Murphy's Multiverse

Author: Joseph Aberl

  • James Gunn Reveals Pete Davidson’s ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3’ Cameo

    James Gunn Reveals Pete Davidson’s ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3’ Cameo

    There’s a long tradition of big names taking on tiny roles in Star Wars films, such as playing a Stormtrooper. Tom Hardy and even James Bond actor Daniel Craig famously took on the tiny roles, but it seems this tradition is also carried over into the Guardians of the Galaxy franchise. Director James Gunn is no stranger to casting friends in his various projects, such as the surprise reveal that Pete Davidson, who appeared in his previous film The Suicide Squad, seemingly had a minor role in the film.

    As part of Twitter Movies’ promotion of the film, there’s a picture of Gunn with one of the film’s leads Chris Pratt alongside Pete Davidson. It seems he just had a chance to film this tiny cameo and going by what he is wearing, he is one of the soldiers who works for the High Evolutionary that was present in the scene when those two confront each other as showcased in the various trailers.

    Considering Guardians of the Galaxy is seen as the “Star Wars” of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, this kind of cameo is a fitting addition to the franchise and it’s also funny to think that this is the SNL actor’s first major appearance in the franchise. While it’s unclear if he has any hopes to join in a bigger role later down the line, it’s funny to know that he was already apart of it and we may have had no idea if it wasn’t for this picture.

    Source: Twitter

  • ‘Guardians of the Galaxy 3’ En Route to $110M+ Opening Weekend

    ‘Guardians of the Galaxy 3’ En Route to $110M+ Opening Weekend

    It looks like Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 has pulled in a strong $48.2M on Friday including its Thursday previews. That would currently put it on a path to making around $110M over the weekend, which is currently on the low end of expectations but it’s unclear how word-of-mouth might affect its Saturday and Sunday gross. This has been adding to some concern of superhero fatigue but it does have a strong A CinemaScore and strong PostTrak showcasing a potential long-run at the box office that may push against the recent developments.

    Deadline has pointed out that while CinemaCon snarked about superhero fatigue (ironically given The Flash was the “highlight” showcased by Warner Bros.), the film is Marvel’s eleventh time topping $100M in May, which is still something no other brand can really compare to at the moment. The film also remains quite male-dominated at 62%, whose positive reaction could keep it going for weeks until Fast X releases in June. The question remains if positive word-of-mouth and a strong hold for a few weeks could actually help push The Marvels later in the year rather than continue a downward trend (or perhaps it’s less a genre fatigue but more a reflection of its marketing as well).

    As of now, it’s new for a Marvel Cinematic Universe sequel to be behind previous entries but also not entirely something new. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever and Avengers: Age of Ultron was behind the previous entry and could also hint at Vol. 2 getting quite a big boost from releasing in 2017 during the Phase 3 boom after momentum built out of Captain America: Civil War. As of now, the film will likely open slightly ahead of Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania which had a powerful opening but lost momentum quickly highlighting the film’s okay word-of-mouth and the Disney+ release strategy from previous years showing its fangs.

    Still, the film is continuing the trend of Marvel opening beyond $100M which isn’t a terrible thing to showcase. There was tracking towards $130M and if momentum suddenly spikes going into its Saturday, there’s a chance but things are a bit calmer for now. What should be noted is that the film has a much stronger international box office at around $71.5M, which would put it at $119.7M worldwide as of Friday.

    There’s a lot that can be said about recent developments, as 2022 still looked strong for Marvel Studios but this year had some surprise hits. The four-quadrant market has been quite focused on Super Mario Bros. Movie by pushing that beyond a billion making up for the missing families in theaters the last few years. That film is finally dethroned but still drops to a strong $18.5M while new release Love Again is dead on arrival with a $2.6M opening weekend.

    There is a good chance that the current development simply reflects a stuffed Summer market and it’s uncertain if other projects won’t face similar developments. With that many films on the horizon and a recession still at play, people might just be a bit pickier this year as seen in the first few months as well. Only a select few managed to hold with a strong male-driven audience but outside of Mario, nothing is really breaking records. What is playing in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3‘s favor is that the international market is seemingly doing quite a bit better now.

    It’s currently still projected for a $260M+ global opening, which is higher than the initially expected worldwide gross for the film. Social is pushing the film quite a bit, especially in Korea which has been a rather rough market as of late. Ironically, if Guardians mends any expectations with Marvel releases, they could be balancing out the domestic slowdown that has occurred this year. While some want to blame Ant-Man 3 for this current development, the Guardians are still some of the more obscure characters in the franchise that haven’t had a new entry since 2017.

    Source: The Hollywood Reporter, Twitter, Deadline, Deadline

  • Blade Production Delayed Indefinitely Due to Writers Strike

    Blade Production Delayed Indefinitely Due to Writers Strike

    The WGA strike is ongoing and an essential milestone to ensure the industry’s future. It naturally was going to hit quite a few productions, especially going by how the TV landscape was shaped the last time it happened. Marvel Studios is famous for experimenting and trying out different elements while filming, which relies heavily on the writer being present on set and working alongside the creatives to bring the project to life. So, it’s no surprise that Marvel Studios’ Blade which was set to start production next month is put on hold indefinitely.

    As of now, this is likely the first tentpole release affected by the strike and it’s good to see Marvel Studios hold back rather than force a production. Cast and crew members have seemingly been notified this afternoon and the pre-production will be shut down. Nic Pizzolatto of True Detective fame joined but an insider stated “time simply ran out” before they could get the camera rolling. They also highlight that production will not start until the strike is over, which could take months and once again postpone the release.

    There’s no word if the other productions will be hit in the same way, but for now, it does seem likely they’ll be gearing down some of the projects due to the writer’s strike. Marvel Studios is likely not going to say anything about it but the Disney+ releases might slow down productions as they also require a writer on set, but there’s no word as of now. The only film production likely to finish is Captain America: New World Order. Thunderbolts and Fantastic Four are seemingly going to get pushed back as a result.

    Source: The Hollywood Reporter

  • ‘One Piece’ Creator Offers First Tease of Netflix’s Live-Action Designs

    ‘One Piece’ Creator Offers First Tease of Netflix’s Live-Action Designs

    The latest news for Netflix’s live-action adaptation of One Piece has finally arrived with an official statemenr by series creator Eichiiro Oda. Yet, after a close inspection and tease by the cast, it seems there’s a lot more here than just an episode count confirmation.

    Emily Rudd, who plays Nami in the live-action adaptation, shared a piece on Instagram that Oda drew Nami with her blue-eyes instead of her usual design. Taking a closer look, there are quite a few changes that actually highlight this is the series creator drawing the live-action cast as the characters.

    Taz Skylar’s Sanji also is missing his curly eyebrows, which confirm he will have regular ones throughout the first season. Of course, they could just be to simplify the design for these chibi art style but it is part of his design. They could use the curly eyebrows when he reaches a certain story point to have that original design bleed into live-action.

    The other major change is Jacob Gibson’s Usopp has a short nose rather than the elongated one from the manga. It was the one change many expected at the time but there’s always a chance it is slightly longer than normal or they bring it back for comedic bits like a running gag of stuff getting stuck on his nose.

    Still, it may just be a tease for now but it’s certainly highlighting that the show’s release is just on the horizon. Here’s hoping that the actual first look isn’t too far off to confirm what they look like in the costumes that already seemed quite close to the original.

    Source: Twitter, Instagram

  • CONFIRMED: Live-Action ‘One Piece’ Will Consist of 8 Episodes

    CONFIRMED: Live-Action ‘One Piece’ Will Consist of 8 Episodes

    It’s been a long road but after a long bit of silence, we finally get an official update for Netflix’s ambitious adaptation of One Piece. Surprisingly, the news drops is an official statement from series creator Eiichiro Oda to celebrate Monkey D. Luffy’s birthday.

    In an official statement, Oda shared the trials he underwent early on trying yo find a compromise between him and Tomorrow Studios, as the cultural differences make such an adaptation quite challenging for everyone involved.

    He also goes on to highlight that while a 2023 release is confirmed with the posters earlier this year, they promised to not release the series until it has his final stamp of approval, which further highlights just how involved he is with the series.

    That is not all, as it also confirms that One Piece won’t consist of ten episodes as previously announced back in 2017. As we shared in January of last year, the series will not consist of eight episodes overall. It’s been a long ride since the news initially broke with mang hints along the way until the final confirmation.

    Overall, it’s great to get an update on the series and see the passion Oda has for this franchise. There’s a lot riding on getting this adaptation right for himself, fans, and those involved in production. Showrunners Steven Maeda and Matt Owens have proven their love for the series many times, which adds to the hope even more of finally seeing the first footage.

  • REVIEW: ‘Star Wars Visions’ Returns With Style and Beauty

    REVIEW: ‘Star Wars Visions’ Returns With Style and Beauty

    There’s no easy way to really talk about a project like Star Wars Visions. The anthology series offers something unique with different studios getting the chance to tell a unique story in a galaxy far far away. Going into the second season, Lucasfilm is taking a new approach by expanding beyond Japanese studios to give the world an opportunity to leave a unique stamp on this anthology series. Did their ambitions continue to make this series stand out in this ambitious era of animation?

    One thing is clear: the idea to go beyond anime made this season truly stand out. The animation is beautiful and every studio brings something unique to each project. What continues to be the big selling point of this anthology is just taking known concepts and giving them new life by allowing other creatives to play around with the world we are familiar with. With the added variety of creatives, it adds to the feeling that these stories are quite a bit more personal this time around.

    El Guiri’s Sith offers a visual showcase that blends the lines between reality in its visual style to add something that uses color in such a creative way, it caught me off-guard when its story caught up with the visuals. A lot of this season, at least early on, explores the themes of on which side of the Force you’ll find yourself. Screecher’s Reach by Cartoon Saloon and Mir’s Journey to the Dark Head offer these really interesting stories in two distinct ways. They offer a look at what you’re willing to do to accomplish your goals but end up in very different places.

    Then you also have some fun with Aardman’s animated I am Your Mother, which just looks at a young X-Wing pilot cadet and her relationship with her mother. Of course, there’s also something just so charming about the stop-motion approach from the creators of Wallace and Gromit that makes this little special just stand out, especially with its humor.

    Then you also have 88 Pictures’ The Bandits of Golak and Punkrobot’s In the Stars, which explore the galaxy far far away from the unique perspectives of those just trying to survive. It highlights how two very distinctly animated projects explore tales of survival in a Sith-dominated world. Even Studio La Cachette’s The Spy Dancer uses that concept to offer a rather heartfelt twist in its short runtime.

    Then you also have Triggerfish’s beautifully animated Aau’s Song and D’art Shtajio’s The PIt that highlight just how diverse these stories can be told. The new season continues where the first left off and hopefully, they will continue making more seasons. Stand-outs personally were Screecher’s Reach and The Spy Dancer which felt like the perfect combination of beautiful animation with emotional storytelling. It’s not to say that the others didn’t provide the same but when you have so many good choices, it becomes difficult to truly pinpoint what makes a project stand out.

  • Ridley Scott’s ‘Gladiator’ Sequel Adds Pedro Pascal

    Ridley Scott’s ‘Gladiator’ Sequel Adds Pedro Pascal

    Pedro Pascal has been piling on project after project. He’s been seeing a slew of major projects pile on with The Mandalorian, the recent HBO series The Last Of Us, The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent, and many more. It’s crazy to think how far his career has come since Narco and Game of Thrones. Now, he has seemingly added one more big production to his belt in the form of Ridley Scott’s return to Gladiator.

    It seems he is using the breaks between the production of the first and second seasons of The Last of Us to film the untitled Gladiator sequel. He’s joining a stacked cast that includes Barry Keoghan, Joseph Quinn, Denzel Washington, Connie Nielsen and is spearheaded by recent breakout Paul Mescal. There is, sadly, no information on what role exactly he’ll have in the film but it’s definitely great to join a production that famously was a career-builder for Russell Crowe many years ago.

    It seems he’ll have just enough time to film before The Last of Us starts filming next year and he was weighing out quite a few options before tackling that project. Luckily for The Mandalorian, he mostly appears with his helmet, and isn’t necessary to film every scene. So, if they are moving forward with a fourth season, they aren’t dependent on the actor’s direct performance as part of the production. His next projects include Strange Way of Life, which recently released a trailer, Drive Away Dolls in September, and Freaky Tales sometime this year.

    Source: Deadline

  • Paul Mescal and Jessie Buckley Join Chloé Zhao’s ‘Hamnet’

    Paul Mescal and Jessie Buckley Join Chloé Zhao’s ‘Hamnet’

    It looks like Paul Mescal has already set his sights on the next project. While he was busy spearheading the next Gladiator entry, he is now in talks to join Chloé Zhao’s upcoming adaptation of Maggie O’Farrell’s Hamnet. He will be joined by Jessie Buckley in retelling the story of Agnes, William Shakespear’s wife, who struggles with the loss of her son, Hamnet.

    It’s a fictional novel exploring the concept of what may have happened to inspire Shakespeare’s iconic play Hamlet which went on to become a New York Times bestseller. Buckley is famous for her work on a variety of projects, such as Apple TV+
    s Fingernails, Woman Talking, and The Lost Daughter. She’ll also star alongside Olivia Colman in the upcoming Wicked Little Letters.

    Mescal has been making quite the rounds as of late. He got an Oscar nomination for his work in A24’s Aftersun and went on to get the title role in Ridley Scott’s return to the world of Gladiator. Most interestingly though is the fact that he was heavily rumored to have been offered the role of Johnny Storm, better known as the Human Torch. Of course, it still remains nothing more than a rumor for now but the timing seems fitting.

    Source: Deadline

  • Mamma Mia! ‘Super Mario Bros. Movie’ Passes a Billion at the Box Office

    Mamma Mia! ‘Super Mario Bros. Movie’ Passes a Billion at the Box Office

    Nothing is stopping the Italian plumber from dominating the box office until Chris Pratt’s next film, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, hits theaters next week. Still, it was ample time for the Super Mario Bros. Movie to pass the always coveted one billion milestones at the worldwide box office. It took the film 26 days in total to pass that mark and now stands at $490M in the US with an additional $532M internationally. That makes it the fifth film to accomplish this during the pandemic since Spider-Man: No Way Home gave theater owners hope for the future.

    The film opened to a powerful $204M across five days and marks the second-highest debut for an animated film and the biggest opening weekend of the year following Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania’s still impressive opening in February. For now, the Nintendo film is the biggest earner of the year with quite a bit of competition on the horizon ready to take its mantle. The film has the advantage of being one of the biggest brands in the world and has a heavy nostalgia element tied to the project, which helps boost the otherwise dead family market we saw earlier in the year.

    The question remains what this might mean for the future of video game adaptations? We’ll very likely see a boom as it is the next “superhero genre” trend in the market even as that genre of filmmaking still remains surprisingly strong even with a much softer development earlier this year. Ant-Man 3 opened strongly but fizzled out due to Disney’s streaming strategy in the past but it’s not a clear sign of a true “fatigue” as some have been maliciously waiting for.

    The biggest takeaway from those that hit a billion is the nostalgia of it all. No Way Home re-introduced the world to some major characters from their childhood with Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield returning in their respective roles. Top Gun Maverick hit a chord with older audiences due to its callbacks to an old era of star-first productions, which oddly many want back even with its strong restrictions of actors in samey roles and the industry depending even more on individual stars rather than giving smaller ones a chance.

    Source: Variety

  • Mila Kunis Claims She’s Not in MCU’s ‘Fantastic Four’ But She Knows Who Is

    Mila Kunis Claims She’s Not in MCU’s ‘Fantastic Four’ But She Knows Who Is

    The Late Late Show with James Corden is coming to an end, which had quite a line-up of celebrities. Among them was Mila Kunis, who has recently been the focus of various curious and even surprising rumors for the upcoming Marvel Cinematic Universe film, Fantastic Four. Of course, Corden used the chance to ask her about it and she reflected on when the first rumors started, a shot of her with director Matt Shakman.

    We went out to a deli and had lunch together and the next day I was somehow in Fantastic Four.

    Mila Kunis

    She goes on to confirm that she is not playing anyone in Fantastic Four, but in a curious twist, she highlights that she knows “who is” in the project. Of course, she doesn’t go on to confirm anything

    I am not in Fantastic Four, but I know who is. But I don’t want to get in trouble with The Mouse, so none of you will find out.

    Mila Kunis

    Of course, there have been quite a few times when Marvel actors denied any involvement with upcoming projects. So, there’s always that slight chance that Kunis might have a role after all, but it’s definitely interesting that she’d tease knowing who might be appearing. So, it further implies that they may have finally cast the characters that we’ve been waiting for quite some time. So, perhaps the wait isn’t that much longer.

    Source: The Wrap