Murphy's Multiverse

Author: Joseph Aberl

  • ‘Loki’ and The Real-Life Mysteries of the Void

    ‘Loki’ and The Real-Life Mysteries of the Void

    There’s a lot to unpack from the latest episode of Loki. We followed up directly where the last left us off, as we learn more about the many Loki Variants that inhabit a strange land known as the Void. We get a lot of creative references to the comics and former Marvel Cinematic Universe films. You get a giant helmet from Ant-Man villain Yellowjacket, the Helicarrier, and even Red Skull’s escape pod from Captain America: The First Avenger.

    Yet, they went one step beyond and gave us even more amazing Easter eggs that reference real-world mysteries. Let’s dive in as Marvel Studios may have solved humanities’ biggest mysteries. We even get some comic references like Throg and the amazing Thanos helicopter. That wasn’t all, as Loki has answered some real-life mysteries in the latest episode, and it’s time to take a closer look.

     

    Oak Island Mystery

     

    I’m cheating with this one a bit, as I want to talk about one detail before we even enter the Void. The episode opens on a sweeping shot through the TVA that gives us a glimpse of their timeline monitor. It states the location of Oak Island in Nova Scotia. That location is of historical value as it has been rumored since the 18th century that various treasures and artifacts got buried there. It included the Ark of the Covenant, long lost Shakesperean manuscript, and even the Holy Gail. Yet, to this day, nothing has been found. That didn’t stop people from digging all over to find treasures and the mysterious money pit.

     

    Lighthouse of Alexandria

     

    When we enter the Void, we get introduced to a strange-looking tower before the camera enters the city-like landscape in ruin. Of course, our eyes instantly get drawn to the Stark Tower, and some even noticed the Sanctum Sanctorum in a corner somewhere. Yet, the biggest mystery is the first building we see hidden within the fog. The design hints that it’s the Lighthouse of Alexandria. It was one of the seven Wonders of the Ancient World and the tallest man-made structure of its epoch. Its ruins were uncovered in the Mediterranean Sea in 1916 alongside the rest of the port of Alexandria.

     

    UFO and the Mary Celeste

     

    One of the first images we see is of an old brigantine alongside a stereotypical UFO. The latter is a pretty obvious nod to long-time conspiracies that got linked to Area 51 for some time, but the boat is a rather curious addition. It’s very likely the mysterious Mary Celeste, which got deserted in 1872. What makes it strange is that the ship still had plenty of supplies on board, and personal belongings were left behind undisturbed. To this day, no one knows what happened to the crew of this ship. What goes against this real-world inspiration is the fact that the entire ship is in the Void. So, it could even be the lost shipwreck of Santa Maria. Still, the Celeste might be the most famous mystery due to the strange disappearance of its crew and captain.

     

    Polybius

     

    This urban legend has been teased in the series since the first trailer dropped, but I wanted to mention it here. In the early 2000s, there was a rumor going around about an arcade game that got planted by the government. The experiment supposedly took place in Portland, Oregon back in 1981, where the government was using these gaming devices to hypnotize people. It even goes as far as referencing men in black suits visiting these devices periodically to data-mine them.

     

    Philadelphia Experiment

    This little history nugget is an interesting one. The moment the DEE-173 USS Eldridge dropped, it brought up many memories of the strange disappearance of a U.S. Navy destroyer escort. There’s a tale of an entire ship disappearing in 1943 as the result of a military experiment. The theory was that they tested out a new cloaking device. Yet, the ship suddenly vanished. To this day, some people believe it was dimensional or even time travel. The story is widely considered a hoax due to the Navy never confirming any experiment of the kind. Yet, it still has caught people’s attention to this day.

  • ‘Loki’s Head Writer Michael Waldron Reveals the Inspiration for Classic Loki’s Backstory

    ‘Loki’s Head Writer Michael Waldron Reveals the Inspiration for Classic Loki’s Backstory

    The latest episode of Loki explored the many sides of the character. It quite literally gave us multiple versions of the God of Mischief that each managed to survive the bizarre Void. We already meet three individuals last week which included Kid Loki, Boisterous Loki, and a comic look-a-like in the form of Robert E. Grant‘s Classic Loki. Luckily, Marvel offered some insight into the inspiration for their characters. What stood out was a comment by head writer Michael Waldron on the backstory of Grant’s character.

    What if Loki did in fact survive the events of Avengers: Infinity War? And I thought, ‘Well, what if that did happen? And if it did, in fact, how could he have aged up? How could he have lived out his years in a way that the TVA would never come find him?

    It’s a simple idea that offered some insight into the character, as we learn that the TVA only found him because he missed his brother and family. There’s a theme that many Lokis get pruned due to their will to change. Even Kid Loki remarks this during the episode after proclaiming earlier he killed his brother. Perhaps it was a prank gone wrong, and he’s been living with that regret all this life.

    This change of heart is at the core of this show and even using a post-Infinity War fan theory as the basis for one Variant is a genius move. It seemed in his nature to dodge the deadly bullet, and luckily, we meet a version that does exactly that. It would’ve been nice to explore the history of Boisterous Loki a bit more, as he gets sidelined in the episode. The man running around with a makeshift hammer has a lot to tell. Perhaps we’ll get a special episode of What If in the future or a different spin-off exploring the multiverse.

    Source: Marvel

  • ‘Marvel’s Avengers’ Adds New ‘Black Widow’ Inspired MCU Skin

    ‘Marvel’s Avengers’ Adds New ‘Black Widow’ Inspired MCU Skin

    Marvel’s Avengers has been busy preparing for its big August update that will see Black Panther finally join the game. Until then, we have this month’s release of the first Multiplayer-focused endgame content in the form of Omega-Level Threats and the return of their Black Widow tie-in event, the Red Room Takeover. It originally came out back in May when the film was originally set to release but will make a return alongside the film’s premiere. Luckily, it seems that wasn’t the only tie-in they planned as their official Twitter channel just shared the first look at a brand new MCU-inspired skin from the upcoming film.

     

     

    The film eased quite a few different suits but it makes sense they went with the iconic white suit that’s been heavily advertised. It’s a great touch to use the Red Room visuals in the background, which added a unique flair to the HARM room challenges we’ve been playing since the game launched last year. It’s great that the game is doing film tie-ins and makes you wonder if we’ll see some more stuff in the future.

    Sadly, Shang-Chi isn’t playable but with rumors pointing to a late 2021 release for Spider-Man, we could potentially get some of his iconic suits from Spider-Man: No Way Home in the game. Either Way, July is going to be an exciting month for the game as we get closer and closer to Black Panther’s release. Here’s hoping he gets his Captain America: Civil War suit.

    Source: Twitter

  • Zack Snyder’s Turning His ‘Star Wars’ Pitch Into the Netflix Original Sci-Fi ‘Rebel Moon’

    Zack Snyder’s Turning His ‘Star Wars’ Pitch Into the Netflix Original Sci-Fi ‘Rebel Moon’

    Some time ago, Zack Snyder revealed that he was working on a script for his next project during an episode of the Happy Sad Confused podcast. In it, he revealed that it was originally based on a pitch he made to Lucasfilm that would take place in the iconic Star Wars franchise. He never gave away any details but did state it was heavily inspired by Akira Kurosawa‘s Seven Samurai. The director has always been diverse in how he tackles genres. So, it seemed likely he would follow up on the project now that his Army of the Dead franchise is expanding. Well, luckily it seems the wait won’t be too long. The Hollywood Reporter has just revealed that Netflix has gained the rights to his next project, which is now titled, Rebel Moon.

    The story will follow a colony at the edge of the galaxy, who are about to face the wrath of a tyrannical regent. Their only hope is a mysterious young woman who will seek out warriors from other planets to take on this mysterious threat. Snyder gave the following statement to share his enthusiasm for taking his next story into space:

    This is me growing up as an Akira Kurosawa fan, a Star Wars fan. It’s my love of sci-fi and a giant adventure. My hope is that this also becomes a massive IP and a universe that can be built out.

    He will direct and produce the film. Shay Hatten and Kurt Johnstad, who helped write Army of the Dead and 300, are on board to bring the space adventure to life. His wife Deborah Snyder will produce the film via Stone Quarry with Eric Newman‘s Grand Electric. It seems likely that similar to Army, this franchise might expand beyond just the singular film, as the director also reveals he spent around two to three years mapping out this distinctive galaxy. It’s an exciting venture, and the streaming service is offering him the creative flexibility to bring his stories to life.

    Source: The Hollywood Reporter

  • ‘Venom: Let There Be Carnage’: Tom Hardy Helped Develop the Marvel Sequel’s Story

    ‘Venom: Let There Be Carnage’: Tom Hardy Helped Develop the Marvel Sequel’s Story

    Marvel Studios has been busy working on their Spider-Man threequel. Of course, Sony isn’t only banking on one franchise as they expanded other ones based on Spidey’s famous rogue’s gallery. Kraven the Hunter is getting a film in 2023, which has recently added former Quicksilver Aaron Taylor-Johnson in the titular role.

    That is not all, as we have the live-action adaptation of Morbius heading our way and the highly-anticipated Venom sequel, Venom: Let There Be Carnage. We recently got our first look at the latter’s story that’ll see the introduction of Carnage. It looks like Eddie Brock himself, Tom Hardy, had a hand in conceptualizing the sequel. In an interview with Empire, Marcel revealed that:

    This is new for him, to get credit but it’s not new for him to be this involved. He’s absolutely 100 per cent committed to everything that he does. He’s married to Venom. He loves this character. He’s very involved in what he thinks should happen.

    She continues to get the screenplay credit, but she revealed that most of the story got mapped out alongside Hardy for months before she focused on the script for around three months. Most of their discussions took place over FaceTime, where they would brainstorm and test out ideas. It’s great to see him get this involved, as it also shows his enjoyment of bringing the symbiote to life. He won’t be the only one this time around, as Woody Harrelson will bring Cletus Cassady to life. He’ll become the host for Carnage, who will be the film’s main antagonist. There are rumors of a second trailer heading our way, which may offer more insight into the film’s story.

    Source: IMDb, Empire

  • Leaked ‘What If’ Image Teases an Iconic Loki Scene from ‘Thor’

    Leaked ‘What If’ Image Teases an Iconic Loki Scene from ‘Thor’

    All eyes are on Loki, as the series is slowly nearing its end. This week we’ll finally figure out what happened to our titular character and potentially finally uncover the secret of the multiverse. Speaking of, there’s another series that has yet gotten any focus that tackles the same topic. The What If series, which will be Marvel Studios’ first venture into animation, explores alternative timelines where our titular heroes take on very different futures.

    We’re still waiting for an official release date and a new trailer, but it seems that translations are underway. The voice actor who dubs Tom Hiddleston‘s Loki in Turkey released a still from the series before taking it down. Luckily, Twitter user @simpforhidd was able to grab a screenshot before it got deleted.

    The image might be familiar to fans of the first Thor film, as it’s the same move he pulls while fighting his brother on the rainbow bridge. There’s a good chance this sequence might take place during the Party Thor storyline that was teased some time ago. In it, Thor will throw a party of galactic proportions on Midgard that might destroy the universe as they know it. We did get brief glimpses from the first Thor film during the earlier trailers of the series, which might connect to this storyline. Instead of being deemed unworthy, he manages to pull out the hammer and celebrates while his brother’s plan continues to flourish. Perhaps the story still ends up the same between these two brothers?

    Source: Instagram via Twitter

  • New ‘Loki’ Episode 5 Images Tease Richard E. Grant’s Classic Loki in Action

    New ‘Loki’ Episode 5 Images Tease Richard E. Grant’s Classic Loki in Action

    The last episode of Loki offered us the reveal of four brand new Variants of our titular anti-hero. After getting pruned, he awakens in a strange place he believes might be Hel. Luckily, the credits did confirm that his new friends are Richard E. Grant‘s Classic Loki, Jack Veal‘s Kid Loki, and Deobia Oparei‘s Boastful Loki. The ending left us with quite a few questions and excitement about what these new renditions of the characters might mean for the multiverse. Luckily, @cosmic_marvel shared some images from the upcoming fifth episode. They offer a closer look at Kid and Classic Loki. It also shows the latter using his magic. 

     

    https://twitter.com/cosmic_marvel/status/1412064483132858368

     What is interesting about these images is that Boastful Loki and the Loki Alligator are noticeably absent. There is a good chance that these images take place later in the episode as they start to explore this strange land. One also shows Classic Loki and the Variant we’ve been following since Avengers: Endgame in a green glow. Grant’s Variant might be behind it, as he is trying to pull him out of a fight to continue their main objective. The green glow might also tease a unique vision for his abilities.

    So, this sequence might take place after as we’ve seen Boastful Loki join the battle. It would also imply that the trailer’s Vote Loki might be a new Variant. We most commonly assumed it was Tom Hiddleston‘s current version after a time skip, but it wouldn’t be too surprising that doubles of the actor got pruned at some point in the Time Variance Authority’s long history. We’re only a few days away, and it’ll be exciting to see how these new Variants will play into the story and if Classic Loki might be the version we’ve come to love from the comics.

    Source: Twitter

  • ‘Black Widow’ Special on Stuntwoman Heidi Moneymaker Heading to ESPN+

    ‘Black Widow’ Special on Stuntwoman Heidi Moneymaker Heading to ESPN+

    Black Widow is so close to releasing in theaters. It looks like Marvel Studios has some plans to put a focus on an essential member of the film’s team, Scarlett Johanssons‘ stunt double, Heidi Moneymaker. She has been a part of the Marvel family for almost ten years. She was along for the ride since she first pulled off the amazing stunts in 2010’s Iron Man 2. To celebrate her work, ESPN+ will release an exclusive special that takes a closer look at her time and work in bringing the character to life in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The E60 Presents special titled Moneymaker: Behind the Black Widow will explore her origin story and her journey to bringing the Marvel icon to life as narrated by Scarlett Johansson.

     

     

    There’s not enough focus on the stunt industry that is an integral part of modern Hollywood. It is long overdue that the Oscars include a nomination for stunt work. So, it’s great that they are adding a documentary to focus on her work. It’ll follower her story as a national champion gymnast to joining Marvel Studios. She isn’t the only Moneymaker helping the company bring their iconic heroes to life. Her sister Renae doubles for Evangeline Lilly and Brie Larson.

    Hopefully, this move also means that other iconic stunt woman and men that brought the other heroes to life get their time to shine in future additions of the E60 Presents line-up, as we wouldn’t have our iconic heroes without them. It’s uncertain if it remains an ESPN+ exclusive. Not every country has access to the streaming service. So, some markets might get it through Disney+. Of course, we hopefully will also get a Black Widow episode on the Marvel Studios: Assemble documentary series to go alongside this special. 

    Source: Marvel, YouTube

  • RUMOR: Working Titles for Marvel Studios’ ‘Ironheart’ and ‘Echo’ Disney+ Series

    RUMOR: Working Titles for Marvel Studios’ ‘Ironheart’ and ‘Echo’ Disney+ Series

    We have a lot of Marvel Studios projects to look forward to. We are this close to the release of Black Widow. Loki has two more episodes to go before What If premieres sometime this summer. That isn’t all, as it looks like two Disney+ projects are picking up speed over at Marvel Studios. It’s a common practice for their films to work under a pseudonym. Around three months ago, we found out that the Captain Marvel sequel, which now is titled The Marvels, entered production as Goat Rodeo. Now, it seems that Cosmic Circus might have gotten their hands on the working titles for Ironheart and the upcoming Echo spin-off.

    The first on the list is the upcoming series that will introduce moviegoers to the character of Riri Williams. The genius MIT student ends up creating the most advanced suit since Tony Stark. With a confirmed War Machine-focused Armor Wars series around the corner, it seems clear she might also be involved in the project to some capacity. According to Cosmic Circus, the Ironheart Disney+ series got the working title “Wise Guy,” which is an odd choice. The titles don’t always give away what the project is about and sometimes also act as a way to get you off their scent.

    Echo’s working title “Whole Branzino” is another case that opens up more questions than answers. The Branzino is the Italian name for the European bass, which might play into her close ties to the mafia in the comics. The character will be portrayed by Alaqua Cox in the upcoming Hawkeye series before she branches off into her own adventure. We know the Tracksuit Mafia will be involved. So, it might be a play on her connection to them. It’s always fun o speculate with working titles what they could mean, but each new project shows that Marvel Studios is no sopping anytime soon to find creative working titles.

    Source: Cosmic Circus (Ironheart), Cosmic Circus (Echo)

  • James Gunn Talks the Inspiration for ‘The Suicide Squad’ Spin-Off ‘Peacemaker’

    James Gunn Talks the Inspiration for ‘The Suicide Squad’ Spin-Off ‘Peacemaker’

    Everyone has their eyes set on James Gunn‘s The Suicide Squad. The DC film will reintroduce the world to the iconic team of ex-villains that are all gathered for one reason: they would get killed if they didn’t. Luckily, the director isn’t stopping there as we are also getting a spin-off series that focuses on John Cena‘s über-patriotic character, Peacemaker. So far, the story has been kept tightly under wraps outside of some classic Charlton Comics characters, such as Judomaster. As the release for his Suicide Squad sequel is drawing near, we also got a first official look at a blood-drenched Peacemaker and some insight into the series.

     

     

    In the interview with Empire, Cena and Gunn mock the show’s titular character but also tease that there might be more to him than meets the eye. The director stated that:

    Peacemaker has a clear set of ideals that I find really interesting. You know: ‘I want peace no matter how many men, women and children I need to kill to get it.’ Sounds like nonsense, but it also makes a lot of sense. And you see in John’s performance how he does not feel good about it – something I thought was the seed of an entire eight-episode show.

    He also teased that the upcoming story will be a sci-fi story that focuses on real-world issues when you have people like Peacewalker killing for his specific beliefs. Cena teases that the series will explore what made him who he is in the upcoming DC film. Gunn has also been open about a potential second season. So, we might see a lot more of Peacemaker in the future and get a closer look at the unique corner of the DCEU he inhabits.

    Source: Empire