Murphy's Multiverse

Author: Joseph Aberl

  • ‘Thor: Love and Thunder’ Eyeing to Surpass ‘Thor: Ragnarok’s Opening Weekend With $135M+

    ‘Thor: Love and Thunder’ Eyeing to Surpass ‘Thor: Ragnarok’s Opening Weekend With $135M+

    With the Friday number sin, we’re getting a better vision of where the box office for Thor: Love and Thunder is heading. After taking in a strong Thursday Preview with $29M, the film has ended up kicking off its box office run at around $69.5M on Friday, which includes the previews. As of now, it is seemingly heading towards a $135M with a potential $145M if it picks up some pace over the weekend. It’ll be the best opening for a Taika Waititi-directed project and even beat out Natalie Portman‘s best release which was Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith with $108M back in the day.

    It doesn’t seem like the film will potentially outpace Jurassic World: Dominion and will have to settle for the third biggest opening of the year so far. Still, the reopening for Marvel Studios’ first fourth entry in a franchise isn’t doing too badly as it’s ahead of the $122M opening for Thor: Ragnarok. While it’s unclear if it’ll surpass that film’s total box office, especially with the now CinemaScore B+ rating potentially slowing down its legs, the sequel still managed to reach $950M when it was initially released with a B+ rating. Still, the film has been doing pretty well overseas as well and is already on its way to $300M opening.

    there are quite a few theories going around on what this means for the Studio as it’s another B release after Strange and Eternals. Some are questioning if Marvel is overdoing it with Disney+ or generally if this is a sign of audiences being tired of the franchise. One could easily point to Deadline’s analysis from RelishMix which has looked at Social Media’s stirring with the controversy of Portman‘s return as a “gender-bent” version of the character and a surprising backlash to Waititi‘s trademark humor. With a horror film and a rom-com/comedy, it’s still a bit tough to really nail down if this is an issue on Marvel’s side or just everyone getting back into the swing of things.

    Source: Deadline, THR

  • Netflix Adds Fan-Favorite ‘Spectacular Spider-Man’ Animated series

    Netflix Adds Fan-Favorite ‘Spectacular Spider-Man’ Animated series

    We’ve been enjoying a splurge of great Spider-Man films with No Way Home breaking records even during the pandemic. Yet, many also fondly remember some of his greatest hits like the animated series like The Spectacular Spider-Man, which sadly ended a little too early due to the rights issues between Sony and Marvel. Now, the fan-favorite series created by Greg Weisman (Gargoyles) and Victor Cook (Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated) may find a second life as it’s been added to Netflix.

    Luckily, they’ve added both seasons for those hoping to give it another shot. It should be noted that the project is likely part of Sony’s long-term deal with Netflix which they’ll add to their library. We’ve recently seen some of the classic Spider-Man films join Disney+, which were on the Netflix streamer for quite some time. So, we might have to wait a few years and it could also find its way to a Disney-owned streamer.

    One of the things that made Spectacular Spider-Man so special was how it balanced the more personal life of Peter Parker with his time as a hero. It also was a series that didn’t shy away from Peter’s darker side and let him face the consequences of his own actions in a story that continued to evolve over time. Some people are hoping that its addition to Netflix may spark interest in reviving the project similar to how others were given a second life through their popularity on streaming services. So, we’ll see if there’s a future for this project to return after all.

    Source: Netflix, ComicBook

  • ‘Blue Beetle’ Set Photos Offer First Look at Kord Industries

    ‘Blue Beetle’ Set Photos Offer First Look at Kord Industries

    Blue Beetle has been busy filming for some time, as we got our first look at how they’ll adapt his iconic design in live-action some time ago. Things have calmed down since the project but it looks like a new group of set photos shared by Twitter user @DcversoMidias have offered a new look at what’s to come in the film. While it’s not a new look at our heroic Blue Beetle, it is our first look at Kord Industries. Not only do we get a first look at the company’s logo but also what seems to be a station built by or for the company.

    That is not all, as it seems that Kord Industries is not just all about clean energy development but also offers a hotel of some kind. An additional billboard includes the names of famous DC cities, Central City, Gotham, Metropolis, and more

    It’ll be interesting to see how Kord Industries will connect to the overarching storyline, especially as we don’t know if the former Blue Beetle will also have a role in the film. There was once a rumor making the rounds on Jason Sudeikis playing the character, which ended up getting quickly denied. So, we’ll see what the project has in store for us once we see more from the set or even the first trailer drop at some point in the future.

    Source: Twitter

  • Newly Leaked ‘She-Hulk’ Promo Offers First Full Look at Comic-Inspired Outfit

    Newly Leaked ‘She-Hulk’ Promo Offers First Full Look at Comic-Inspired Outfit

    We’ve gotten quite a few looks at the upcoming series She-hulk, which will see Tatiana Maslany take on the role of Bruce Banner’s cousin, Jennifer Walters. While we already had a trailer, Marvel and Disney have been quite coy about showing the full design for the character’s comic-inspired design. We did get a glimpse through some promo art, but a new set as shared by @MCU_Facility may have given us our best look yet at what her full design will look like.

    It’ll be interesting to see what the design looks like in live-action but there’s an interesting design concept going on here. The visuals are much more flashy and might be used to highlight her home to also add some color instead of just going with a simple lawyer concept. The last version of the logo seemingly jumped into that direction before they shifted gears once again.

    With some time before the series releases and we’re anxiously awaiting a second trailer that shows how far the CG has gone since the first reveal. Corridor Digital has recently highlighted the quality of the work done on the character, especially in contrast to how the internet has reacted. So, we’ll see how much legwork the second trailer is going to have to make up for.

    Source: Twitter

  • ‘Thor: Love and Thunder’ Nabs B+ CinemaScore, Same as ‘Doctor Strange 2’

    ‘Thor: Love and Thunder’ Nabs B+ CinemaScore, Same as ‘Doctor Strange 2’

    The CinemaScore has finally arrived, which mostly reflects how the general audience feels about a film’s release. Unlike normal ratings, the films are mostly skewed heavily with A being the general goal for any release. Marvel Studios famously stuck around to this area as a “crowd-pleasing” offering but that has changed with Phase 4. Some of their releases have landed the B rating, most notably Eternals being the first to do so. Thor in 2011 also received a B+ rating. Now, Thor: Love and Thunder has also joined the B+ club.

    https://twitter.com/CinemaScore/status/1545634584313970688

    CinemaScore has just released the fact that the general audience has given Thor: Love and Thunder a B+ grade. Now, the internet is already in a panic about this being the sign that Marvel Studios has lost its grace with the general audience, but there’s a lot more at play with this rating. Yes, it is normally a higher rating, anything with a C+, such as Morbius, is a sign that the film may not leg out

    Yet, considering that the film currently holds an 84% like ratio from Google Users, stands at 7.1 on IMDb, and even has an 83% Audience Score on RottenTomatoes, you start to see the bigger picture. The only indication this value has is a hint at the legs a film will have at the box office, and if Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is anything to go by, a B+ won’t stop it too much. Yes, it won’t have the same momentum that could push it past its initial release but we may see a harsh drop in the second weekend.

    Also, most indie releases end up in this ranking, which generally is a sign of how audiences consume media. If it is mindless fun, they’ll tend to give it a higher ranking and Marvel Studios still has an A ranking for films like Shang-Chi, Black Widow, and especially Spider-Man: No Way Home. Plus, the lowest ranking films also include strong horror and gore elements, such as Doctor Strange with Love and Thunder also includes some “bloody-esque” kills plus LGTB representation that is more dominant than a blink-and-you-miss-it kiss like in Lightyear. And if we want Marvel Studios to experiment (as has been proclaimed by many over the years), they will face a slight disconnect with general audiences at times.

    Source: Twitter, CinemaScore

  • Taika Waititi’s ‘Star Wars’ Film Reportedly Eyeing Early 2023 Production Start

    Taika Waititi’s ‘Star Wars’ Film Reportedly Eyeing Early 2023 Production Start

    There have been many theories on when we’d finally get a new Star Wars film. Lucasfilm has been solely focused on their Disney+ ventures with Andor on the horizon and the recent release of Obi-Wan Kenobi. Patty Jenkin‘s Rogue Squadron was originally going to start filming to release next year, but it looks like Taika Waititi‘s upcoming original film is the one that’ll start production sooner rather than later. In the latest Heat Vision entry for The Hollywood Reporter, they reveal that the film is eyeing a 2023 production start.

    As the piece points out, Waititi has hinted that he’s not quite done with the story and that we may not see it anytime soon, but their sources are pointing out that they’re very likely to start next year. The only thing that could postpone it is Lucasfilm, which has become a bit infamous for how it tackles its film division and has become a reason for pushing out releases.

    Waititi is jumping into his next project quite quickly, but there have been hints that he has another project on the horizon. So, he may once again be overscheduling himself, such as he revealed that he edited Thor: Love and Thunder while still wearing his costume from playing Blackbeard on Our Flag Means Death. So, we’ll see if there will be an official announcement in the near future.

    Source: The Hollywood Reporter

  • ‘Doctor Strange 2’ Producer Teases a New Illuminati in the Main MCU

    ‘Doctor Strange 2’ Producer Teases a New Illuminati in the Main MCU

    Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness has introduced the world to universe 838’s version of the Avengers, the Illuminati. While this universe hinted that they were the ones to take down Thanos, they were originally a secret organization in the comics. Most of its members were the smartest and most powerful members of each respective corner of the Marvel comics. Their introduction made some question if the main timeline would also feature the group.

    Luckily, Doctor Strange producer Richie Palmer has teased that their inclusion in the multiverse does not exclude a chance that the Illuminati will make a return at some point in the future. No, not the version that was killed at the hands of Wanda, as he hints that the main MCU could see their introduction one day.

    The Illuminati’s been a group we’ve wanted to introduce in our movies for years. They’re a secret organization that works off the grid. They do the things that the other groups like the Avengers wouldn’t be too happy about… To do it in an alternate universe in the Multiverse, was a really exciting thing because we get to meet a version of this group in this other universe, and then we still might get to see an Illuminati of our main MCU one day, which is also very exciting.

    Richie Palmer

    It would seem unlikely that Doctor Strange would join that group, or perhaps he felt a little inspired to do what they couldn’t do. Perhaps they go into a direction that sees the group already existing with members that are slowly recruiting throughout the next phase. It’ll be interesting to see where and how they might show up.

    Source: Disney+ via The Direct

  • ‘Moon Knight’ and ‘Loki’ Nab HCA TV Awards Nominations

    ‘Moon Knight’ and ‘Loki’ Nab HCA TV Awards Nominations

    It looks like Moon Knight and Loki are currently joining the big ranks, s both series have nabbed a few nominations from this year’s Hollywood Critical Association Awards. This year is led by This is Us and Succession but with various other projects nabbing quite a few nominations. The HCA is planning a ceremony on August 13th for TV with a streaming special following the next day. So, we’ll have to wait a while until we get the official winners, but it’s great to see these Marvel Studios projects find their spot among some of TV’s best.

    Moon Knight is currently nominated for Best Writing in a Streaming Limited Series, Anthology Series, or Movie with Jeremy Slater‘s “The Goldfish Problem” episode. Ethan Hawke has also been nominated for Best Supporting Actor with Oscar Isaac getting the Best Actor nomination. There’s some tough competition this year, but both did give their A-game for this project and it would be great to see at least Isaac potentially pull in a win.

    Loki‘s Michael Waldron is nominated for Best Writing in a Streaming Series, Drama for “Glorious Purpose.” Kate Herron also pulled in a Best Directing nomination for “Journey Into Mystery” where she’s going against Shawn Levy for Stranger Things “Dear Billy.” Sophia DiMartino, Owen Wilson, and Tom Hiddleston also are nominated in their respective category. Loki is also in the Best Streaming Series, Drama nomination category going against Ozark, Squid Game, Severance, Stranger Things, The Morning Show, Pachinko, and Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. So, it’s going to be interesting to see if Marvel Studios wins anything this year.

    Source: Hollywood Reporter

  • Funko Pop for ‘Thor: Love and Thunder’s Zeus Revealed

    Funko Pop for ‘Thor: Love and Thunder’s Zeus Revealed

    There’s a lot to love about Thor: Love and Thunder. Director Taika Waititi is let loose on his usual comedic take on the Norse space god. We not only got to meet the infamous God Butcher but are also introduced to the pantheon of gods that rule over the many parts of the galaxy. One of them was the memorable performance of Russell Crowe as the Greek god Zeus. If you’ve wanted to add him to your Funko Pop collection, you’re in luck as a new look at the bearded Greek god has been shared online.

    He was a great addition to the film and certainly left us with a memorable performance. The Funko Pop highlights his overall design, as he’s much closer to what the father of the gods is known for, especially with the way he is played. He’ll make for a great addition, and it would be a shame not to get some additional Funkos based on the various Gods that were showcased throughout the film.

    Thor: Love and Thunder has just hit theaters and is already on its way to making quite an impression at the box office. It’ll be interesting to see how far the film goes and if they might release a few Funko Pops for other characters that were showcased throughout the film’s runtime. It’s a shame that it always takes a while for some of them to see the day of light but collector’s are definitely there once they do.

    Source: Twitter

  • First Look at ‘X-Men ’97’, ‘Marvel Zombies’ and ‘What If…?’ Season 2 Confirmed for SDCC

    First Look at ‘X-Men ’97’, ‘Marvel Zombies’ and ‘What If…?’ Season 2 Confirmed for SDCC

    We were all quite surprised when Marvel Studios announced its return to San Diego Comic-Con this year. Not only were D23 and Disney+ Day on the horizon, but the last time they visited the event is when they showcased their Phase 4 plans. Now, it seems that they won’t just have their iconic Hall H showcase, but also confirmed that there will be an additional showcase for their future animation projects.

    On the official SDCC website, the schedule has arrived for Friday, July 22nd. From 11.45 to 1.15 PM, they will seemingly have a panel hosted by Brad Winderbaum, Marvel Studios Head of Streaming, Television, and Animation alongside Visual Development Head Ryan Meinerding. They also tease that there will be special guests. Yet, the big thing is the confirmed exclusive first looks at What If…? Season 2, X-Men ’97, and Marvel Zombies. They also tease that more is coming as well.

    It’s surprising they aren’t highlighting the only other confirmed MCU tie-in show, Spider-Man: Freshman Year. They’ve been working on it for quite a bit but it seems like the series might not release for some time. Of course, they might be keeping that project close to their chest as it’ll act as a prequel to Tom Holland#s run as the character, but it’s uncertain if he’ll return to voice himself given he’s technically signed under Sony and not Marvel Studios. With special guests teased, it would be quite a great surprise if they managed to make it work.

    Source: Comic-Con