Murphy's Multiverse

Author: Joseph Aberl

  • Korean Rating of ‘God of War Ragnarok’ Hints at Upcoming Release

    Korean Rating of ‘God of War Ragnarok’ Hints at Upcoming Release

    2022 is slowly turning into a big year for gaming, as we’re anticipating some massive game releases, and Summer of Gaming promises to give us a look at what the future has to offer. One of this year’s most anticipated titles might be the sequel to 2018’s God of War with God of War Ragnarok. Fimbulwinter is almost upon us and it looks like the game received a rating from the Korean Rating Board.

    This commonly means that the game is in its final stages and that a release date is imminent. While it won’t release this summer, it does seem possible that it could be arriving around September. A fall release has been rumored for a while and while we haven’t gotten an update on the game in some time, there was recently a showcase of its new accessibility features. So, it does seem like Santa Monica Studios is wrapping up work on the game for its release.

    God of War reintroduced Kratos to players, as he has found himself in the North raising a child after the tragic passing of his wife. In their journey to respect her last wish, they cross paths with a powerful god that is seeking the one to free him from his curse. The sequel will continue as the Fimbulwinter has been unleashed upon the North and he has to ensure his son survives whatever threats head their way.

    Source: Korean Rating Board via Twitter

  • Updated ‘She-Hulk’ Trailer on Disney+ Teases Improved CG

    Updated ‘She-Hulk’ Trailer on Disney+ Teases Improved CG

    It’s an understatement to say that the CG of She-Hulk’s first trailer was quite controversial. The timing of CinemaCon seemed like Marvel Studios may have had no real choice but to release something while Disney+ embraces an ad-supported model. Yet, it seems that some more work is being shown off with a brand new trailer that has been made available through Disney+, as first noticed by The Direct.

    There have been many that worried they might not truly improve upon the CG, but the new look highlights what may have been its underlying issue. Unlike Mark Ruffalo‘s returning Professor Hulk, the model used for She-Hulk had a lack of texture. Her body seemed too smooth in a way, which adds to the Uncanny Valley effect that it was out of place with its environment. Plus, it doesn’t feel as real as it could given how it stands out from the background.it brings Tatiana Maslany to life.

    via The Direct

    The close-up might be the best showcase of just how much adding texture to the model makes a difference. The version on the right highlights pores on her face with more detailing added that highlights what was “missing” in the initial trailer release. Naturally, low-resolution footage doesn’t help matters and just adds to the issue while watching.

    via The Direct

    The difference in the amount of time since the initial trailer release is impressive, but the trailer hasn’t been made available in all markets yet. They are very likely still actively working on the effects, which may become one of Marvel Studios’ most expensive series but it does help add some relief for those that wondered if the CG wouldn’t be reworked over time. It’s unclear just how much work went into this version and the next trailer release might help some get a better feeling for how the CG might end up being.

    Source: Disney+ via The Direct

  • ‘Somebody Feed Phil’ is More Relevant Than Ever

    ‘Somebody Feed Phil’ is More Relevant Than Ever

    It’s a rough world out there. I’d just have to tell you to think of what has happened recently and no matter when someone reads these lines, they will find something to connect it with. Even as the pandemic is seemingly “calming” down, we’re still readjusting to a whole new world. Industries are still in a form of constant flux, no matter how many would talk about “what it used to be” as we all know: it’ll never be that ever again. In a world of constants and variables, it becomes harder to sometimes connect with things. As discussions online remain heated over any minute detail of no significance, you start finding yourself lost in it all.

    Luckily, there are still some things that give you a perception that seemed lost in the online world of cynicism, clout-chasing, and god knows what else. Netflix’s Somebody Feed Phil feels like the perfect antidote to the bubble that we live in. Take yourself out of that world to join Phil Rosenthal on his journey of just enjoying life. Traveling the world, meeting interesting people, and enjoying some delicious food. It’s just refreshing and reminds you that most of what happens online doesn’t matter. It’s a world created by those in it, but it doesn’t really reflect the world out there as much as one would think.

    The new season has just dropped and it was an instant must-watch because, with each new season, you feel like Phil is taking you along as part of his newfound family. He shares his delight and excitement no matter what. An optimism very missing from today; not overanalyzing anything but just enjoying it. Take a look at its history and story, not criticize what it stands for, what should or shouldn’t be the way it is but rather just accept and enjoy it at that moment. Somebody Feed Phil has grown beyond just its initial premise, it’s about life and the many people that live it. The episode on Maine has him visiting this family and spending time with people in their everyday life; even if just for a bit.

    Every location visited is a new adventure, be it locally or far abroad. You’re taken along with that adventure and you just feel at home. You meet people you might never meet in your life, but you feel welcomed. They all have passions of their own and even with unique backgrounds, the sweetest moment is when they all come together at the end. Phil brings these unique individuals together and they all are having such a blast. At that very moment, they all just share what they’re doing, eating, and talking about. Something that’s gone lost throughout the pandemic, as we were locked at home.

    In a world filled with cynicism and negativity, Somebody Feed Phil is that light of hope that no matter what hardships one faces in their private life, work-life, or anything that seems to just slam down on one’s head, it’s going to be okay. There’s always something out there to enjoy, and it’s up to us to find it. It’s in our hands to break away from that what drags us down, because it doesn’t define us. There’s a lot to enjoy out there, it’s just waiting for us to grasp it. What can one say but thank you Phil for taking us on your journey and letting us be part of something special.

  • Leaked Set Photos Offer First Look at Xolo Mariduena’s Blue Beetle Suit

    Leaked Set Photos Offer First Look at Xolo Mariduena’s Blue Beetle Suit

    There’s been quite some discourse on the upcoming Blue Beetle film starring Xolo Mariduena as Jaime Reyes. There were many hinting at the suit being one of their best and it looks like a first look has found its way online as two set photos leaked. @NebsGoodtakes has shared the first look at Mariduena onset in the costume. Not only that, but we get one photo without the helmet and another of him wearing it, which shows that they managed to make a version where his nose pretty much vanishes like in the comics.

    That is not all, as we also get a shot of him in action, as he is seemingly falling unto a car that is quite damaged after he landed on it. This might be the moment that he learns to use his new abilities, which he is surprisingly trying out during the day.

    The costume looks great, and it’s always a nice touch to see it come to life on set. It’s unclear how much they may add to it in post-production, as it is a living suit through the blue beetle attached to his back. The face mask will likely also have a similar effect that we’ve seen with Deadpool and Spider-Man, as they will use it to make him emote more than usually would force the creative team for him to take the mask off regularly. It won’t confirm anything, but it’s definitely a great first look at his design.

    Source: Twitter via JustJared

  • J. J. Abram’s ‘Demimonde’ on the Bubble Due to Budget Concerns

    J. J. Abram’s ‘Demimonde’ on the Bubble Due to Budget Concerns

    Not everything is going smoothly for J.J. Abrams with his new HBO deal, as it seems at the series Demimonde is facing some trouble. The series has been in production since 2018 and was part of Bad Robot’s deal with HBO. Yet, the issue seems to be that the project is looking at a budget beyond $200M, which is less than the upcoming Game of Thrones‘ spinoff, House of the Dragon. Naturally, as nothing of the $250M deal has come to fruition just yet over the years, it’s been becoming antsy over at HBO.

    The future of Demimonde is seemingly dependent on a decision by the end of this week. It recently cast Watchmen’s Danielle Deadwyler and eight of the ten episodes’ scripts are currently being supervised by Warner Bros. TV. It should be pointed out that the overall deal isn’t in jeopardy, but it could have a lasting effect on other projects, especially as HBO Max is getting impatient with the lack of output while Abrams seemingly makes external deals.

    Earlier, news hit that he was executive producing a series for Apple that would bring the classic anime Speed Racer to live-action once again. So, it’s not hard to see that HBO is starting to question how they truly benefit from the deal that was made in 2019 if they still haven’t seen anything produced since. So, there’s a lot riding on Demimonde and if they continue the production as planned, or decide to move away from it to lower risks.

    Source: Hollywood Reporter

  • Live-Action ‘Speed Racer’ Series Heading to Apple, J.J. Abrams on as Executive Producer

    Live-Action ‘Speed Racer’ Series Heading to Apple, J.J. Abrams on as Executive Producer

    In the age of Netflix’s strong focus on bringing iconic anime and manga franchises to live-action, it seems that Apple is the next to throw its hat into the ring. It looks like Apple is working on a live-action adaptation of Speed Racer with J.J. Abrams set as its executive producer. It already got a series order with Ron Fitzgerald and Hiram Martinez writing, as well as executive producing the series. They will also act as showrunners.

    It’ll be part of Bad Robot’s deal with Warner Bros. Television. It’s the second live-action adaptation of the franchise with The Wachowskis still being a cult favorite from back in 2008. While not a financial success, the film found a new life online with its unique visuals. It’s unclear if that’ll be a more grounded take on the franchise, or if it’ll keep its more out-there concepts.

    It’ll be interesting to see how they embrace the anime’s roots as we meet a man whose actual name is Speed Racer, who takes on anime’s original Wacky Races with a Mach 5. He works with his girlfriend Trixie, his father, little brother, and their pet chimpanzee, Chim-Chim, to take on the world. It would be great to see if they pay tribute to some of the cast from the original film, who might be open to returning.

    Source: Variety

  • Den Den Murphy Episode 20 – Chapter 1049 and ‘One Piece Odyssey’ Gameplay

    Den Den Murphy Episode 20 – Chapter 1049 and ‘One Piece Odyssey’ Gameplay

    In the latest installment of Den Den Murphy, Joe, Suki, and Fezzy talk about Kaido’s defeat at the hands of Luffy’s final measure. Not only that, but they also get a first look at the new tease of how One Piece Odyssey‘s gameplay will work.

  • REPORT: Runtime for ‘Ms. Marvel’s First 2 Episodes Revealed

    REPORT: Runtime for ‘Ms. Marvel’s First 2 Episodes Revealed

    As first reactions are hitting the web from Ms. Marvel, we also get some teases on what the first two episodes have to offer for those excited to check out Marvel Studios’ latest project. There’s always some excitement, or even uncertainty, about the runtime of these episodes as Marvel Studios has not truly broken beyond the one-hour mark with its drama series. It looks like the same can be said for the

    The first episode of Ms. Marvel will be 47 minutes long with the sequel running for two minutes longer. As per usual, it also includes the usual credits that are different depending on what region you are from, as they also include the local dub actors. So, keep that in mind if the runtime is slightly off in your local region.

    The runtime discussion has been an interesting one, as many have gotten the feeling that Marvel isn’t using more time to fully explore these stories. As we’re seeing these projects as quite new for Marvel Studios, who mainly focused on three cinematic productions per year. As they expand, they likely have to adjust to it and we’ll see how they learn moving forward.

    Ms. Marvel will explore the story of Kamala Khan. A young teenager who looks up to the heroes she grew up admiring, only to suddenly gain a special ability of her own. As the Pakistani-American tries to find out what she is truly capable of, Khan also has to balance her studies, avoiding high school’s usual trappings and the watchful eye of her family.

    Source: Twitter

  • ‘Avengers: Endgame’ Directors Decline Comment on ‘Avengers 5’ Rumors

    ‘Avengers: Endgame’ Directors Decline Comment on ‘Avengers 5’ Rumors

    Joe and Anthony Russo have made quite the mark in the industry, as not only did they direct some of the most successful films for Marvel Studios, but they went on to found their own production company AGBO to support smaller productions. Everything Everywhere All at Once was also thanks to their support and made quite the splash in the industry. Yet, there have been rumors that they may be returning to Marvel Studios for a fifth e entry.

    In a new piece by Den of Geek, they got a chance to sit down with the directors who shared their thoughts on the treatment of Scarlet Johanssen, where Disney left quite a sour taste with many of its talent moving forward due to the sudden shift towards streaming releases. They said “it was disturbing to us as artists” and are happy that it has been resolved since. They denied to comment on a potential return to Marvel Studios, Joe Russo did highlight their view of where cinema is currently developing.

    I think we will start trending back towards original IP. I think it’s a great opportunity… I think that original IP will start to emerge in this market as corporations become more pedantic and factory-like with the execution of their current IP. I just think people are going to crave new ideas

    Joe Russo

    We’re definitely seeing some more unique IPs taking a stronger stand and in the best-case scenario, there will be a balance between franchise films and original IPs. The industry is learning that there’s no necessity for every film to be a massive box office breaking success, instead of focusing on smaller-scale projects taking a stronger stand in the market.

    Franchises will still be around, they’ve always been around since the 70s and we’ll likely see a continuous change with streaming dominating the market, as highlighted by Russo.

    We’re certainly concerned with the trend in the market that’s moving away from artists. There’s been a lot of value in tech companies getting involved in making content, but there’s also some downsides to that. And those downsides include tech companies like Netflix and Apple and Amazon having much deeper pockets than studios do, and they can pay more and that’s starting to scare the studios.

    Joe Russo

    While many in the industry are focused on franchises as the main cause of the current trend. Yet, streaming, YouTube, TikTok, and more have been bombarding the market with content that shifts entire viewing behaviors. Yes, superhero films have a certain dominance but we’re seeing original IPs make their stand and continue to have a stronger standing. Like any industry, competition helps develop the market but the problem is that external factors are showing their fangs.

    Source: Den of Geek

  • Daybreak’s Marvel MMORPG Once Again Canceled

    Daybreak’s Marvel MMORPG Once Again Canceled

    Well, it seems that Daybreak’s visions of an MMORPG in the Marvel Universe may never truly come together, as it has been announced that the latest attempt has once again been squashed. It was initially announced back in November but it seems that EG7, Daybreak’s mother company has confirmed the canceled project. The statement was made as follows:

    EG7 today announced it will be discontinuing the development of the Marvel project at Daybreak Games. Based on the re-evaluation of the development risk profile, size of investment, and the long-term product portfolio strategy for the group, the board has decided to change the development priorities and reallocate resources within the group to focus on alternative long-term projects.

    This decision won’t deter any medium-term revenues and profits according to EG7, but it’s surprising that a second attempt would get canceled once again. They tried to get a project going back in 2018, but that project didn’t have any momentum before a second attempt would try to revive it. They have quite a bit of experience with comic book adaptations, such as their work on DC Universe Online, but no details are given about what led to the cancelation.

    There have been hints that Marvel’s gaming license fee is quite steep, which makes long-term investments quite the gamble. Square-Enix invested quite a bit to get the license to work on four projects, which only managed to turn into the GaaS game Marvel’s Avengers and Guardians of the Galaxy. There’s no word if there was another Marvel game in some form of development, and if we’d ever see it after they sold their entire Western division. As of now, it seems Marvel has made its home on the mobile market and PlayStation consoles.

    Source: NME