvel Studios’ future projects. Not only did Giancarlo Esposito confirm he’s had talks with Marvel Studios and is interested in tackling the role of Professor X, but it seems that Daredevil actress Rosario Dawson has also just revealed that Jon Bernthal will return in the role as The Punisher in a future project.

    The short video comes from a conference that the Ahsoka star is currently attending at C2E 2022, as shared by Knight Edge Media’s Caleb Williams. It’s unclear if she’s involved with any future projects, as she took on the role of Night Nurse for the ground-level stories explored on Netflix, which may be how she was informed about it.

    Bernthal was among the Netflix cast that many hoped to return in the role that he made his own. While there were many actors that took on the role in the past, he definitely added something very raw to the role that’s worth exploring more in a bigger universe. Anyone who doesn’t want to see him and Strange travel through dimensions taking down weird mystical creatures is really underestimating the potential that the upcoming Avengers: Secret Wars has in store for us if this turns out true.

    Source: Twitter

  • RUMOR: Episode Lenght of ‘She-Hulk’s Premiere Potentially Revealed

    RUMOR: Episode Lenght of ‘She-Hulk’s Premiere Potentially Revealed

    Just as we near the release of a Marvel Studios project, it seems like the runtime for whatever is about to hit the Disneye+ streaming service finds its way online. With She-Hulk: Attorney at Law just around the corner, the tradition seemingly continues. Amit Chaudhari, who has reliable shared episode lengths for various episodes in the past, has done the same for the upcoming premiere of the latest Marvel series. She-Hulk will be the first half-hour comedy series since WandaVision back in January 2021 and it seems that the first episode is going to run for around 35 min, which includes credits.

    We also have to consider that the runtimes can differ slightly between countries, but this is mostly by a few minutes as each country adds additional minutes due to the dub voice cast inclusions. Not every country includes the same list and that is what leads to some runtimes going beyond a minute or two. Still, without credits, it seems that the episode count might be around the 30-minute mark which will range from episode to episode.

    It’s surprising they aren’t going for a two-episode premiere but it’s great to see them shake things up from one project to the next. While their initial intentions were likely to offer a balance between six-episode dramas and this nine-episode comedy, the pandemic certainly shook things up giving the dramas a more dominant standing. We’ll see what the future has in store.

    Sourcee: Twitter

  • Giancarlo Esposito Confirms Talks With Marvel Studios, Eyeing the Role of Professor X

    Giancarlo Esposito Confirms Talks With Marvel Studios, Eyeing the Role of Professor X

    We’ve heard many rumors that Giancarlo Esposito may have had talks with Marvel Studios to potentially appear in an upcoming project. The actor is well-known for his villainous and intimidating roles throughout his filmography. In a surprising twist, the actor has just flat out confirmed that he’s had talks with the role and even mentions quite a few characters that we could see him as potentially while attending the Superhero Car Show and Comic Con, where he simply revealed that he’d be down to take a different, more heroic role as Professor X

    You can watch the video here:

    @countdowncitygeeks

    #giancarloesposito announces which character he may play in themarveluniverse! #superherocarshowandcomiccon #fyp #foryourpage #celebfanfest #comiccon2022 #marvel #countdowncitygeekcast #sanantoniotx

    ♬ original sound – Countdown City Geeks

    We can’t take this as a confirmation, as it would be strange for him to flat-out confirm a role during a convention, especially with D23 on the horizon. Plus, he didn’t state he got the role but rather from the many rumors pointing out which one would interest him the most. Esposito would definitely make for a great Professor X or any of the roles mentioned, such as Magneto or even Victor van Doom. But, him taking on a more positive role that also has a long-term commitment.

    Plus, it’s not like Professor X has always been the kind version we’ve gotten accustomed to through the X-Men films by 20th Century Fox. There have been many versions where she was just as threatening as anyone else, which is something that has gotten lost in his translation to the silver screen. Plus, the actor has proven his soft side with performances like Stargirl in the past, which makes him a great candidate to bring both sides to the MCU’s take on Charles Xavier.

    Source: TikTok

  • New ‘She-Hulk’ Storyboard Reveals Familiar Daredevil Costume

    New ‘She-Hulk’ Storyboard Reveals Familiar Daredevil Costume

    While all eyes are on She-Hulk adding another great new Marvel icon to the Marvel Cinematic Universe,e the return of another familiar superhero is what everyone is talking bout right now. After making his MCU return in Spider-Man: No Way Home, Charlie Cox is set to take on the mantle of Daredevil in the upcoming series. The second trailer for the Disney+ series confirmed his return and even gave us a glimpse at a yellow take on his costume; an exciting addition for comics fans.

    Yet, it turns out that at one point the project may have almost featured the red version of his costume, or at least it was something they included in earlier storyboards. Jeremy Simster who has worked on various projects for Marvel, Game of Thrones, and The Boys shared a new look at a shot featured in the latest promo. It was the best look we had yet of Daredevil in his iconic yellow costume, but it seemingly features a red version that could’ve been considered early on in the She-Hulk development process.

    It’s great to see the storyboard artists’ excitement to bring Daredevil to life and his addition to the upcoming series is definitely going to be something many are looking forward to. Charlie Cox‘s return is something really bitter-sweet and adds a lot more to the Netflix era of the franchise, which had a more grounded offering of Marve fair. We’ll see how it potentially connects to the original and if the upcoming Born Again Disney+ series takes some cues from that era.

    Source: Instagram

  • ‘Bullet Train’ Eyeing a Decent $30M Domestic Opening Weekend

    ‘Bullet Train’ Eyeing a Decent $30M Domestic Opening Weekend

    It’s a soft opening for the new Bullet Train film that has received quite the mixed reception with a B+ AudienceScore and stands at a lower 41% critic rating on Rotten Tomatoes. While expectations weren’t the biggest for its box office run, it does seem like the latest film is going to wrap up the weekend with $30M as it pulled in $12.6M from 4,357 theaters on Friday. While not going to break any records, it definitely is a strong performance as a non-franchise opener.

    the only challenge the film will have is that it’ll have a long road ahead to make up its $90M production budget and word-of-mouth will have to play in its favor. The B+ CinemaScore, as we’ve seen in the past with Thor: Love and Thunder, The Northman, and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, does not equate to a “dead on arrival” release as even Lightyear couldn’t keep up at the box office even with an A- score.

    The B+ score could reflect a reactionary aspect with the violence and comedy at play in the film, but only future weekends will show if it has a surprising stronghold or not. Brad Pitt is spearheading the project that was directed by David Leitch, who has made quite a few promising entries and with its simple premise could offer something for those looking for a more grounded action flick as the summer box office slowly winds down.

    Source: Variety

  • ‘LEGO Movie’ Producer Teases “Different Art Form” for Upcoming Franchise Reboot

    ‘LEGO Movie’ Producer Teases “Different Art Form” for Upcoming Franchise Reboot

    Many have wondered what exactly the future has in store for the LEGO Movie franchise. In 2014, Warner Bros. surprised many when directors Phil Lord and Christopher Miller offered a very different kind of animated film that was made with a lot of love to recreate some of our most nostalgic memories and even had a heart-felt storyline included.

    It was followed by a sequel five years later with The LEGO Movie 2: The Second Part and two spinoffs, The LEGO Batman and The LEGO Ninjago. Yet, Warner Bros.s swiftly lost the rates to the iconic franchise that was just getting ready to grow and we have seen a project since. There have been hints that a reboot of some kind is in development and luckily producer Dan Lin has given us our first tease in a podcast episode with The Ankler.

    We know we have to switch it up & take to a different art form that’s still true to LEGO, we should have some announcements soon… I think we’ve reinvented it in a cool way.

    Dan Lin

    The mention of a “different art form” is a rather surprising hint that we shouldn’t expect a franchise that is anywhere close to what the original was. We still have no details on whoever may be directing the project or even if a writer is attached. In a time where creative staff is announced a long time in advance, it’s the first time we’ve seen a new franchise reboot based on such a high IP keeping it really close to the chest. We’ll see just how soon the “soon” is from the interview.

    Source: The Ankler via Twitter

  • ‘The Flash’s Grant Gustin Shares His Feelings on the CW Series Ending

    ‘The Flash’s Grant Gustin Shares His Feelings on the CW Series Ending

    CW’s The Flash is coming to an end with its upcoming ninth season. Not only that, but it’ll also be a shorter run, which was also the case with some other CW shows. With its ninth season, it’ll also be the Arrowverse series to have had the longest season count as it has now passed Arrow, which ended with eight seasons.

    Of course, it’s not every day that a franchise ends after such a long tenure and it won’t be an easy change for many of the cast. Grant Gustin, who played the series take on Barry Allen, got a chance to share his thoughts on wrapping up work on the role and what it’s like leaving the role behind after all this time.

    I’m really excited to get to do this one more time, finish on our terms. I’m going to enjoy every minute of it, as much as I can…. I couldn’t be more honored to be associated with this character, probably for the rest of my life and career. It is seriously a true honor.

    Grant Gustin

    There’s been an outcry of support for the actor to take on the role of the cinematic version of The Flash, especially with the drama surrounding Ezra Miller. Though, one could say Gustin deserves a break after such a long tenure in the role. Who knows what future role he is eyeing and if there’s a project he’s already set his eyes on potentially joining at some point in the near future?

    Source: TVLine

  • Warner Bros. Discovery Won’t Guarantee 45-Day Theatrical Release Window Anymore

    Warner Bros. Discovery Won’t Guarantee 45-Day Theatrical Release Window Anymore

    The 45-release window was a controversial one, as many feared that streaming demands are pushing films out of theaters. While some films revel in their long-running theatrical release, it has offered the opportunity for others to not only pull in a strong box office run but also a high view count to boost the various streaming offerings. While Disney+ is seemingly sticking to it, Warner Bros. Discovery may have other plans moving forward.

    To say that the shake-ups over at Warner Bros. Discovery have been bizarre is to only paint one picture. While the previous group strongly focused on growing its new streaming service with HBO Max, the current one is moving away from the foundation that was laid out. A part of that is the reveal that they are no longer guaranteeing that they will adhere to the modern 45-day release window. So, we might see many big-budget projects make use of a longer running time as much as possible.

    Streaming hasn’t run its course just yet, but we are seeing some bumps along the way. More and more competitors have entered the market creating some concerns among investors. We’re likely seeing a realigning of strategies due to the events that have unfolded since the pandemic died down. The post-pandemic era has set a new precedent and we’re seeing many business decisions hit a snag along the way. It’s not uncommon and with Netflix losing its subscribers for the first time since it started, we’re simply seeing a new era as people slowly embrace leaving their homes once again.

    Source: Decider

  • New ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’ Concept Art Offers Closer Look at Green Goblin’s MCU Design

    New ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’ Concept Art Offers Closer Look at Green Goblin’s MCU Design

    There’s always something fun about getting a look behind the scenes on projects. Marvel Studios goes through quite a few concepts and ideas as they finalize whatever design they are trying to nail for the adaptation of a popular character from Marvel comics to live-action. In a new batch by artist Phil Saunders gives us a good look at the updated designs for Norman Osborn’s Green Goblin.

    Willem Dafoe was a fantastic addition o the cast and gave us one of his best performances as the iconic character. While he doesn’t get a fully realized costume from the comics, they play around with a concept that feels like the perfect middle blend of his original Spider-Man costume with some updated design choices. Here’s an image of him on his glider:

    And another gives us a detailed look at the design, such as how damaged parts of his suit are covered with wrappings from the former purple hoodie that would add that final comic-accurate touch from the comics.

    the design definitely might go down as one of the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s best, especially given the ties to nostalgia for many that grew up with the original Spider-Man films by Sam Raimi. It was an experience to see some iconic villains return alongside former Spider-Men and it might not be something that could be so easily replicated dueto just how special this franchise is. We’ll see if perhaps Avengers: Secret Wars brings back some familiar faces.

    Source: Art Station