Murphy's Multiverse

Author: Joseph Aberl

  • ‘I AM GROOT’ to Explore a Different Animation Style From ‘WHAT IF…?’

    ‘I AM GROOT’ to Explore a Different Animation Style From ‘WHAT IF…?’

    Marvel Studios has just released its first venture into animation. The 3D style of What If…? makes it feel like a comic book come to life. Each episode focuses on a different universe that splintered off from the Sacred Timeline. It won’t be the only venture into animation for the studio, as they already started the first steps to expand. There is one other animated series we do know about, and that is the I Am Groot shorts. We haven’t heard anything on the project since its initial announcement during Disney’s Investors Day. But, we may have finally gotten our first tease of what to expect with the project.

    Variety had a chance to sit down with Brad Winderbaum, who got promoted to Marvel Studios’ Head for Streaming, Television, and Animation. He was the producer behind the What If series and will help the company continue to expand. In the article, Variety also offers our first insight into what type of animation style we can expect from the I Am Groot spin-off. It seems it won’t take the cartoon-inspired style, but rather explore “photo-real” animation. This approach would imply that the series will build upon the design we saw in Guardian of the Galaxy Vol. 2, as it’ll follow the baby version of Groot.

     

    Kinostart für „Guardians Of The Galaxy 3” steht fest

     

    So, it might be an animated project purely on the basis it won’t include any actors in it. There was the tease that we’ll meet some new and unusual characters, which might not be human. It also gives us our first confirmation that Marvel Studios will explore different animation styles rather than stick to the one introduced with What If…?, which is a great direction to take. Animation offers a lot of potentials to explore different takes to add a unique personality to the story. It would be a shame not to bank on that while diversifying the Marvel Cinematic Multiverse.

    Source: Variety, Twitter

  • Iman Vellani Talks ‘MS. MARVEL’s Relevance and What it Means to Play Her

    Iman Vellani Talks ‘MS. MARVEL’s Relevance and What it Means to Play Her

    Ms. Marvel will introduce the world to newcomer Iman Vellani as the titular hero. She’ll embody the character of Kamala Khan and her struggles as a Muslim-American teenager in a world filled with superheroes. We’ve gotten glimpses of the show that was originally set to release this year, but Marvel Studios has been oddly quiet on its development. Hawkeye is eyeing a November release, but there is no word if Ms. Marvel would fill the tight slot between it and the recently started What If…? series.

    A recent leak gave us our first clear look at her rather faithful costume, but with one noticeable difference. She was wielding a purple power construct on her hand rather than showing off her classic Embiggen abilities. It’s unclear how much they will deviate from the source material, but Vellani spoke about tackling the role in an interview with Variety:

    The fact that the show is being made & they’re including this character in the MCU is [what’s important]. I don’t really have to go out of my way & talk about being a Muslim and being Pakistani — it all comes out in the show. People seeing a person like me involved in a project as big as this is, I think, inspiring enough.

    The MCU is expanding in many ways. Falcon and the Winter Soldier also tackled important perspectives that normally don’t get the limelight in media. Ms. Marvel has the potential to explore that same depth with how Kamala Khan adjusts to gaining abilities beyond her control and also being a Muslim-American. It’ll be interesting to see how they build upon her story and what the strange constructs have to do with her overall journey.

    Source: Variety

  • New Villain Faction Revealed for ‘MARVEL’S AVENGERS’

    New Villain Faction Revealed for ‘MARVEL’S AVENGERS’

    It looks like we finally will move on from fighting robots and AIM, as Crystal Dynamics revealed the brand new faction coming to Marvel’s Avengers. The new Black Panther expansion will introduce the iconic villain Ulysses Kaue, who brings along his private mercenary army known as Klaue Company. Not just that, we also got a glimpse into two brand new types of enemies that’ll offer a brand new type of challenge to the game.

    The War for Wakanda expansion will introduce the enemy type known as Bruiser. As you can see in the image below, they wield a large axe and hit relentlessly. They are part of Corrupted Vibranium-themed villains that can turn into an overcharged mode. In this form, they’ll take reduced damage and will react slower to taking damage. It’s a permanent mode until they are defeated, but can be dispelled with a new status known as Sonic.

     

    A screenshot of a Klaue Company Bruiser, armored in red and metallic gear and wielding an oversized battle axe.

     

    The fact your heroes can add sonic-based moves means that your enemies can as well. The Strategist has a Sonic Aura, which acts as a shield. It deflects any type of projectiles and can even block melee attacks. Unlike the Corrupted Vibranium, it only stays active temporarily but the Sonic Wave will damage your hero if you’re not careful. As you might’ve guessed, you also can gather Vibranium-based gear that overcomes this barrier. You’ll notice their presence through the disc-like drones that he sends out while hiding on the sidelines.

     

    A Klaue Company Strategist with an active Sonic Aura

     

    It’s great to see new additions to the gear that also changes your playing style directly in the game. So far, the gears have mainly added some minor support buffs or debuffs, but this will force you to think about the way you approach these new enemy types. They confirm that the expansion will include more enemy types, but they want to keep some surprises for next week’s drop. There seems to be a lot heading our way with this expansion and it’ll be exciting to see how it all comes together.

    Source: Play Avengers

  • Taika Waititi Talks Putting the Love in ‘THOR: LOVE AND THUNDER’

    Taika Waititi Talks Putting the Love in ‘THOR: LOVE AND THUNDER’

    Taika Waititi made quite the splash with the release of Thor: Ragnarok. The third entry in the franchise offered a unique take on the God of Thunder that stood out from many of its Marvel contemporaries. His announced return was an exciting day, as Thor will be the first MCU hero to get a fourth entry in his franchise and he’ll continue the vision he started with the previous entry that took inspiration from space operas like Flash Gordon.

     

    The Entire Thor MCU Story Finally Explained

     

    When the title dropped, the subtitle of Love and Thunder stood out for the director taking another unique direction for the franchise. The official return of Natalie Portman‘s Jane Foster added more fuel to the fire on how they might approach this unlikely romance. In an interview with Wired, Waititi shared the inspiration for taking the romantic direction for the sequel.

    What I wanted to do from the beginning was to ask: ‘What are people expecting the least from this franchise?’ Oh, I know – a full-blown love story.

    It certainly sounds like a Waititi approach to first make sure that he’ll do something we wouldn’t expect, and he was right. Foster will get her hands on Mjolnir, which was last seen in Ragnarok in pieces, and turn into the Mighty Thor. They’ve been good at keeping the plot under wraps. So, we don’t know how Thor will end up back on Earth and if he’ll be aware of Foster’s identity throughout the film. It would be ironic if he meets her as Mighty Thor and falls in love with her. Who knew that he and Loki had a lot more in common.

    Source: Wired

  • Chloe Bennet Exits CW’s Live-Action ‘POWERPUFF GIRLS’ Series

    Chloe Bennet Exits CW’s Live-Action ‘POWERPUFF GIRLS’ Series

    It’s not looking good for CW’s attempt at a live-action adaptation of the Powerpuff Girls. After shooting a pilot, it failed to get a greenlight. Mark Pedowitz, the CEO of CW, even discussed that the first attempt didn’t work out and they decided to give it another shot. Well, it’s looking grim as Chloe Bennet has officially exited the project. She was set to star as Blossom alongside Dove Cameron‘s Bubbles, and Yana Perrault‘s Buttercup.

    The series was first announced almost a year ago, which would explore the child superheroes in their late 20s, as they try to run away from their heroic duty. It seems she exited the project due to scheduling conflicts as they tried to extend her contract. It’s uncertain if the other two will potentially leave the project, but Variety claims they are still attached. CW is actively looking to replace her as they try to reshoot a new pilot.

    It’s already been questionable if a live-action adaptation of Powerpuff Girls was a great move, especially when the script seemingly leaked online. The series was going to introduce the world to Mojo Jojo’s son Joseph “Jojo” Mondel Jr., who was going to be played by Nicholas Podany.  It’s unclear how many other elements from Craig McCracken’s original series would get added, but we did get a look at set photos teasing their original costumes from the Cartoon Network series. They even released a promotional image of their new costumes, but it looks like they’re going to have to update that once the new pilot enters production.

    Source: Variety

  • Marvel Studios’ Brad Winderbaum Promoted to Head of Streaming, Television and Animation

    Marvel Studios’ Brad Winderbaum Promoted to Head of Streaming, Television and Animation

    There have been many rumblings surrounding Marvel Studios’ future expansions. We’ve heard the first inklings that they’ll explore new avenues with more animated series heading our way. Ever since WandaVision was released, we’ve seen the company exploring more possibilities to tell its stories in new and interesting ways. Well, it seems the company is all in with their streaming future, as Brad Winderbaum was officially nominated to the position of Head of Streaming, Television, and Animation at Marvel Studios.

    The announcement comes at a perfect time as the first animated series by Marvel Studios, the multiverse exploring What If. Winderbaum has been with the company for quite some time, as he was in the trailer back in 2007 when Kevin Feige, Jon Favreau, and Robert Downey Jr. worked on the Iron Man script. Little would they know at the time just how far the franchise would grow. He started as the assistant to Lois D’Esposito and has quite a history with the company.

    Their media ventures were once quite splintered with the entire TV department working directly under Marvel, while Kevin Feige worked for Bob Iger directly. In 2019, he took over the department and replaced Jeph Loeb. While the brand has made animated series dating all the way back to the 1960s, it’s the first time Marvel Studios is taking this venture. They are also exploring an animated expansion of their core franchise, as What If is part of their ever-expanding Marvel Cinematic Universe. So, we can expect a lot more series in the companies’ future.

    Source: The Hollywood Reporter

  • Latest ‘Marvel’s Avengers’ Black Panther Teaser May Hint at HYDRA’s Future Presence

    Latest ‘Marvel’s Avengers’ Black Panther Teaser May Hint at HYDRA’s Future Presence

    Marvel’s Avengers is building up to next week’s release of the War for Wakanda expansion. Black Panther will finally be playable and we’ll get a brand new story to play through alongside additional missions. We’ll get our first full look at the character in action during the game’s latest War Table video. To prepare us for the character’s release, we got various videos hinting at the backstory of T’Challa, the Dora Milaje, and Wakanda.

    The latest offers more clues on Ulysses Klaue’s motivation and even reveals a sequence where T’Chaka fought alongside Captain America in the Second World War. We find out they fought against Ulysses Klaue’s father, whose legacy carries over into the DLC. This small detail serves more than just world-building, but might also have bigger implications for the game’s future than we might think. It may be our first hint at the introduction of HYDRA into the game’s universe.

     

    Klaue will introduce the game to a new enemy faction. While it seems he is acting in the name of AIM, it was never confirmed if his team of goons gets a unique name. I do not believe War for Wakanda will introduce HYDRA as the main faction, but I do think it’ll potentially give us the first seeds on their inclusion in the game’s future. Ever since the Cosmic Cube dropped, we’ve gotten more hints at familiar villains joining the franchise’s world. It might be possible the ending of this story arc is the beginning of their introduction.

    Klaue utilized resources from an underground HYDRA, who’ve been building their army in silence. They’ve been waiting for the perfect opportunity to take action. He is chasing after vibranium for Monica, who vanished after the events of Cosmic Cube. So, he might need a new buyer and there’s someone on the market, who was waiting for the perfect opportunity. They did share a connection in the comics as well. It would be the perfect jumping-off point for their introduction into the game. The War Table will drop in a two-hour event hosted by Kinda Funny’s Greg Miller and Ms. Marvel voice actress Sandra Saad on August 16h at 10 AM PT.

    Source: Twitter (War Table), Twitter

  • ‘Sonic the Hedgehog 2’: Idris Elba to Voice Knuckles the Echidna

    ‘Sonic the Hedgehog 2’: Idris Elba to Voice Knuckles the Echidna

    It looks like the rumors are false and it isn’t Jason Momoa who will voice Knuckles the Echidna in Sonic the Hedgehog 2. Idris Elba took to Twitter to unveil his involvement alongside our first tease at the echidna’s classic knuckled fists. It’s also our first look at the film’s design which is only a small tease. So, perhaps we’ll get a full look at the trio in the near future.

    https://twitter.com/idriselba/status/1425174698007138305?s=21

    It’s amazing to see the details put into the design of the glove. We even see the lining and small details. We sadly never get a chance to see how detailed these characters are designed in the film, but it shows how much work the animators put into these projects. We know that he’ll join Sonic and Tails, who was briefly introduced in the post-credit sequence of the first film, in a new adventure. Yet, his role is still uncertain.

    In the original gaming franchise, Knuckles starts off as an antagonist. He believes Sonic is out to steal his Master Emerald before he joins their efforts to stop the evil Dr. Robotnik. There’s a good chance they might follow this original dynamic and they end up working together at the end of the film.

    Yet, we don’t know who will be the main antagonist. While I would love to see Chaos make his live-action debut, there’s a good chance that Jim Carrey‘s Robotnik will find his way back into the human-filled dimension. We’ll also get to hopefully explore his connection to the echidna’s we briefly saw in the first film’s opening. He might have been sent by them to hunt down Sonic before finding out he isn’t that bad after all.

    Source: Twitter

  • ‘Mortal Kombat’ Sequel Could Become an HBO Max Exclusive

    ‘Mortal Kombat’ Sequel Could Become an HBO Max Exclusive

    2021 has been an interesting year for Warner Bros. They’ve tested out their new strategy of releasing films in theaters and on their HBO Max streaming service. It included the likes of Godzilla vs. Kong, Mortal Kombat, and recently The Suicide Squad. We sadly have little insight into how these projects perform on the streaming service. It’s a hotly debated topic as the usual Box Office performances aren’t the best metric to get a feel for a project’s success.

    One of the surprises is how well Mortal Kombat seems to be performing on the streaming service. The gaming adaptation is reportedly the best performing weekend release on the service and according to analysts Samba TV, it also dominated the second quarter in US households with 6M watching it on the service. It was far ahead of Those Who Wish Me Dead, Disney+’s Cruella, or The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It.

    Reportedly, The Suicide Squad took the second spot of most-watched film on the streaming service, which might hint at a strong performance for R-rated projects. It also performed decently during the first recovery months of the Box Office, as it took the top spot with $22.5M. Yet, its streaming dominance could be an indicator for Warner Bros. to build upon its success and release a sequel for HBO Max exclusively.

    There still has been no official renewal for a sequel, but it seems likely as any film currently faces Box Office troubles during the pandemic. Still, we know the service is looking into creating exclusive films for the service base don DC properties. Batgirl and Blue Beetle are already confirmed. It wouldn’t be too surprised if they’d consider adding Mortal Kombat to the list. Perhaps they’d even explore a TV series instead to give the many characters more character.

    Source: Twitter

  • Leaked ‘Black Widow’ Deleted Scene Reveals Alternate Ending

    Leaked ‘Black Widow’ Deleted Scene Reveals Alternate Ending

    It looks like one of the deleted scenes from Black Widow have found their way online. Not just any scene, but what seems like an alternative ending where Natasha witnesses a group of kids playing Avengers in her old Ohio neighborhood where she grew up. It’s quite a different take on the ending, as the current version pretty much sets up her storyline in Avengers: Infinity War. We still get her iconic blonde hair in this sequence with Yelena’s green vest. So, it would’ve served the same function but also give her a stronger emotional ending realizing she has done well for the world. The leaked footage comes courtesy of @CosmicMedia_.

     

     

    In a way, this ending matches the post-credit sequence even better. As the original set her up for her next appearance, which was in theaters years before the film was released, only to cut to her grave after the events of Avengers: Endgame. Her outfit gives away the connective tissue, and there wasn’t much of a need to explain where they got their Helicarrier from. This emotional ending matches her story throughout the franchise much better.

    Plus, seeing a girl free to pretend she is Black Widow also adds some relevance to the actions she undertook in the film. There’s a reason they went with the ending that was released in theaters and on Disney+, but it’s always great to get a look at what almost made its way into the film. It’s neve ran easy decision to figure out what leaves the cutting room floor, but luckily physical releases still offer glimpses into what could’ve been.

    Source: Twitter