Murphy's Multiverse

Author: Joseph Aberl

  • New Photos Surface of Going Merry on the Netflix’s ‘One Piece’ Set

    New Photos Surface of Going Merry on the Netflix’s ‘One Piece’ Set

    We’ve been long waiting for any sign of life of the upcoming One Piece adaptation by Netflix. They’ve currently set their eyes on promoting Tomorrow Studios’ first anime adaptation with Cowboy Bebop but that doesn’t mean the adaptation of Eiichiro Oda‘s popular manga series. In September, we got our first glimpses of production gearing up in South Africa. We were also able to confirm that Black Sails and Daredevil director Marc Jobst will tackle the series’ pilot. Yet, as things have calmed down last month, some set photos have surfaced teasing the Straw Hats iconic ship, the Going Merry.

    Reddit user u/… updated a piece showcasing various updates on the Netflix series since its launch similar to what we prepared back in August. What caught our eye was the updates from October 3rd and September 25th. These link to Imgur accounts that feature new looks at the Cape Town to featuring a familiar-looking lamb head attached to one of the boats.

    It’s the first sighting since we got a glimpse back in March. They continue to confirm that production is preparing, as we’re still waiting for an exact production start date or even a glimpse at the cast. The pandemic delayed its production by quite a bit. Interestingly enough, the last time we saw photos the horns were covered. WE get a better look at them this time around, but they haven’t been colored yet. So, it’s uncertain if these are older photos that simply surfaced now again, or that step took a backseat due to production delays.

    Here’s hoping that the wait won’t take much longer until we get a new update on the production. The first teases and trailers of Cowboy Bebop did showcase a promising adaptation that tries to stay true to the original while also keeping Western tastes in mind. It’ll be interesting to see if they might utilize the upcoming 1000th episode to kick off their live-action venture.

    Source: Imgur via Reddit, Twitter

  • RUMOR: ‘The Book of Boba Fett’ Might Have 9 Episodes

    RUMOR: ‘The Book of Boba Fett’ Might Have 9 Episodes

    After a long wait, we finally got the first trailer for the upcoming The Book of Boba Fett. There’s still quite some time until it releases at the end of December. As a spinoff of The Mandalorian, it was assumed it might also follow a similar structure with around eight episodes getting released. Disney+ doesn’t restrict their episode counts and we’ve seen many series adapt the length depending on what the series requires. It looks like that Boba Fett’s upcoming adventure might run for around nine episodes according to Jordan Maison, who has shared stories in the past such as on the Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic game.

    As this is the first time the show doesn’t follow a specific episode count, it does open the possibility that future entries on the streaming service don#t abide by a specific structure. Marvel Studios sets six episodes for hour-long series while half-hour shows will get around ten. As streaming doesn’t have to abide by any rules, it’s curious that most of them seem to try and structure their episode counts in advance rather than what the story requires. Still, it may be a way to keep the stories as focused as possible and consistent for viewers, especially with Disney+’s focus on weekly results. We’ll see if we get a confirmation on the episode count in the near future.

    Source: Twitter

  • New Leaked ‘Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness’ Merch Offers Closer Look at Xochitl Gomez’s America Chavez

    New Leaked ‘Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness’ Merch Offers Closer Look at Xochitl Gomez’s America Chavez

    Earlier today, we’ve shared a new piece of merchandise for Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness that featured Shuma-Gorath and even teased his allies. Luckily, it seems that wasn’t the only piece we got, as a new piece of merch has found its way online featuring Strange alongside Wong, Wanda, and a closer look at America Chavez. While it’s not in high-resolution, the pose is inspired by Chavez’s debut comic cover for America #1. So, it’s technically our first look at actress Xochitl Gomez in the titular role.

    It’s certainly interesting that the visual tease all four as part of the same team. There have been countless rumors that Shuma-Gorath is the main threat, but the same has been the case with Wanda. Her role is quite unclear but she might have her own goals after the events of WandaVision. There’s also the question of how Chavez will play into the multiversal storyline. Given her abilities, there’s a good chance she’s the key to whatever inspires Gorath to unleash the madness upon an unassuming multiverse.

    Source: Twitter

  • ‘Morbius’ Teaser References Spider-Man Villains Rhino and Black Cat

    ‘Morbius’ Teaser References Spider-Man Villains Rhino and Black Cat

    When the pandemic hit, Sony was forced to push back most of its upcoming slate. Spider-Man spinoff Morbius was originally going to release in July 2020 but now won’t open until January. Even Venom: Let There Be Carnage was fast-tracked to an October release while the vampire storyline was pushed back further. After a long bit of silence, the film got its first teaser in a long-time. While it’s not the real first trailer for its upcoming January release, it did feature a few glimpses at what the film has to offer. the biggest reveal comes in a brief moment of the Daily Bugle, which is similar to that used in the Sam Raimi films, that has headlines featuring classic Spider-Man villains Rhino and Black Cat.

    The interesting aspect of their mentions in this news headline would confirm that they are active in this universe. The timeline on how exactly Sony’s films fit into the MCU’s version of the character has been quite muddled. The first trailer included Michael Keaton‘s Vulture but had Raimi’s Spider-Man costume on a wall with “murderer” plastered across it. So, it technically means Dr. Morbius’ story takes place in the same universe and someone just had a different costume used for the graffiti.

    Yet, we got introduced to an Info Wars-inspired version of the Daily Bugle in Spider-Man: Far From Home, which wouldn’t have a printed format. Plus, the logo is reused from Raimi’s version as mentioned previously. So, Sony’s lack of consistency has been adding more confusion on if this will actually connect or if they are building their own franchise. Plus, we never meet Black Cat or Rhino in the main universe. So, this might also take place at some point in the future where they got established over time.

    Source: Twitter

  • First Look at ‘The Matrix: Resurrections’ Funko Pops

    First Look at ‘The Matrix: Resurrections’ Funko Pops

    Any popular medium nowadays can’t help but get a Funko Pop. So, when The Matrix: Resurrections dropped its trailer, it was just a matter of time before we get our first look at them. Luckily, it seems that @DisTrackers noticed that they’ve already started to surface on Amazon’s European markets. The first look includes Keanu Reeves‘ new look as Neo with some John Wick-inspired flair, Carrie-Anne Moss‘ Trinity in her classic outfit, and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II‘s take on Morpheus. An official release by Funko did include his psychiatrist and Morpheus with an additional suit.

    Matrix is no stranger to getting its own collection of Funkos. It’s fun to compare how these characters have evolved from one entry into the next. Resurrections might become one of the most mind-bending parts of the franchise. It’s interesting they are only currently focusing on these three, as we meet a few other familiar faces in the trailer. So, I wouldn’t be too surprised if they share some new additions in the lead-up to the film’s release or afterward due to their spoiler nature.

    You can pre-order the Funkos from Entertainment Earth by clicking the links below:

    Source: Twitter

    Murphy’s Multiverse is an Entertainment Earth affiliate.

  • Roku turns Toronto into NYC in ‘Most Dangerous Game’ Set Video

    Roku turns Toronto into NYC in ‘Most Dangerous Game’ Set Video

    Toronto has become the home of many productions. It’s quite popular for the CW network, which has shot many of their DC comics series in the Canadian city. It’s also currently the home to the Nick Sanora created series Most Dangerous Game. Originally premiering on the now-defunct Quibi app, it’s based on Richard Connell‘s 1924 short story. After the mobile streaming service closed up shop, Roku Channel purchased the rights to the series and gave it a second season.

    The rules are simple. You’ll have 24 hours to survive with hunters trying to take you down. Each hour you survive, you’ll get money. Liam Hemsworth‘s Dodge Tynes finds out he has a brain tumor, he takes the risk to ensure his family’s future. The series is currently filming its second season in Toronto, where David Castañeda takes on the lead role. @TOFilming_EM shared a TikTok featuring the series set as they turned the Canadian city into New York City.

    When Deadline reported the new lead, we got the confirmation the upcoming season takes place in New York City. The only confirmed returning actor from the previous season is Christoph Waltz, who plays a mysterious businessman by the name of Miles Sellars. He’s the one who offers the initial deal and organizes the hunts. It’s a simple but effective premise for an ongoing series. It’ll be interesting if we also see some familiar faces that return as the series continues.

    Source: Twitter, Deadline

  • ‘Eternals’ Early Box Office Predictions Soften, Now Eyeing $96M Opening Weekend

    ‘Eternals’ Early Box Office Predictions Soften, Now Eyeing $96M Opening Weekend

    All eyes were on Eternals after the first critic reviews found their way online. It was met with a positive to mixed reception, which sometimes may hamper the early predictions. Well, it seems that it may do exactly that as early predictions have softened in the last few days. Earlier this month, it was eyeing around 110M at the highest. It was shortly after the film managed to outsell Black Widow and Shang-Chi on its first day, which put it on a trajectory for a large opening weekend. Now, the numbers are still strong but there’s a question mark if it’ll pass the $100M mark.

    As of now, the three-day prognosis has the film heading towards a box office opening bewteen $67M and $92M. It’s dropped by around 12% since the last prediction. They highlight that the mixed critical reception is why they revised the model and could lead to a potential slowdown in pre-sales. Yet, the film had a strong early push which could potentially make up for it.

    One could also argue that the first Marvel Studios film to not become an instant critical darling may garner quite an audience. Even Box Office Pro highlights that the MCU as a brand might be review-proof at this point. So, the first film to go against the grain might garner quite a bit of additional attention by fans and viewers. Eternals also is quite a different take on a classic Marvel film which may caught some wanting more from the previously-released Dune. If you are interested, you can check our review of the film here.

    Source: Box Office Pro

  • ‘Eternals’ Barry Keoghan Teases Druig’s Darker Side

    ‘Eternals’ Barry Keoghan Teases Druig’s Darker Side

    Eternals is set to take a new stab at what it means to be a Marvel Cinematic Universe film. In it, we’ll meet the titular alien race and its many members. With ten new characters taking center stage, there are bound to be some members that might break conventions. Among them is the character of Druig, who is played by Barry Keoghan, who has quite a dark history in the comics. ComicBookMovies.com got the chance to sit down with the actor to discuss his potential darker future. In a way, he teased we might get a glimpse of that side in the upcoming film.

    Yeah, I think so. I don’t want to put any ideas out there. I definitely think he’ll take a stand. He finds it hard not to interfere and stuff. It’s for the right reasons. He has some valid points to interfere and he’s doing it for good reasons, but yeah, maybe he does. Maybe he does. I’ve got no idea!

    Barry Keoghan

    In the comics, Druig has gone by many names since his introduction in 1977. He even was called Satan by some, as each member of the Eternals becomes representative or confused with deities of old. At one point, he even worked for the KGB where he learned to love torturing people. So, it wouldn’t be too surprised if we learn he had a hand in some of the darker moments of history.

    The trailers also highlight that the Eternals are not allowed to influence human history after they give them the initial push to evolve. We get a few teases of Druig’s role in the film and the shots do give him a sinister “watcher” vibe as what looks like Pompeii is burning. There’s also the strange village he is in, which might have a deeper meaning as the story continues. I doubt he’s truly an antagonist but he may represent a darker side of this group. He also highlights he’d love a Loki team-up, which adds to the darker future of the character.

    Source: ComicBookMovie

  • Marvel Studios Wanted to “Take Some Chances” With ‘Eternals’

    Marvel Studios Wanted to “Take Some Chances” With ‘Eternals’

    Marvel Studios’ upcoming film Eternals will explore a new aspect of the ever-expanding Marvel Cinematic Universe. For the first time, we’ll start at its beginnings and explore how the universe we’ve come to love sparked into existence. Indie director Chloé Zhao took over the reins of this ambitious project and it looks like they’ve tried their hands at a project unlike any other. In an interview with Toronto Sun, Marvel Studios producer Nate Moore highlighted this very fact, as he pointed out:

    It’s our most ambitious first film. Because of that we wanted to take a big swing. We wanted to take some chances and give audiences something that feels completely new

    Nate Moore

    It certainly is an ambitious project if you consider it introduces an ensemble cast of ten aliens that explore 7,000 years of MCU history. Of course, the ambition to break their own norm may also reflect in the highly debated Rotten Tomatoes score, which currently sits lower than that of Thor: The Dark World with 60%. It’s not uncommon for new ventures like these to become controversial due to their “love it or hate it” nature.

    In a way, the galactic direction for director Zhao also creates a new approach. Her work on The Rider and Nomadland showed a more down-to-earth approach to storytelling. It’s great to see Marvel Studios take a unique approach and even if it’s not a critic pleaser, there’s a chance the project will garner quite a bit of love from viewers for trying out something new.

    Source: Toronto Sun, Rotten Tomatoes

  • ‘Eternals’ Sequels Not a Guarantee for Marvel Studios

    ‘Eternals’ Sequels Not a Guarantee for Marvel Studios

    Marvel Studios has built up a collection of trilogies with their iconic heroes. Some ended their runs long before the Infinity Saga ended while others are only just continuing. Thor: Love and Thunder is their first attempt at going beyond the classic trilogy concept. So, with new entries on the horizon, it seemed like a logical next step is to build new franchises.

    Recent rumors already hinted at a Shang-Chi sequel, but there’s also the upcoming Eternals film. With a cast of ten main characters that spans 7,000 years of Marvel Cinematic Universe history, it seems like it’s made for a sequel. Yet. producer Nate Moore hints that there’s no guarantee we’ll get any sequels.

    It’s not something that is a must-have. Obviously, we have ideas of where we could go, but there isn’t a hard and fast rule where we have to have three of these things and this is the first.

    Nate Moore

    While some may make a connection with the recent discussions surrounding its Rotten Tomatoes score, it’s most likely a question of if the Eternals as such are going to have their own franchise or live on through others. Plus, it’s great for Marvel Studios to also give some films their unique voice and let them stand on their own. Not every new entry requires a trilogy or full franchise. Especially a project with 10+ protagonists that could expand into their own storylines separate from the group. It may become like an Avengers project in reverse, where we then continue our stories with the various members.

    Source: Toronto Sun