Murphy's Multiverse

Author: Joseph Aberl

  • Marvel Studios President Always Believed Natalie Portman Would Return “If It Was An Interesting Role”

    Marvel Studios President Always Believed Natalie Portman Would Return “If It Was An Interesting Role”

    When Natalie Portman moved away from the Marvel Cinematic Universe after her work on Thor: The Dark World had seemingly ended her working relationship with Marvel Studios. At least, that’s how the world viewed her exit from the franchise for many years. Many were surprised when she walked on stage to take on the mantle of Mighty Thor for Thor: Love and Thunder and it seems that Marvel Studios president, Kevin Feige, never saw it as a split.

    Kevin Feige highlighted in the interview with Empire that the external perspectives of Natalie Portman having exited the Marvel Cinematic Universe “didn’t feel that way to [him].” He goes on to highlight that “it was [his] impression that if it was an interesting role, she would be game.” There also wasn’t truly a story that seemed like the perfect time to bring her back, which wouldn’t be until

    Director Taika Waititi pitched the idea directly to Natalie Portman and was a big part of bringing her back to the franchise. It also wasn’t something he set out to include initially, but just developed while writing the story. So, we’re lucky that he had the inspiration o bring back the iconic character and give Portman‘s Jane Foster another run to give her something to work with. Here’s hoping it may also et up many more stories to come in the future giving us a look at how Mighty Thor finds her place within the MCU.

    Source: Empire via The Direct

  • New ‘She-Hulk’ Image Offers New Look at Jameela Jamil’s Titania

    New ‘She-Hulk’ Image Offers New Look at Jameela Jamil’s Titania

    All eyes have been on She-Hulk‘s designs and the execution of a full CG character for a Disney+ series. While the discussion has the usual Twitter debate nature, there’s still something special about what the project has to offer especially as it was teased as an absurd take on legal series by its main star Tatiana Maslany. Yet, we’ve only been teased with the addition of Jameela Jamil‘s Titania as the series villain.

    The latest issue of Empire includes a few segments on the upcoming Disney+ series. Yet, what stands out is that it gives us our first real close-up of Jamil‘s take on Titania. Unlike her green counterpart, her design is seemingly more grounded though we also don’t know if this is her powered up.

    Titania usually is also a hulking individual with a more bodybuilding-inspired design. It’ll be interesting to see if we just meet her in her powered form or if we also witness her transformation into the one to take on She-Hulk. Generally, we don’t know how she’ll connect to the overarching story, as it does seem a bit disconnected from the transformation.

    Perhaps a new group of powered individuals pops up which also leads to the requirement of a new powered individual-focused legal department. Department of Damage Control going haywire after anyone with ability would also open up the requirement for someone being able to get represented. Who knows, perhaps the events of Spider-Man: No Way Home may have also added to the necessity; if people remembered.

    Source: Empire via Twitter

  • Tatiana Maslany Promises ‘She-Hulk’ is an “Absurd Take on a Legal Show”

    Tatiana Maslany Promises ‘She-Hulk’ is an “Absurd Take on a Legal Show”

    She-Hulk is only a few more weeks away until it releases on Disney+. The first teaser already promised a more comedic story set within the Marvel Cinematic Universe; perfectly timed with the romantic comedy Thor Love and Thunder finding its way into theaters this week. According to its star, Tatiana Maslany in an interview with Empire Magazine, the Disney+ series is going to be a “really absurd take on a legal show.”

    While she still doesn’t give away any details, it does seem like her heroic clientele will be quite interesting to watch. So, we might get our first look at some of them in the build-up to the series’ release on Disney+ in August.

    She’s in a career that’s male-dominated and incredibly vicious and hierarchal. When she’s heading this superhuman firm, that’s where we get some really fun characters that she’s either defending or in opposition of. It’s like this really absurd take on a legal show.

    Tatiana Maslany

    It’ll be the first legal show in the MCU, which also opens up the arrival of other superheroic lawyers to take the stand. Daredevil has been heavily rumored to appear, and it would seem likely this is where he makes his next appearance after Charlie Cox returned to the role in a brief cameo during Spider-Man: No Way Home. Who knows who else might require She-Hulk’s consultancy on a legal matter, but whoever it might end up being, we’ll likely see some interesting new faces appear.

    Source: Empire

  • ‘She-Hulk’ Star Teases Disney+ Series as the “Antithesis” of Superhero Narratives

    ‘She-Hulk’ Star Teases Disney+ Series as the “Antithesis” of Superhero Narratives

    There’s been quite the discussion surrounding the release of the She-Hulk trailer. While one part of thee internet enjoyed its humor and promise of a legal comedy through the eyes of a superhero world, many others were mainly focused on the CG. Still, the Disney+ series has a massive star at the forefront with Tatiana Maslany, who offered a tease of what’s heading our way with the latest addition to Disney+’s growing repertoire.

    She highlights what makes She-Hulk’s story so interesting is how she’s an “antithesis of most superhero narratives” Maslany teases that the two personalities will be at odds, especially as Jennifer Walters tries to deny the Hulk within her subconscious.

    She really is the antithesis of most superhero narratives. There’s this great element of denial in her that’s relatable. For me, it was about rejecting what’s happened for as long as I could, as that’s what causes the fun tension between Jennifer and She-Hulk.

    Tatiana Maslany

    There actually was some merchandise that teased that the upcoming series may explore their dual personality which is very likely at odds throughout its showrun. So, some of the comedy may come from her losing control while She-Hulk enjoys her new freedom. Perhaps we even get to explore the concept of the Green Door or generally what is the true cause for the Hulking transformation. It’s all just speculation but with Ms. Marvel slowly coming to an end, eyes are already shifting towards the next project.

    Source: Empire

  • ‘Thor: Love and Thunder’s Tessa Thompson on How Stan Lee Inspired Her Valkyrie

    ‘Thor: Love and Thunder’s Tessa Thompson on How Stan Lee Inspired Her Valkyrie

    All eyes have been on Natalie Portman and Chris Hemsworth as the leading Thors of Love and Thunder. Yet, we also have the returning Tessa Thompson as the wonderful Valkyrie. After taking over kingship following thor’s travel into space, she’s been quite busy and we’ll see a new version of the character. Thompson offered some insight during the official press conference into how she approached the character going in and what it means to be a hero.

    It’s been really fun.  I mean, the thing that I’ve really enjoyed about these films, and certainly I think something that Stan Lee talked a lot about, whether it’s a villain or a hero. The thing sometimes that connects them to their power, whether it’s used for good or bad, is actually their trauma. 

    Tessa Thompson

    She also relates this approach when we first met Valkyrie in Thor Ragnarok, where she was down on her luck.

    And so, when we first met Valkyrie, she had a tremendous amount of it, and she was dealing with that by drinking a lot.  And for Taika and I, we talked a lot about, like, upending what it looks like…what a female superhero looks like. That you sort of have this moment where she comes out, and you think it’s gonna be sort of that badass thing.  And then, she immediately falls over.  

    Tessa Thompson

    She also highlights how the biggest challenge was bringing this character to life and letting a former soldier become a hero; even comparing herself to how Chris Hemsworth tackles it with Thor.

    And that was really fun to both try to inhabit the spirit and the kind of physicality that it takes to be a hero, which is its own skill. It’s like, Chris is so tremendous at it. And you’re right. It’s not an easy thing to do. And that also, to allow her to be fun and sort of goofy. And it’s just been really nice. 

    Tessa Thompson

    “Fun and sort of goofy” sounds exactly like what one can expect from a film directed by Taika Waititi. It’s definitely going to be interesting to see where her journey leads her and the trailers have offered a promising tease of what the future might have in store for Valkyrie as the King of Asgard.

  • ‘Falcon and Winter Soldier’ Almost Featured a Wakandan Shield Upgrade for the New Captain America

    ‘Falcon and Winter Soldier’ Almost Featured a Wakandan Shield Upgrade for the New Captain America

    It looks like the development team behind Falcon and the Winter Soldier have gone through quite a few ideas on how to support Sam Wilson’s new role as Captain America. Unlike his predecessor, he doesn’t have the same Super Soldier serum to give him an edge in battle, which hints at him being more dependent on his wits and weaponry. To counteract that, it seems they have considered giving his shield a new Wakandan upgrade that would’ve created a dome energy shield, as shared by development concept illustrator Wesley Burt.

    He goes on to highlight how he approached the idea, as their team was tasked with thinking up new ways that Sam could use the shield in creative ways, which ended up leading to the results you can see above.

    Ryan [Meinerding] asked some of the [Visual Development] department to take a little bit of time and think up some new ways that Sam could use the shield, more specific to him and his own physicality with it… when I was thinking about the tech rim piece, I was looking for a way to minimally add an element to the shield so as not to distract too much from the shield itself but still make it feel like it could have a believable tech addition and hint at the Wakandan upgrades before you see them used

    Wesley Burt

    While the concept hasn’t made its way into the Disney+ series, it doesn’t mean they may revisit the idea at a later point. We still don’t know what Sam may owe Wakanda given they help create his design and him carrying it is fitting with the shield being made from Wakandan Vibranium. Perhaps they may further explore its ties to the country and how it connects to Sam Wilson’s new role given his own background, especially the way his country views him.

    Source: The Art of Falcon and Winter Soldier via The Direct

  • Taz Skylar Shows Off His Sanji Kicking Training

    Taz Skylar Shows Off His Sanji Kicking Training

    A long time ago, before Netflix’s live-action One Piece series even started production, we got a good look at Sanji actor, Taz Skylar, showing off his skills kicking. It’s one of the character’s iconic aspects besides his ability to turn anything into a delicious meal. Many wondered how they’d attempt to bring his moves to life, especially in how flashy they are showcased in the original manga by Eiichiro Oda. A new video from Skylar highlights just how far his training has come.

    In a new video as shared by @OP_Netflix_Fan on Twitter, we get a good look at just how far his training has come along. Skylar has actively shared how he’s prepared for the One Piece role, such as attending kitchen courses alongside training with his stunt doubles. We sadly still haven’t gotten a good shot of him in costume, and how they might tackle his moves cinematically, but the dedication showcased is definitely praise-worthy.

    We haven’t seen much on how the training has come together for Zoro actor Mackenyu, but there was a leaked production image that hinted at these the three-sword style. One Piece continues to shape up as a promising project that’ll hopefully set a new direction for live-action manga adaptations. With many promising practical sets and some visually stunning designs, the only thing we haven’t gotten a glimpse at from the project is their costumes. so, we’ll see if they might give us our first look once they’ve wrapped production and entered the post-production phase.

    Source: Twitter

  • ‘Love and Thunder’s Chris Hemsworth on the Qualities of Thor He Finds Most Relatable

    ‘Love and Thunder’s Chris Hemsworth on the Qualities of Thor He Finds Most Relatable

    Taika Waititi certainly took Thor in a very different direction from Thor: Ragnarok. While some weren’t too pleased with the more comedic direction, it does seem like it reinvigorated the cast and crew to continue telling the story of the God of Thunder. Thor: God of Thunder will even be the first time that one of the Marvel Cinematic Universe franchises gets the fourth entry.

    Chris Hemsworth got a chance to share why he continues to return to the role during the official press conference for the MCU sequel and what he finds so relatable to this new version of Thor.

    Yeah, no, definitely, especially since Taika got involved.  He brought out the immature, young, adolescent quality that I embody.  And so does Thor now, which he didn’t in the original films, which was exciting and new and fresh. And that’s, you know, always the sort of North Star is about having fun, you know. 

    Chris Hemsworth

    He goes on to highlight how they developed this project and started embracing what these characters all inherently should represent: fun.

    Embodying this space as a child would and enjoying all of it and being caught up in the wonder and the fascination of all of it. And not getting bogged down in the serious sort of nature that we can when making films, you know. Personally, with these kind of films, it’s got to be fun, and that’s what we’ve done.  That’s what I’ve related to. That’s what Taika’s kind of insisted upon, and it’s been fun.

    Chris Hemsworth

    He has stated that he ran out of energy with the character at a point. If it weren’t for Taika Waititi, we may have not seen Hemsworth in the MCU for as long as we did. And it seemingly also led to Hemsworth finding the part of himself that built a better connection with the character moving forward as he may still have some energy left to continue his journey through the franchise.

  • ‘Thor: Love and Thunder’ to Include Songs from Guns N’ Roses, ABBA, Dio, and More

    ‘Thor: Love and Thunder’ to Include Songs from Guns N’ Roses, ABBA, Dio, and More

    As much as we love the soundtracks for the Marvel Cinematic Universe films, there’s also something great about hearing iconic songs as needle drop moments. Director Taika Waititi famously added Led Zeppelin‘s Immigrant Song into Thor: Ragnarok which added one of the film’s most iconic moments. Now, a new list has been revealed of twelve songs we can expect in his sequel, Thor: Love and Thunder, which includes ABBA, Guns N’ Roses, and so many more.

    • Guns N’ Roses – Welcome to the Jungle
    • Guns N’ Roses – Paradise City
    • Ginger Johnson – Old Spice Sea Chanty
    • ABBA – Our Last Summer
    • Michael Raphael – Fighting
    • Enya – Only Time
    • Mary J. Blige – Family Affair
    • Ciara – Goodies
    • Guns N’ Roses – Sweet Child O’ Mine
    • Guns N’ Roses – November Rain
    • Dio – Rainbow in the Dark

    It’s definitely quite the line-up that’ll surely be promising for those hoping to see the Thor fourquel offer the perfect atmosphere like the trailer. Guns N’ Roses seemed like a sure addition, as it’s been hinted at that it’s been an influence on the film’s general style and direction. It’s definitely looking to be one of the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s more stylized fares and if it hits the right notes, these needle drops may be stuck in our minds long after we leave the theaters.

    Source: The Direct

  • ‘Minions: The Rise of Gru’ Pulls in Massive $127.9M Domestically in 4 Days While ‘Lightyear’ Continues to Drop

    ‘Minions: The Rise of Gru’ Pulls in Massive $127.9M Domestically in 4 Days While ‘Lightyear’ Continues to Drop

    I think no one saw this coming but it seems that Minions: The Rise of Gru has pulled in an astonishing $108.51M in three days. As it was July 4th weekend, it has ended its total weekend run with $127.9M, which is now the second-best opening for any Despicable Me film with the original minions slightly ahead at $115.7M over three days. The exciting aspect is that this success on top of Top Gun: Maverick‘s continued hold is projecting this weekend as one that might even beat out 2019; something no one could’ve imagined when the pandemic took its toll. In a way, the final missing piece of the box office drive may have finally been brought back.

    Of course, upcoming releases could still hit some snags. Lightyear was a surprise hit for Pixar, which has been steadily losing momentum after only three weeks. It’s ironic given how Minions is also just a spinoff of an existing franchise, but it does have the advantage of having a direct connection, unlike Lightyear which only uses the name of one of the Toy Story franchise’s characters. Sadly, it seems that it may not even beat The Good Dinosaur‘s run in theaters, which was its worst performer so far. Still, Rise of Gru is way ahead of projections that had it at $75M with a second analysis moving closer to $100M.

    This success is also a good sign for Illumination’s future projects. While the IP has also landed on a specific meme status with people arriving in theaters in suits, they generally have been the face of the company. They have a few big projects on the way, especially their cooperation with Nintendo which will see the latest attempt at a cinematic experience starring everyone’s favorite plumber, Mario. So, we’ll see if the film can continue this hold going into its second weekend or also potentially face a harsher drop with the arrival of Thor: Love and Thunder.

    Source: The Numbers, THR