Murphy's Multiverse

Author: Joseph Aberl

  • Leaked ‘Batgirl’ Set Photos Offer First Look at Leslie Grace

    Leaked ‘Batgirl’ Set Photos Offer First Look at Leslie Grace

    Batgirl has officially started production, as more set photos are slowly finding their way online. Earlier today, some posters were spotted that were hinting at the potential appearance of famed Batman villain Hugo Strange. now, it seems that shortly after the first look at lead actress Leslie Grace has found its way online from the Glasglow set.

    While she isn’t sporting her iconic Batsuit just yet, we do get a clear look at her wearing a GCPD t-shirt. Some time ago, we got the confirmation that she’ll work for her father’s police station and hints at their take on her character. We still know very little about the plot and what villains she might face, with the sole exception being Brendan Fraser as Firefly.

    It’s exciting to know that they are revving up production and with the exterior shots we have some hope that we’ll also get a closer look at her new costume. It was teased during DC FanDome, but only with some artwork from the distance. They’ve teased which direction they are taking it, but it’s always a different experience seeing it on set.

    Source: Twitter

  • WarnerMedia CEO on Possible ‘The Batman’ Delay As Omicron Concerns Grow

    WarnerMedia CEO on Possible ‘The Batman’ Delay As Omicron Concerns Grow

    There have been some concerns regarding the recent spike in COVID cases due to the new Omicron virus. Of course, it also means that there’s always a chance that films once again face inevitable delays until numbers reduce, as there are fears that theaters will be forced to close down again. Spider-Man: No Way Home still continues to show impressive numbers at the box office but recent numbers highlight it is more the exception rather than the rule. So, with just a few months left until The Batman releases, people wondered if it may also face a delay. Luckily, Jason Kilar, the CEO of WarnerMedia, has offered a statement on whether they’d push the film’s release back or not.

    We’re certainly paying attention to everything going on with Omicron. We feel good about the date right now. We’re gonna watch it day by day.”

    Jason Kilar

    There’s still quite some time until the film hits theaters in March. So, numbers may either start going back down or continue to grow as the weeks go by. It’s not surprising that WarnerMedia is taking a conservative approach to make sure they don’t delay the film too early if developments show a positive trend. Of course, the bigger concerns come when they continue pushing out marketing for the film only for it to get delayed a few months back. It’s a gamble for any production at this point.

    Source: Puck

  • ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’ Won’t Be Eligible for 2022’s BAFTA

    ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’ Won’t Be Eligible for 2022’s BAFTA

    It looks like Sony managed to miss its opportunity to nab any nominations for this year’s BAFTA awards. According to Deadline, it seems that Sony has not uploaded their film to their streaming platform, BAFTA View, and as such is not eligible for any potential nominations. They even went out of their way to find a solution, but couldn’t agree on one. For now, a trailer plays for members when they click on the film’s page. They’ve shared the following statement as the voting round one closed on January 3rd:

    Spider-Man: No Way Home did not meet the eligibility criteria for the EE British Academy Film Awards 2022 and therefore did not qualify for entry. As outlined in our rulebook, all films must be made available to voting members on BAFTA View prior to Round One voting closing to ensure fairness and parity for all titles and the film was not made available by the distributor.

    There are some theories that they mainly wanted to avoid any illegal uploads of the film during its strong box office tenure. Sony has not made a clarifying statement on why they failed to upload the film on time, but this year is the first time that DVD screeners aren’t accepted and only the online streaming service is provided, which was started in 2020. The film was already starting its campaign for awards season with many believing it may have some good chances this year, which makes this a bitter decision by Sony.

    Source: Deadline

  • Makkari and Sprite Mention Thanos in New ‘Eternals’ Deleted Scene

    Makkari and Sprite Mention Thanos in New ‘Eternals’ Deleted Scene

    We’re only a few days away from the home release of Eternals, which will be made available digitally. It’s also getting a Disney+ release to subscribers that have been waiting for their chance to revisit the Chloé Zhao film. With the release, we also get our first look at some of the bonus features that offer a look at what didn’t quite make it into the film’s theatrical release.

    The first deleted scene, as shared by @UPDATESETERNALS offers a discussion between Makkari and Sprite. It takes place around the time they found her in their old spaceship, as she started holding artifacts from human history. They discuss if it’s worth saving humanity with a special focus being given to the Avengers win over Thanos. You can check it out here:

    https://twitter.com/UPDATESETERNALS/status/1480574642230280193

    The scene highlights the core message for Sprite’s conflict later on, but also gives us more insight into why Makkari became a hoarder. It would’ve been great if they included this reference in the film to offer a better glimpse into what Makkari was up to all this time. It may have also helped with some people that were a bit surprised by Sprite’s decision later in the film.

    Source: Thrillist via Twitter

  • ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’ Available for Digital Pre-Order

    ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’ Available for Digital Pre-Order

    Spider-Man: No Way Home has been dominating the international box office even as concerns over the Omicron variant dominate. Well, those that didn’t have a chance to see the film in theaters luckily won’t have to wait too long until it is made available. Fandango’s digital retailer Vudu has shared that the latest Sony release will be made available digitally on the service. Pre-orders are also live for the standard definition (SD), high definition (HDX), and 3K UHD each priced at $19.99.

    As ComicBook points out, there are no plans for a release on Disney+, as it’s more likely to be made available through Starz or Netflix due to deals Sony made. There was one made with Disney back in 2021, which might bring the film to the streaming service at some point, but very likely not before 2023. As such, the film will mostly be made available through video-on-demand services for anyone who missed out on the opportunity to see it in theaters.

    No Way Home was a powerful new entry for the Spider-Man franchise that pays tribute to the earlier cinematic entries while setting up the future for Tom Holland‘s take on the character. Given how many cameos the film includes, it’ll be quite exciting to see what may have ended up on the cutting room floor that’ll be made available with the home release.

    Source: Fandango, ComicBook

  • Currently No Plans for ‘The Matrix Resurrections’ Sequels or Spinoffs

    Currently No Plans for ‘The Matrix Resurrections’ Sequels or Spinoffs

    Here’s some sad news, as even in a world filled to the brim with spinoffs and sequels, it seems that Warner Bros. has no plans for any expansion of the recently resurrected The Matrix franchise. The Matrix Resurrections – fitting title – wasN’t a cheap film to produce with $190M and there were expectations it would make bank at the box office. Yet, it currently stands at $106M globally and is struggling to even make its production budget back. It sadly even had the biggest drop in its second week.

    There has been no word how the film performed on HBO Max as part of its simulcast release, but according to The Hollywood Reporter, it may have joined the top five. Box office analyst Jeff Bock had the following statement regarding its sub-par performance:

    The fact that Resurrections is heavily meta doesn’t help attract new audiences either. Truth is, the multiplex masses weren’t on board

    So, while HBO Max’s performance is optimistic there’s another issue that is adding some uncertainty about a future for the franchise. Lana Wachowski has not signed on for more films after directing the latest legacy sequel, and Keanu Reeves‘ contract does not include sequel options. As such, even if they move forward with sequels it doesn’t mean that the actor will also make a definite return. Even with a strong performance on the streamer, mostly related to its older audience, there has not been an official word by Warner Bros. For now, it seems like we might be in for another long wait.

    Source: The Hollywood Reporter

  • EXCLUSIVE: ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ Season 5 Eyeing to Start Production Next Month

    EXCLUSIVE: ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ Season 5 Eyeing to Start Production Next Month

    There has been quite a lot of anticipation for any news surrounding Hulu’s The Handmaid’s Tale. Its creator Bruce Miller has teased a lot more twists for the coming season, but even after its quick renewal, there was some uncertainty about when it could be expected. This is especially noticeable with rumors hinting at it potentially being the culmination of the entire series that started in 2017, as it may be it’s last. We can exclusively share that the upcoming fifth season is already readying up to start production in early February.

    The first episode of Season 5 is currently set to film in Toronto, Canada with Elisabeth Moss, the show’s main star who brought the character of June Osborne to life, will take over directing duties. Series creator Bruce Miller wrote the script for the episode. She has previously directed the third episode of the last season titled “The Crossing”. Not just that, she also directed the eighth and ninth episodes “Testimony” and “Progress” before Liz Garbus took over for the finale.

    The story is an adaptation of Margaret Atwood‘s famous novel that explored a dystopian future where a second Civil War led to women becoming child-bearing slaves. The fifth season will follow the aftermath of the actions Moss‘ June takes during the finale of the fourth season, and it’s not going to be an easy road ahead.

  • Ben Affleck Talks Passing on ‘The Batman’ and Leaving the Role Behind

    Ben Affleck Talks Passing on ‘The Batman’ and Leaving the Role Behind

    There have been many discussions surrounding Ben Affleck‘s final run as the iconic Caped Crusader. A recent rumor has been hinting that even his return in The Flash means he’ll truly leave the role behind. The actor has openly discussed that the role and franchise commitment has pushed him down a deep end, especially when he passed on directing a Batman-focused film. In an interview with LA Times, he opens up on why he decided to move on from the project.

    Directing “Batman” is a good example. I looked at it and thought, “I’m not going to be happy doing this. The person who does this should love it.” You’re supposed to always want these things, and I probably would have loved doing it at 32 or something. But it was the point where I started to realize it’s not worth it. It’s just a wonderful benefit of reorienting and recalibrating your priorities that once it started being more about the experience, I felt more at ease.

    Ben Affleck

    In the same interview, he also opened up on how Justice League was the boiling point for the actor, especially with the weight of the production felt after the tragedy when Zack Snyder lost his daughter. It’s not the quality of the film but the experience that pushed him away.

    It was really “Justice League” that was the nadir for me. That was a bad experience because of a confluence of things: my own life, my divorce, being away too much, the competing agendas and then [director] Zack [Snyder]’s personal tragedy and the reshooting. It just was the worst experience. It was awful. It was everything that I didn’t like about this. That became the moment where I said, “I’m not doing this anymore.” It’s not even about, like, “Justice League” was so bad. Because it could have been anything.

    Ben Affleck

    Even with his short run as Batman, Affleck made the role his own and the lesson he learned is something valuable we all can take away. There’s something about tackling a project that you are passionate about that truly redefines your approach. If he forced himself to make a Batman film he had no connection with, it may not only add more pressure to the director and actor but also become apparent in his work. It’ll be exciting to see what other passion projects he chases in the future.

    Source: LA Times

  • Andrew Garfield Was Sold On ‘Spider-Man No Way Home’ With His Redemption Arc

    Andrew Garfield Was Sold On ‘Spider-Man No Way Home’ With His Redemption Arc

    Spider-Man: No Way Home had to juggle quite a lot throughout its runtime. Not only did it act as a perfect send-off to Andrew Garfield and Tobey Maguire‘s runs on the character while also keeping the focus on Tom Holland‘s version. Yet, it not only managed to keep that balance perfectly but even gave the returning cast smaller arcs in the film. A highlight for many was the redemption arc surrounding Garfield‘s version of Peter Parker.

    His last film ended with the death of Gwen Stacy due to him not being able to save her. It’s something that stuck with him to this day and is highlighted once he has his first meeting with Peter, who is also going through quite a dark moment. Luckily, the film gives him a second chance to make up for not being able to save Gwen after the MCU’s version of MJ was falling. In an interview with Variety, Garfield shares his excitement about being able to give his version of Peter Parker a redemption.

    Oh my god, I don’t even know where to start with that. It’s too big. Gwen had agency. In our film, on her final day, she shows up. I tried to restrain her from showing up to that scene with Electro [Jamie Foxx]. I knew that it was too dangerous, but she chose to be there. She had a hand in her own destiny in that way, and the movie is about fate. I will say the image of my catching [Zendaya’s] MJ — that was really beautiful and it kind of sold me on the whole thing.

    Andrew Garfield

    It certainly hit many viewers, as Garfield‘s Parker teared up while holding MJ. This moment perfectly highlights how much this film manages to accomplish with smaller moments. It makes you wonder, with the active interest of him returning to the role if there is more to this redemption that can be carried over in a potential continuation. It also echoes strongly Holland‘s Peter story as he also has to find a way to not give in to his inner darkness.

    Source: Variety

  • ‘The Boys’ Season 3 Brazilian Teaser Reveals a June Release Date

    ‘The Boys’ Season 3 Brazilian Teaser Reveals a June Release Date

    We’ve been anxiously awaiting when the next season of The Boys would finally release. It’s been a long wait, but the next season will build upon where the last one left us off with, as Homelander is forced to work alongside people he hates. His anger is slowly boiling over and promises an explosive next season.

    We got a few teases with the arrival of Soldier Boy as a new threat for our ragtag team to face and it seems the wait isn’t that much longer. A teaser may have leaked early, as it was shared by @Voughthq that ends on the note that the series will release on June 3rd, 2022.

    https://twitter.com/VoughtHq/status/1479453717225259008
    []

    It’ll be interesting to see if the official release on other media platforms will follow, as the official account doesn’t include it just yet. Still, a June release date seems quite realistic and with the simplicity of this teaser, they might still be working on some of the effects for the next season. As such, we might not get a full trailer until around March as they build up to the release, but we’ll have to wait to see if this release date was meant to release.

    Source: Twitter