Murphy's Multiverse

Author: Joseph Aberl

  • ‘What If…?’s Composer Laura Karpman Joins ‘The Marvels’

    ‘What If…?’s Composer Laura Karpman Joins ‘The Marvels’

    It looks like The Marvels has found its composer in Marvel Studios veteran Laura Karpman, who has previously worked on What If..? and is also well-known for her work on the Lovecraft Country HBO seires. She’s the second female composer for one of their films following the first Captain Marvel film’s Pinar Torprak, who sadly isn’t returning the project. Yet, as the franchise is moving away from its singular focus on Carol Danvers, it makes sense to give it a new audio identity. Karpman shared her excitement for joining the project:

    I am thrilled to be going on this wild adventure with Nia DaCosta and Carol Danvers and am really looking forward to the collaboration.

    Laura Karpman

    We still don’t know a lot about the sequel’s storyline, especially how it might tie into Secret Invasion on Disney+. Either they’ll explore the Skrull invasion that leads into the series, or they could focus on the Kree-Skrull War instead that becomes a catalyst for that storyline. WandaVision‘s Megan McDonnell wrote the screenplay, which is a promising hint at a great twist as the story sees Carol Danvers, Kamala Khan, and Monica Rambeau join to fight a common threat.

    Source: Variety

  • Corey Johnson, Ethan Kai, and Rebecca Front Join Leslie Grace’s ‘Batgirl’

    Corey Johnson, Ethan Kai, and Rebecca Front Join Leslie Grace’s ‘Batgirl’

    The HBO Max film Batgirl has just recently started production in Glasglow, as we’ve already gotten a few glimpses from the Easter egg-filled set of the production. Leslie Grace has also already been sighted on the film’s set and as more actors may make get sighted, more castings have found their way online. So far, we only know about Brendan Fraser, J.K. Simmons, and Michael Keaton joining the project. Now, Deadline has shared a new trio of actors that will have a role in the project.

    Rebecca Front, Corey Johnson, and Ethan Kai have officially joined the HBO Max film. Front recently appeared in Ryan Reynolds‘ film Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard. Kai has appeared on the British soap opera Emmerdale, but also was featured on the popular Killing Eve series. Johnson mostly had minor supporting roles in various shows and is currently set to appear in Morbius. There are no details of who they are playing, but they may have minor roles in the story.

    Source: The Hollywood Reporter

  • ‘Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness’ Wrapped Production on Reshoots

    ‘Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness’ Wrapped Production on Reshoots

    Some time ago, we learned that Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness started another round of additional photography to reshoot some elements of the film. They were described as “extensive” but outside of rumors that it may be to add some more cameos and shoot sequences that weren’t possible due to COVID. There were hints they were nearing an end back in December, but it turns out the reshoots were still ongoing uup until recently.

    In a new profile by Deadline they’ve revealed that the reshoots ended this weekend, which means they’ve now fully entered the post-production process. With the film still eyeing its May release, there’s enough time for them to focus on development. Of course, the process isn’t new for Marvel Studios or any production company in the industry nowadays, which directors have praised due to it ensuring they can make necessary tweaks.

    It’ll be interesting to see how much Multiverse of Madness added as a result of these reshoots. There were concerns that more cameos could take away from the film’s central storyline, but Spider-Man: No Way Home proved that it is possible to strike a good balance with a central story and crowd-pleasing appearances. Of course with a story that takes place in the multiverse, it would be a shame not to embrace those kinds of shenanigans.

    Source: Deadline via ComicBook

  • RUMOR: First Hints at ‘Ironheart’s Potential Main Villains

    RUMOR: First Hints at ‘Ironheart’s Potential Main Villains

    Marvel Studios is continuing its expansion into Disney+ after a successful first year. Of course, there are quite a few projects in some form of development including the live-action debut of Riri Williams in the Ironheart series. The character is a rather new addition to the Marvel universe and made many wonders what we might expect from her original series. A new rumor is making the rounds that may be our first real hint at who she may be facing.

    Some time ago, there were hints that the upcoming project would include Obediah Stane’s child, whose characterization may be inspired by Sam Rockwell‘s portrayal of Justin Hammer. In addition, it seems that the show’s main antagonist might have found its way online as well, as they shared a description hinting at his character being “charming, magnetic, slick, and oily.” What stands out is that he’ll have a “crew” which could hint at a gang leader of some sort.

    Illuminerdi believes this description might be a fitting choice for the villain known as Parker Robbins, who works for a crime syndicate and ends up with a magical cloak. It gives him abilities to upgrade his game, but also ended up with him facing off against various heroes and even the Avengers. Of course, with Riri’s tech focus, it’s uncertain if they might also change his origins a bit if it ends up being Robbins, but the magical element would add an interesting twist to the story. Production hasn’t started yet and elements can still change. So, we’ll see how things develop.

    Source: Illuminerdi, Illuminerdi

  • Disney’s Rachel Zegler-Led ‘Snow White’ Remake Adds Andrew Burnap

    Disney’s Rachel Zegler-Led ‘Snow White’ Remake Adds Andrew Burnap

    It looks like the Rachel Zegler-led Snow White project has expanded its cast, as Andrew Burnap is set to join the project in a new role. While at first believed he may play the prince, who actually never gets a name in the original Disney film, he’s going to tackle a character that was specifically created for the film. The only other mention is that he will definitely have a singing role in the project. Gal Gadot is the only other confirmed casting, as she’ll take on the role of the Evil Queen.

    Benj Pasek and Justin Paul joined the project to write the songs after their work on La La Land, The Greatest Showman, and the Broadway rendition of Dear Evan Hansen. Production will likely begin in spring on the musical with Oscar-nominated producer Marc Platt attached to this project. He is currently also involved with the other Disney live-action remake for The Little Remake.

    Burnap is known for his stage work, which includes This Day Forward, The Legend of Georgie McBride, and Troilus and Cressida. He also recently worked on Under the Banner of Heaven with Spider-Man: No Way Home star Andrew Garfield, as well as the Apple+ series WeCrashed opposite of Jared Leto. So, it’s a busy time for the actor. He also won a Tony Award for his work on The Inheritance, making him quite the get for Disney’s next live-action musical.

    Source: The Hollywood Reporter

  • Scarlet Witch Gets New Glow-in-the-Dark Funko Inspired by ‘WandaVision’s Post-Credit Scene

    Scarlet Witch Gets New Glow-in-the-Dark Funko Inspired by ‘WandaVision’s Post-Credit Scene

    It looks like Funko isn’t quite done with WandaVision, as a new Funko Pop has been revealed inspired by the first Marvel Studios Disney+ series. It’s an updated version of an existing Scarlet Witch Funko Pop, which is taken directly from the series final post-credit sequence. Unlike the previous version, this time they are trying to highlight her using her abilities by having this be a special glow-in-the-dark model that also includes her eyes glowing red. It’s a great touch, and probably a must for any fan of the series or the character in general. You can check it out here:

    Of course, the release timing is perfectly aligned as marketing is slowly starting to ramp up for Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. As she’ll have a big role in the story, it wouldn’t be too surprising that they’d also want to bank on the word-of-mouth surrounding the project. We do get a scene of her meditating in the trailer, which may even get its own Funko at one point down the line.

    Source: Twitter

  • RUMOR: ‘Secret Invasion’ May Continue Production in the Halifax’s Piece Hall

    RUMOR: ‘Secret Invasion’ May Continue Production in the Halifax’s Piece Hall

    We’re still waiting for any sign when Marvel Studios’ next projects will release, but they are also actively working on a variety of projects that are still in the middle of production. Among them is Secret Invasion, which will explore a Skrull invasion and continue our time with Samuel L. Jackson‘s Nick Fury and Ben Mendelsohn‘s Talos. We know very little about the project, but it seems that the local news site Halifax Courier may have noticed that the Piece Hall is shutting down for a week for a film under the project title Jambalaya.

    As the site points out, this is the production title we’ve heard some time ago for the Disney+ series, and it seems they are going to film at the location from January 24th until January 31st. It has been in production since the fall of last year, but very little has found its way online. The site has pointed out that they’ve also closed off roads, which means there is a chance we get a look at some exterior shots.

    Marvel Studios has gotten better at keeping a lid on some of their productions, as very little has found its way online from the sets of their recent releases. We haven’t heard much on Secret Invasion, which is probably the one project that will try to keep most of its twists and turns a secret due to the nature of its story. It wouldn’t be too surprised if they film multiple endings to also catch people off-guard in case there are leaks.

    Source: Halifax Courier, DisInsider

  • Netflix Orders Back-to-Back ‘Red Notice’ Sequels With Original Cast Returning

    Netflix Orders Back-to-Back ‘Red Notice’ Sequels With Original Cast Returning

    At this point, it was only a question of time before Red Notice would get a sequel announcement, as it was one of the streaming services’ biggest releases. Yet, we did not expect them to not only order two sequels but also have them shoot back-to-back. They are also all-in with the original cast, as Dwanye Johnson, Gal Gadot, and Ryan Reynolds are returning to film the sequels. Director Marshall Thurber is also returning, as pre-production starts. They will take this year to prepare both sequels and potentially start production in early 2023.

    So far, the only thing they started was the writing process, but they have plans to expand the trio to add more characters and develop into an Oceans Eleven-inspired ensemble project. It’s crazy to think how big the project has become after being part of a pitch package by Universal and Legendary back in 2018. Only Dwayne Johnson and director Thurber were attached to the project. Even with its sizeable budget, the film has garnered quite a bit of attention and it seems Netflix is ready to embrace their new money maker.

    Source: Deadline

  • RUMOR: Marvel Studios Approached Ben Affleck to Cameo as Daredevil

    RUMOR: Marvel Studios Approached Ben Affleck to Cameo as Daredevil

    There’s a long list of Marvel projects from the early 2000s that defined the superhero film market before the modern MCU became what it is today. In 2003, 20th Century Fox took their stab at a Daredevil film, which featured Ben Affleck as Matt Murdock and Jennifer Garner in the role of Elektra. While many fondly remember Michael Clarke Duncan‘s take on the Kingpin, the film wasn’t well-received. Still, the film wasn’t a hit with fans or critics alike. It looks like that didn’t keep Marvel Studios from trying to get their hands on a cameo from that era.

    @bigscreenleaks, who has often shared information on upcoming projects, revealed that they’ve approached Affleck at one point to potentially cameo as Daredevil. He doesn’t add what project that might’ve been, but there’s a likelihood it would’ve been for Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. It makes sense as they don’t have to go by any rules why he would appear in the film if the character was already exploring the multiverse, to begin with. Geeks Worldwide’s KC Walsh has also shared a similar story, but it doesn’t mean we should expect a cameo.

    https://twitter.com/bigscreenleaks/status/1481303379452301314?t=0rj2QOde7KJxvjEHd-Nukw&s=19

    Marvel Studios has just recently reintroduced Charlie Cox as the blind lawyer in Spider-Man: No Way home. So, a potential cameo would’ve been a nice nod to the franchise’s past yet sadly Ben Affleck has been taking a step back from superhero franchises due to his experience with DC and especially Joss Whedon‘s Justice League film. Of course, if there is any truth to this rumor, he might pass on the project just to avoid putting on that skin-tight costume again that he wore while filming.

    Source: Twitter, Twitter

  • Current State of ‘Persona 6’

    Current State of ‘Persona 6’

    Persona is a series that has finally entered the mainstream due to its success with the official fifth entry. After its titular character Joker joined Super Smash Bros. Ultimate as its first DLC character, it was clear that Atlus had pushed their slice-of-life RPG to a new level. Yet, we haven’t heard much on the next numbered entry in the series, Persona 6. Yet even as 2021 was the franchise’s 25th anniversary, we still are lacking any concrete information on the next entry. As such, let’s take a closer look at the current state of what we know about the project so far.

    The official confirmation came in a rather surprising way. We never got a definite highlight that work has already started on the project, but through a statement by Atlus director Naoto Hiroaka in a job listing back in July. It explicitly highlights that they are hiring for a sixth project that manages to succeed previous entry.

    Thanks to the large amount of support we received for Persona 5, we have gotten a sense of accomplishment. But we can’t stop there. When we created Persona 4, there was pressure that it had to exceed Persona 3. Now, we will have to create a 6 which exceeds 5. However, exceeding 5 will be difficult with the current staff. I would like to surpass this tall hurdle with everyone who joins us in this recruitment

    Naoto Hiroaka

    This job listing came around a similar time when the 25th anniversary was announced with a promise for a year of news surrounding the Persona franchise. As mentioned previously, we still haven’t gotten quite a lot of insight into what the anniversary includes. While we did get the announcement in July and the confirmation of Persona 4 Arena Ultimax has been the only major reveal so far. The game wasn’t confirmed until the Video Game Awards in December with rumors hinting at remasters of Persona 3 Portable and Persona 4 Golden. The official site still hints at more announcements coming but the well has been dry for some time. Still, supposedly we’ll get seven announcements up until the fall of this year. If they include the merchandise and wallpapers, there are still four slots open.

    There have been some curious visual teasers in the form of the anniversary-themed goods, which include all the main protagonists o the various entries across the series. What stands out is that they purposefully included one that only has “Secret” in its place. So, once an official announcement drops, they may unveil the character card, which would include the sixth entries protagonist, the game’s main color, and the school logo.

    Artwork of seven Persona character trading photo cards, with a secret eigth

    It seems very likely that this is a tease for an eventual announcement, especially with the placeholder also being used for the covers. Thoug, curiously,t the game covers includes two slots while each entry since P3 is mainly the vanilla game and its expansion, such as Persona 5 and Persona 5 Royal. So, the new game either has two unique covers, or we might have a Pokémon situation with two versions of the same game.

    Artwork of Persona poster-style cards with stands

    Of course, an announcement this year doesn’t necessarily mean we’ll get the game any time soon. Though, there is a comment that hints at Atlus having some major plans for this year. Shinjiro Takada, who is the mastermind behind Etryan Odyssey and Shin Megami Tensei. He made the following reveal that the hope to offer a major release this year that will “become a pillar for Atlus” moving forward. Sadly, there’s no definite clue what exactly may end up being or even if it is Persona related.

    I chose ‘Challenge’ as my keyword for 2022 in hopes to release a title to the world that will become a pillar for Atlus. The staff are working hard on development to make something that’ll be interesting and satisfying for everyone, so I’d be happy if you could look forward to it.

    The interesting aspect about Persona 6 is that there aren’t many rumors about the upcoming release. As the last three entries covered the primary colors of blue, yellow, and red, many theorized that green is the most likely choice for the next entry in the franchise. Others have pointed to orange also being a possibility, but Persona 2‘s entries seemed to rely on a similar color. There are some rumblings of the game either embracing a female-centric storyline or copying Persona 3 Portable‘s option to choose your gender at the start of the game.

    For now, the well is pretty dry but it seems likely that the 25th anniversary might end with an announcement for the franchise in the fall of this year. It’s not definite but signs are there given the inclusion of those “Secret” placeholders. There are hints that we’ll get a lot more announcements as time goes on, which hopefully means that it’s going to be a big year for the franchise. For now, we can only keep an eye out for more information as

    Source: GamesRadar, Twitter, Atlus, Polygon, IGN, Kotaku