Murphy's Multiverse

Author: Joseph Aberl

  • Anson Mount on Returning as Black Bolt in ‘Doctor Strange 2’

    Anson Mount on Returning as Black Bolt in ‘Doctor Strange 2’

    It must’ve been hard for many of the actors that appeared as part of the Illuminati in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness to stay silent. That especially goes for Anson Mount, who was able to return to the role of Black Bolt, which he only briefly got to play in the ill-received 2017 Inhumans series. Now that enough people are talking about the big moments in the film, Mount has taken to his Twitter account to share his enthusiasm for returning to the role, as well as confirm that it was Marvel Studios CEO Kevin Feige that invited him back to return to the role.

    It definitely was a great surprise and a deep cut for those that remembered the failed ABC series, which only ran for one season. Multiverse of Madness managed to not only bring him back to the role but even update his costume to be a lot closer to that from the comics. Yes, he even had his iconic fork on the mark, which Doctor Strange was quick to make fun of. He even went out in the most gruesome way, and it seems he had a lot of fun working with director Sam Raimi on bringing the character to life.

    We even got a comic-accurate version of his powers, which were given a very memorable visual flourish to stand out from the effect used on the ABC series. We’ll see if this brief appearance might also build up to more in the future, as not much is known about where the Inhumans fit within the MCU.

    Source: Twitter

  • Samuel L. Jackson Teases Nick Fury’s Evolution in ‘Secret Invasion’

    Samuel L. Jackson Teases Nick Fury’s Evolution in ‘Secret Invasion’

    All eyes are on Ms. Marvel and She-Hulk as the next Marvel Studios releases on Disney+. Yet, they’ve also been really busy working on other shows such as the Samuel L. Jackson-led Secret Invasion. Nick Fury finds himself at odds with a Skrull invasion and it looks like the series will take the character to places that we haven’t seen from him yet.

    In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, he talked about learning new things about Fury, and also giving him the chance to “explore something other than the badass-ery” sounds like a promising direction for the series.

    There are things that even I really didn’t know about Nick Fury that I just found out, that the minds behind what happened during the Blip are fantastic. That’s part of what we’re uncovering when we do this series now. The place that Nick Fury is in, the evolution of his story, or the devolution of his story, as maybe we wind it down or maybe we crank it up. It’s kind of hard to tell. But, giving me an opportunity to explore something other than the badass-ery of who Nick Fury is. I’ve had a good time doing that, and I’m looking forward to people sharing that aspect of who he is when this series does happen.

    Samuel L. Jackson

    It definitely sounds like a promising direction for the series, as it was unclear if it’ll act as an ensemble piece or further develop Nick Fury, who has been the guiding light of the franchise since his first appearance back in 2008’s Iron Man. Jackson‘s excitement to continue playing the character also pushes him to be the currently longest member of the MCU and we’ll see just what is heading his way once we get a first look at the series trailer.

    Source: Twitter via The Direct

  • Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni Had Heated Debates Over ‘The Mandalorian’s Grogu

    Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni Had Heated Debates Over ‘The Mandalorian’s Grogu

    The Mandalorian was the series to not only kick off Disney+ but also redefine Star Wars storytelling. With Jon Favreau at its head, the same man who kickstarted the Marvel Cinematic Universe, we’ve started to see a new expensive network of shows all based around this series, such as last year’s The Book of Boba Fett and Dave Filoni‘s upcoming Ahsoka.

    In an interview with Vanity Fair, Lucasfilm CEO Kathleen Kennedy talks about what it’s like working with him and how ended up developing The Mandalorian.

    I knew that Jon Favreau was always deeply interested in Star Wars. He was the first person I went to. He said, ‘Not only would I have an interest, I have an idea.’ What’s unique about Jon is his commitment. He’s had a sole focus pretty much on this for the last several years. That’s been a godsend.

    Kathleen Kennedy

    She reveals that after they met in her office in Santa Monica, Favreau already started working on the series. He ended up writing up around four episodes even though he didn’t even have a contract at the time. Interestingly enough, there were multiple conflicts when he started developing the series based on a Mandalorian. Not only was James Mangold originally developing a Boba Fett-centric film, but Dave Filoni also had plans for it.

    So, Kennedy had a simple way to remedy this issue, as while Mangold went on to tackle Indiana Jones 5, she simply had Filoni and Favreau sit down and talk about their visions. Once they started exchanging ideas, they started combining them into what would eventually become The Mandalorian.

    “They got along instantly, like gangbusters,” Kennedy revealed but there was one element they couldn’t fully decide on. It seems that Favreau’s idea of Grogu, who many dubbed Baby Yoda early on, was quite a ferocious discussion point between the two. Yet, she highlighted this as them trying to challenge each other to truly refine the concept and it led to us getting the series that became a staple of Disney+.

    Source: Vanity Fair

  • Sydney Freeland and Catriona McKenzie to Direct ‘Echo’

    Sydney Freeland and Catriona McKenzie to Direct ‘Echo’

    As production has finally started on the Hawkeye spinoff Echo, we’ve finally gotten a first look and hint at what’s to expect from the upcoming Disney+ series. That is not all, as it also gave us a confirmation that Reservation Dogs‘ Sydney Freeland is indeed directing, which she technically indirectly confirmed back in March, and she’ll be joined by Catriona McKenzie.

    Now, a big part of the upcoming Disney+ series is about Alaqua Cox‘s Echo retracing her Native American roots. As such, a big part of the series is also dedicated to exploring the meaning of cultural heritage and one’s Indigenous roots. McKenzie is an Indigenous Australian director, who is Gunaikurnai. She’s worked on a variety of series such as How to Get Away With Murder, Supernatural, and The Walking Dead.

    Sydney Freeland is of Navajo descent and has worked on a variety of projects, which includes Rutherford Falls, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, and Fear the Walking Dead. She’s also one of the creative minds behind FX’s Reservation Dogs, which included all Indigenous writers and directors.

    It’s great to see the talent they are pulling in for this project, especially with the series making it an important push for the representation given its main character’s background. It’ll be interesting to see how it might tie to her upbringing under Wilson Fisk and how visiting her hometown might change her way of looking at her past and future.

  • Disney+ Plans to Release 3 ‘Star Wars’ Series a Year

    Disney+ Plans to Release 3 ‘Star Wars’ Series a Year

    Disney+ is continuing to expand at a rapid rate. While its subscriber numbers have slowed down, there are expectations it could pass Netflix within the next few years. As they grow, so is also their need to keep content pumping out at a considerable rate. In the new Star Wars special from Vanity Fair, they have unveiled that Disney+ is expecting “three separate Star Wars shows within a year.”

    It’s unclear if that includes releases that move into the new year, such as The Book of Boba Fett which is technically a December 2021 release but premiered its finale this year. With uncertainty surrounding The Bad Batch and The Mandalorian Season 3 releasing this year, it would still match their strategy if that spinoff series counts alongside Obi-Wan Kenobi in a few weeks and Andor later this summer.

    Of course, the statement that they demand three does not mean they are open to having more releases within a year. The question remains what else might release next year, as the only production confirmed for a 2023 release is Ahsoka. If The Mandalorian finds its way to Disney+ in that same year, it would mean that the animated series The Bad Batch also perfectly fits to match that demand.

    The Acolyte seems to still be in very early development and is likely not going to release until 2024. No definite release window has been stated, but it does seem like we shouldn’t expect it until then. For now, whatever project starts production soon is very likely going to be the next 2023 release, but we may find out more during the Star Wars Celebration.

    Source: Vanity Fair

  • First Look and Synopsis for ‘Hawkeye’ Spinoff ‘Echo’, Eyeing a 2023 Release

    First Look and Synopsis for ‘Hawkeye’ Spinoff ‘Echo’, Eyeing a 2023 Release

    Marvel Studios has been busy working on its various spinoff series to further explore the different corners of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. They’ve just recently started work on some of their next productions, such as the Hawkeye spinoff series focused on Alaqua Cox’s Echo. The deaf former gang leader has made peace with what happened to her father and the events that transpired at the hands of Clint Barton as Ronin, as she now visits her hometown. There, she must face her past and reconnect with her Native American roots, as she learns what it means to be part of a family and community once again.

    The Disney+ series is confirmed to release in 2023, but no exact time window has been given. With Secret Invasion already wrapping up work, it’s very likely it might take the summer spot going by what is currently in production. Yet, that also depends on when we might expect the next season of the animated What If…? series, which we’ve heard very little about in the past few months. We also got a first look from the series, giving us a look at Echo back at home, seemingly helping out.

    Image

    It’s definitely going to be interesting to see how they tackle this series, as it may be similar to Moon Knight, as it may exist in its own little pocket. The small town location is also a nice change of pace with most Marvel stories taking place in cities or across the world. So, getting to not only spend time with a smaller and more intimate cast of characters but also sticking to one location could benefit the story pacing, which has been some criticism put against the Marvel Studios productions.

  • Lucasfilm Decided to No Longer Recast Characters After ‘Solo: A Star Wars Story’

    Lucasfilm Decided to No Longer Recast Characters After ‘Solo: A Star Wars Story’

    Here’s an odd statement, but it looks like Lucasfilm may have learned the wrong lessons from 2018’s Solo: A Star Wars Story. The film was generally positively reviewed and people highlighted the casting of Alden Ehrenreich as a highlight of the film. It sadly didn’t perform like other entries in the franchise, but still pulled in a respectable $393M worldwide.

    Yet, it seems that something was missing for Lucasfilm and it is the reason they didn’t recast Mark Hamill‘s Luke Skywalker in The Mandalorian‘s second season finale. In the new Vanity Fair piece, Lucasfilm CEO Kathleen Kennedy had the following to say on what they’ve learned from that film:

    There should be moments along the way when you learn things. Now it does seem so abundantly clear that we can’t do that.

    Kathleen Kennedy

    It seems they believed that Ehrenreich didn’t quite capture the “swagger” that made Harrison Ford‘s take on the character stand out as much as it did throughout the years. Yet, one could argue that there were other factors that had a negative influence on the film’s performance and it’s strange to focus on the recasting.

    While it’s special to see Mark Hamill return to the role of Skywalker, the technology still has its limitations, especially with a smaller budget than film production. It still had many excited when he arrived in The Mandalorian, but there were still some aspects that may feel like it’s part of the uncanny valley. Plus, it also highly restricts what stories they can tell with characters that would otherwise have lived during that era.

    Source: Vanity Fair, Rotten Tomatoes

  • ‘The Mandalorian’ Season 3 May Not Release Until 2023

    ‘The Mandalorian’ Season 3 May Not Release Until 2023

    There’s been a lot of discussion on when we can expect the next season of The Mandalorian. Even its spinoff series stayed true to the December release date, which had many guesses that Season 3 wouldn’t be much different. Yet, it seems that the exact release window isn’t specified as of now and we may not get the series until early 2023. According to Vanity Fair’s new June issue, we got an insight into what the future holds for the Star Wars projects.

    The Pedro Pascal-led series that kicked off the TV renaissance for Star Wars is currently uncertain to release either by the end of 2022, but could also potentially find its way to Disney+ early 2023. Given some reported delays during production, it may be the reason for it to potentially get pushed back. The same article also confirms that Ahsoka will follow next year, which is the second The Mandalorian spinoff series currently in development.

    No reason was given, but we’re also still waiting for some kind of update on Star Wars: The Bad Batch whose second season was also rumored to premiere this year. So, it may be that they are currently keeping it open depending on how far along some projects are and when is the best time to release them. For now, it’s good we got a least a glimpse and if it does release 2022, it seems very likely to stick to the December release window at this rate.

    Source: Vanity Fair

  • ‘Rogue One’ Prequel ‘Andor’ Confirmed for a Late Summer Release on Disney+

    ‘Rogue One’ Prequel ‘Andor’ Confirmed for a Late Summer Release on Disney+

    The new Vanity Fair piece has been a treasure trove of information on what the future has in store for the Star Wars franchise. Alongside an update on the various films in development for the franchise, which has all seemingly been continued to get pushed back even if Lucasfilm CEO Kathleen Kennedy confirms they have a road map in place. Now, we also got a clear confirmation that the Rogue One prequel series starring Diego Luna, Andor, will arrive later this summer.

    The series is described as a “spy saga” and no clear release date is given, but if it is going for a late summer release we might get a hint during Star Wars Celebration later this month. There have been rumors it might release in August, which would fit a late summer release date. though, there has also been the revealed that She-Hulk would find its way to Disney+ on August 17th.

    Still, as we’re seeing shorter release windows between projects like Obi-Wan Kenobi and Ms. Marvel, it would seem like they could release it by the end of August. So, it’s great to get a clear indicator for when we can expect the project potentially be released even if the strategy by Lucasfilm and Disney+ has seemingly left much hanging with when their various projects would finally find their way to the service. Still, it looks like this is going to be quite the summer for Star Wars and Marvel fans.

    Source: Vanity Fair

  • Patty Jenkins’ ‘Rogue Squadron’ Delayed After All With Taika Waititi’s Untitled ‘Star Wars’ Film to Arrive First

    Patty Jenkins’ ‘Rogue Squadron’ Delayed After All With Taika Waititi’s Untitled ‘Star Wars’ Film to Arrive First

    While Star Wars has been pushing forward on its Disney+ expansion, there has been a bit of a dry spell when it came to its cinematic releases. Rise of Skywalker was the last film that we saw in theaters all the way back in 2019, but it looks like we’re still going to have to wait a bit longer. In a new feature by Vanity Fair, they offered an update on when we might expect their next cinematic installments.

    As expected, Patty Jenkins‘ Rogue Squadron is delayed indefinitely after all, as now the Star Wars film by Taika Waititi and screenwriter Krysty Wilson-Cairns are set to arrive ahead of the Wonder Woman director’s film. He’s still been busy on Thor: Love and Thunder and if they haven’t started work on both productions, it seems very unlikely that Rogue Squadron will hit its initial 2023 release schedule. It’s only described as “further off” in the Vanity Fair piece.

    President Kathleen Kennedy does promise though that they “have a road map.” When asked if there’s an update on Kevin Feige‘s Star Wars film, which is being written by Michael Waldron, she couldn’t offer any clear updates on that either. The only statement she shared on the matter is the following:

    I would love to see what movie he might come up with. But right now, no, there isn’t anything specifically.

    Kathleen Kennedy

    Of course, there’s a chance they are trying to keep some updates for the upcoming Star Wars Celebration that’ll take place later this month. They also confirmed that Rian Johnson’s work on the Knives Out films has also delayed work on his trilogy, which has been announced quite some time ago but hasn’t seen any further development since.

    Source: Vanity Fair