Murphy's Multiverse

Author: Joseph Aberl

  • Theater Owner Chief Announces the Death of Day-and-Date Releases

    Theater Owner Chief Announces the Death of Day-and-Date Releases

    There have been quite a few discussions since the start of the pandemic on what exactly the future of cinema looks like. The Batman‘s success in theaters and as a strong HBO Max addition seemingly added some momentum to the full recovery of cinema. It’s been rough since the pandemic started in 2020, but family and indie films are finally gaining some momentum again as that audience is slowly creeping back into theaters.

    As CinemaCon is currently ongoing, which is all about the “cinematic experience,” the National Association of Theatre Owners chairman John Fithian made a broad statement during his address. He believes that the day-and-date model has now died as they move forward in a more traditional direction, especially highlighting piracy as a reason.

    I am pleased to announce that simultaneous release is dead as a serious business model, and piracy is what killed it. When a pristine copy of a movie makes its way online and spreads, it has a very damaging impact on our industry.

    John Fithian

    Warner Bros. was one of the few to truly embrace the day-and-date model, as every release for the entire year got that special treatment. Now, they are still embracing a digital next model with a 45-day release.

    When analyzing title after title it becomes very clear that spikes in piracy are most drastic when a movie is first available to watch in the home: it doesn’t matter if its available via premium video on demand or subscription video on demand,” said Fithian. “Robust theatrical windows protect against piracy. If a major title that people are clamoring to see in theaters is released too quickly to the home and then pirated, the temptation to stay home and watch pirated films becomes greater for many potential moviegoers.

    John Fithian

    He goes on to highlight the issue of piracy without giving concrete examples. Still, their main focus will be on 2022 and moving forward, as the potential of this year’s releases offers a lot more box office momentum. One could argue that the topic is quite a bit more complex, especially given the personal investment in the medium also painting the full picture. Yet, the piracy issue has definitely left its impact on the industry, especially with the lack of Chinese releases.

    There’s no true answer and the model may not truly be dead, especially as streaming services start to crack on piracy concerns moving forward. Netflix’s recent fall will also bare its fangs moving forward, but the streaming market is definitely not something of the past. We’ll see if 2022 might be our first return to 2019 numbers, especially building upon the success of Spider-Man: No Way Home and The Batman.

    Source: The Hollywood Reporter

  • ‘Obi-Wan Kenobi’ Always Planned as a Mini-Series

    ‘Obi-Wan Kenobi’ Always Planned as a Mini-Series

    Obi-Wan Kenobi will continue the story of the prequel trilogy as the Jedi Master will once again face off against his former Padawan. The return of Hayden Christensen as Darth Vader adds a lot of excitement to the project, especially as the actor teased that we might expect more of him in the future. Yet, showrunner Deborah Chow revealed that the upcoming Disney+ series is mainly planned as a mini-series. So, there are currently no plans for this story to expand with a second season.

    We really did conceive this like a beginning, middle, and end. It is one big story, and it was always meant to be. You can never tell what happens in the future. But, if another series were to happen, it would be the same process of making sure that there was a real story to tell. Ours is obviously very connected to the prequels, but I love the idea that there can be more stories that are all over the timeline.

    Deborah Chow

    While it’s a shame that we might not expect more of this series moving forward, it doesn’t mean that Ewan McGregor might not return as Obi-Wan Kenobi in another project. As teased by Chow, they can always plan a new mini-series that serves a different story, where he may even find himself in someone else’s adventure. Whatever the future has in store, Star Wars is starting to expand and Disney+ has become its new home to tell some unlikely stories.

    Source: Total Film

  • New ‘Obi-Wan Kenobi’ Concept Art Teases an Empire Base

    New ‘Obi-Wan Kenobi’ Concept Art Teases an Empire Base

    Obi-Wan Kenobi is only a few more weeks away from releasing. The next entry will see the return of Ewan McGregor in the iconic role from the Prequel trilogy. Total Film has been quite busy promoting the film with various articles teasing what the future has in store for us with the latest Disney+. Showrunner Deborah Chow has also debunked rumors that Darth Maul was ever part of the project. Now, Total Film (as shared by @starwarsstuff2) has released some new concept art that teases what the project has in store.

    As we’re revisiting Tatooine shortly after The Book of Boba Fett‘s time on the desert planet, they aren’t revealing too much from the upcoming series. We do get a test of a mysterious vehicle that is a bit more Mad Max in design. We might also get to visit an Empire base going by the only non-desert location teased with the artwork. Of course, Obi-Wan is also getting a new look, which is heavily promoted in the artwork, and we have gotten a few teases from the first trailer.

    They are still keeping quite a bit secretive. So, we’ll see just how many different planets Obi-Wan might end up visiting in the series. There are a lot of questions that might not get an answer until its release, especially with the teases of some curious surprises that the production may have in store for us. For now, we’ll have to wait and see what the May release has in store for us potentially.

    Source: Total Film via Twitter

  • New Photos for Joe and Anthony Russo’s ‘The Gray Man’ Released

    New Photos for Joe and Anthony Russo’s ‘The Gray Man’ Released

    Joe and Anthony Russo have been busy with their new action thriller The Gray Man. They reunited with their Avengers co-workers, Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely to adapt the 2009 novel of the same name. The film is set to release on Netflix in July and is considered the most expensive production ever produced by Netflix with a $200M budget. Now, we got a good look at the upcoming cast.

    The film is stuffed with talent which includes Ryan Gosling, Chris Evans, Ana de Armas, Jessica Henwick, Billy Bob Thornton, and many more. Netflix Geeked took to Twitter to share a few photos from the cast as they start to ramp up marketing for the film. With a new look at the cast, we might expect a trailer in the coming months, as we are also nearing their usual two-month marketing period.

    The original novel follows the story of Court Gentry (Ryan Gosling), who is a mercenary that accidentally uncovers a dark secret within his agency. Lloyd Hansen (Chris Evans), a former colleague of his, puts a bounty on his head and kicks off a manhunt.

    Given Netflix’s current situation, it definitely will try to hype up the marketing for this film to pull in new subscribers. Here’s hoping that the trailer is just around the corner, as we get to see this cast in action and what the Avengers director’s brought to the table to retell this classic novel. Netflix is fully investing in this project, and who knows if they pull back on their production budgets after recent events.

    Source: Twitter

  • RUMOR: Charlie Cox May Start Filming ‘Echo’ in May

    RUMOR: Charlie Cox May Start Filming ‘Echo’ in May

    Earlier this month, the costume designer for Echo accidentally revealed that Vincent D’Onofrio and Charlie Cox would reprise their roles in Hawkeye and Spider-Man: No Way Home. Of course, the fact that Kingpin and Daredevil will make their return in a larger role is an exciting prospect after they were slowly reintroduced into the mainline MCU. Production has only recently started and it did beg the question of when we might expect the actors to join the production. Luckily, a new rumor may have given us a hint.

    As shared by Knight Edge Media, Daniel Richtman teased that Charlie Cox is scheduled to start production later in May. He couldn’t offer any details but it does look like he’ll definitely have a larger role in this series than he did in No Way Home, which was mostly just a cameo appearance. We don’t know if he already has a history with Echo and how they might set up some elements from the original Daredevil series, if at all. As productions can always change, there’s always a chance that something in their schedule may shift.

    There are rumblings we might see him in another Disney+ series and that he also has his own on the way at some point in the future. It’ll be interesting to see if Echo may act as a set-up for the spinoff Disney+ series. It does seem like we will get a lot more from Charlie Cox, who was the flagship actor of the Netflix spinoffs and catapulted the character of Daredevil to new highs. Here’s hoping that he may become just as important to the MCU’s future.

    Source: Patreon via Knight Edge Media

  • Illuminati Namedropped in New ‘Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness’ Promo

    Illuminati Namedropped in New ‘Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness’ Promo

    One more promo has dropped for Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, which mostly included familiar footage. Yet, the biggest surprise came in the form of the official name drop that the council Strange faces off against is indeed the Illuminati. Marvel Studios has always taken some liberties with how they showcase the secret society of heroes that try to make decisions on the future of their world. In the comics, they were formed after the Kree-Skrull War but will probably get a new origin in the film.

    We don’t know exactly how this team formed as part of the multiverse and what it might mean for the future of the MCU. The trailers seemingly tease that the team of multiversal heroes will face off against the Scarlet Witch. Who knows if the team will even remain afterward, or if we might expect a new one to form within the Sacred Timeline. Perhaps the multiverse will continue to grow, and we get a future project to see the aftermath of these events.

    There have been many teases of what Doctor Strange’s adventure through a multiverse of madness might entail, but it feels like they are still hiding quite a bit. Who knows how much screentime the Illuminati actually gets, as it could be nothing more than a brief pitstop for Strange in his travels through the multiverse. No matter what, it’s great to finally have the confirmation that they are indeed who we expected them to be and we can’t wait to see the first incarnation of them in live-action next week.

    Source: Twitter

  • Saudi Arabia Denies Ban of ‘Doctor Strange’ Sequel But Still Wants LGBTQ Sequence Cut

    Saudi Arabia Denies Ban of ‘Doctor Strange’ Sequel But Still Wants LGBTQ Sequence Cut

    With the inclusion of America Chavez, there was some expectation that her LGBTQ background could lead to Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness may end up getting banned in various countries. The first announcement came from Saudi Arabia and was then followed by Egypt making an announcement. Now, a new article from The Guardian shared a statement from Saudi Arabia on the situation in which they deny any reports that the film has been banned in the country.

    Disney seemingly denies any comment on the matter, but it seems that the cut scene they are inquiring about involves America Chavez mentioning her mothers. Nawaf Alsabhan, Saudi Arabia’s general supervisor of cinema classification, shared a statement on the matter. It was highlighted that what they are trying to cut is “barely 12 seconds” which is part of the film’s release.

    It’s just her talking about her moms, because she has two moms. And being in the Middle East, it’s very tough to pass something like this. We sent it to the distributor, and the distributor sent it to Disney, and Disney has told us they are not willing. It will never be banned. There’s no reason to ban the film. It’s a simple edit … So far they have refused. But we haven’t closed the door. We’re still trying.

    Nawaf Alsabhan

    It seems the current statement is more that the film has been “withdrawn” rather than banned. There was a similar situation with this kind of inquiry regarding the Eternals, which heavily involved a gay couple as part of the film’s main cast. While there are strong cultural differences, describing the inclusion of LGBTQ representation as “a simple edit” is a curious showcase of how different the topic is handled across the world. For now, it seems unlikely that Disney or Marvel Studios will budge on the matter.

    Source: The Guardian

  • First Look at Terry Crews as a Nova Corp Member in ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’s Cosmic Rewind Ride

    First Look at Terry Crews as a Nova Corp Member in ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’s Cosmic Rewind Ride

    It looks like the upcoming Guardians of the Galaxy Cosmic Rewind ride has added a familiar face to its cast, as Disney Parks’ official Twitter account just shared a first look at Terry Crews, who is joining the Nova Corps. It seems like he is playing Centurion Tal Marik, the commander of the Starchater and an advisor of Nova Primes, who was played by Glenn Close in the first Guardians of the Galaxy movie. His inclusion could potentially set up a cameo in either the upcoming Vol. 3 entry or even the Nova film that is in development. So, who knows if this small cameo might grow into something larger for the Brooklyn Nine-Nine actor as part of the MCU.

    It’s great to see some talented actors involved in this short film that are part of Disney World’s various rides. Marvel Studios has been quite the brand to attract talent and it’ll be interesting to see how much he’s in the ride for those able to attend. It would also be a fun addition if they include some of the cast in future projects, especially as the storylines told through these rides aren’t considered canon.

    We even got some concept art for the Celestial Eson, which is getting quite the redesign for this ride that is more in line with what we saw in Eternals. Who knows what other elements might find their way into the films moving forward if they are adding this much work into a ride. Perhaps Cosmic Rewind gets a special release on Disney+ for those that don’t get a chance to visit the ride.

    Source: Twitter

  • ‘Secret Invasion’ Crew Merch Hints at the Arrival of the Skrull God

    ‘Secret Invasion’ Crew Merch Hints at the Arrival of the Skrull God

    After a bunch of photos found their way online from the Secret Invasion set, things have gone a bit cold. Yet, Twitter user @DadandLad4 has seemingly shared a baseball cap from the Disney+ series’ production. While we’re still a bit puzzled about the mysterious owl with a clock, there’s Skrull writing on the side of the baseball cap. Our team quickly took the time to analyze what it might mean and it hints at a rather interesting comic tie-in.

    The writing seemingly spells out “He Loves You.” While it seems rather strange at first, this small phrase actually has quite the comic history. It is commonly said by the Skrulls when they reference their Skrull God Kly’bn. He was actually an Eternal as the Celestials created him on the planet of Skrullos as well. What makes him important to Skrull lore is that he was the one that made a prophecy they’d find a new home. There’s an iconic moment from The Incredible Hercules #119 that references this iconic phrase, which was a tie-in to the Secret Invasion comic storyline.

    So, it seems that we might get to explore more of Skrull’s history in the upcoming Disney+ series, which is a great showcase of how the franchise is starting to expand its mythology moving forward. The owl actually has Nick Fury’s eyepatch and the green color may be connected to the Skrulls. Yet, the owl and time might have a thematic connection throughout the series and might even tie into the Skrull God Kly’bn tease, who was the one to prophecies they’d find a new home planet.

    Source: Twitter

  • Johnny Depp Was Originally Going to Co-Write ‘Pirates of the Caribbean 6’, Film to Be a Final Send-Off for Jack Sparrow

    Johnny Depp Was Originally Going to Co-Write ‘Pirates of the Caribbean 6’, Film to Be a Final Send-Off for Jack Sparrow

    Johnny Depp and Amber Heard are still in the middle of their legal dispute, which has given some hints to how Depp’s general business dealings have been since the allegations against him were first made. A few days ago, he revealed that he has no interest in ever returning to the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise after how their business relationship ended. Yet, he has now also revealed more details on the original plans for the sixth entry in the franchise.

    It seems that Depp was approached to help write Pirates of the Caribbean 6 to give his character of Jack Sparrow a fitting send-off. As he pointed out in the previous hearing on the matter, he was upset about how the relationship ended, especially given they were still selling merchandise with his face on it even after parting ways.

    I didn’t quite understand how after that long relationship and quite a successful relationship, certainly for Disney, that suddenly I was guilty until proven innocent… I, in fact, had been approached to take part in writing Pirates 6… my feeling was that these characters should be able to have their proper goodbye, as it were. A franchise can only last for so long, and there’s a way to end a franchise like that. And I thought that the characters deserved… to end their franchise on a very good note. I planned on continuing until it was time to stop.

    Johnny Depp

    As the last film ended with a post-credit sequence teasing the return of Davy Jones, they were definitely setting up a final confrontation between the two. It’s a shame that this story may never be finished, especially given how iconic the franchise has become. It definitely redefined what we expect from a pirate-based storyline. For now, we’ll have to see what the future has in store, but the main focus remains on how the court hearings between Johnny Depp and Amber Heard will end.

    Source: CBS News via ScreenRant