Murphy's Multiverse

Author: Joseph Aberl

  • ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3’ Eyeing a November Production Start

    ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3’ Eyeing a November Production Start

    It feels like forever since the third entry of Guardians of the Galaxy first got announced. James Gunn was busy directing the upcoming The Suicide Squad film and is currently continuing his work on the Peacemaker spin-off. So, Vol. 3 is next on his list and we already got a teaser by Karen Gillan that she was preparing the molds for her return as Nebula. Luckily, @cosmic_marvel grabbed the images she shared on Instagram Story preparing the mold for her return to play the character

    So, it was only a question of when the film might enter production this year. Luckily, Chris Pratt revealed during a segment on Jimmy Kimmel Live that they are currently eyeing a production start in November. He said that the film will go on until April 2022. He also confirmed that the script used in the upcoming film will be the same that Gunn wrote before he had to exit the project. Luckily, he was reinstated in March to end the trilogy he started back in 2014. The only question remains if the Holiday Special for Disney+ might get filmed in advance, which might be why Gillan is already preparing the mold now, or if that’ll be the first thing filmed in November.

    It’s uncertain what the trilogy’s end might mean for the future of the franchise and if we might get a brand new team. As the franchise starts to expand into the multiverse through Loki, it’s uncertain what the future holds for the cosmic side of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Perhaps the upcoming third entry might offer a glimpse at its future.

    If you’re interested in watching the full interview, including what Arnold Schwarzenegger got Chris Pratt for his birthday, you can check out the video here:

     

    Source: Twitter, YouTube, Deadline

  • James Wan Shares First Set Photo from ‘Aquaman And The Lost Kingdom’ As Production Starts

    James Wan Shares First Set Photo from ‘Aquaman And The Lost Kingdom’ As Production Starts

    It looks like the Aquaman sequel has officially started production, as James Wan shares the first image from the set. Around three weeks ago, the director shared the official title for the film Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom that teased with an Instagram post from their production meeting. While we still know very little about the film, Wan’s Instagram post confirms that the working title is indeed Necrus, which is the name of an underwater civilization.  The set photo showcases an icy cavern that may be the location of where this second submarine city resides that is about to greet the world once more.

     

    The only real casting we have is that of Pilou Asbaek and he may play the ruler Mordo of the underwater city. Initially, we assumed that the character might be the Atlantean eco-terrorist Corum Rath. Of course, the working title of Necrus could also be a way to throw people off of the actual film’s story, which was co-written by Jason Momoa. We’ll see if we get any more set photos in the coming weeks that may offer a closer hint at what we can expect. The production start also matches a report from four months ago by Discussing Film, who also revealed they’re eyeing a June start date in the United Kingdom. The film is currently eyeing a December 16th release in 2022. Momoa will return alongside Amber Hard and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, who are reprising their respective roles from the last film.

    Source: Instagram

  • Ron Perlman Voicing Optimus Primal in ‘Transformers: Rise of the Beasts’

    Ron Perlman Voicing Optimus Primal in ‘Transformers: Rise of the Beasts’

    It looks like Transformers: Rise of the Beasts will change the status quo, as Collider has just revealed that Ron Perlman will voice Optimus Primal. He is taking over the voice from Garry Chalk, who many might remember from the CG animated series, Beast Wars: Transformers. The Maximals will be joined by the Predacons and Terrorcons. It’s uncertain how they’ll appear in the series and how they’ll interact alongside the classic Autobots and Decepticons. The series will take place in Brooklyn in the 1990s, which is the same year the original Beast Wars toyline was first released. The film will be directed by Steven Caple Jr. with Anthony Ramos and Dominique Fishback confirmed. It isn’t the only film of the franchise in development, as Angel Manuel Soto got hired to direct another entry which is in early development.

    There is still no official confirmation if this upcoming entry will continue the Michael Bay films, or act as a quasi reboot through the Bumblebee film. The new direction of introducing the Beast Wars concept will certainly make the next entry in the franchise stand out from the rest. They may also make this an unofficial reboot of the entire franchise, as Optimus Primal could take on the role of Optimus Prime moving forward. They aren’t the same character, as Primal is actually a descendant of the Autobot and took on his name. The smae rule applies to the Megatron during the Beast Wars era, who may also get cast in the near future.

    Source: Collider

  • ‘Loki’ and a Broken Love Story Hidden Within the TVA

    ‘Loki’ and a Broken Love Story Hidden Within the TVA

    With the title being Loki, all our focus has been on the God of Mischief’s journey. We explored the Time Variance Authority, but it’s time to take a step back. It’s time to explore what exactly the show is all about. Perhaps there is an answer to the events of the original multiverse and the subsequent creation of the Sacred Timeline. Let’s explore the camera’s obsession with a specific Time-Keeper and his potential connection to why the TVA consists of Variants. At the heart of it lie the Time-Keepers. They get described as almighty beings able to create a single timeline that somehow requires an entire organization to supervise. No high-ranking members seem to have met them outside of propaganda videos and stone statues. There may be one connection to the third episode’s storyline: it may all be about a broken love story.

     

    Marvel's Loki: Who are the Time-Keepers of the MCU? - Den of Geek

     

    Let’s take a short detour through comic history. Many fans instantly recognized the head judge of the TVA, Ravonna Renslayer. In the comics, she is none other than Kang the Conquerors’ love interest. She was the princess when she appeared in Avengers #23 in 1963. After refusing his advances, she would end up falling in love with him but lost hers when his commander Baltag tried to take down his former ally. Kang traveled through time to save her life but would end up splitting up in two diverging timelines. One where he manages to save her life and another where she ends up preserved in a cryo-tube.

    What if a similar type of event transpired in the Marvel Cinematic Universe? At one point in time, the multiverse existed, but Ravonna always had the same fate. She would find an early end. As such, Kang’s multiversal counterparts tried to find a way to save her no matter what but ended up leading to the first Multiversal War. They are Nexus beings like Wanda that unraveled the multiverse for the same reasoning. The events would transpire until they uncovered one timeline where she lived. In reality, the Time-Keepers are a charade. In their wake, the man named Immortus supervises all and keeps an eye on the proper flow of time to secure her life. He is Kang but split from his original to lead the TVA and its true purpose.

     

    Loki's Time-Keepers and their future Marvel connections, explained - Polygon

     

    Selfishly, he finally had a chance to keep her close when a Variant of Renslayer splintered off from the timeline. She would be the first TVA agent taken from the flow of time and become the foundation of how its members got added. This Variant was the only one chosen to keep her memories, and we see glimpses of that. There is a lot she knows that she is not letting on. Hell, she even hinted at her connection to the Time-Keepers during her sitting with Mobius. There is also the recurring visual of one particular Time-Keeper always hovering behind her head. We see it when she is judging Loki for his crimes and in her office. Marvel Studios mastered the use of complicated mythology through simple storytelling. Perhaps the story behind the founding of a single Sacred Timeline is one simple ulterior motive: love. The only question remains, was Loki right? Is the dagger that represents love truly real? Perhaps a dark and broken future awaits when Ravonna realizes the truth of the TVA that even she didn’t know. For now, it may all lead to Kang even if his future actor, Jonathan Majors, denies any involvement.

    Source: Variety

  • Latest ‘Marvel’s Avengers’ Dev Stream Teases the Potential Return of Loki

    Latest ‘Marvel’s Avengers’ Dev Stream Teases the Potential Return of Loki

    We just recently got a major update for Marvel’s Avengers roadmap. Patrol Mode was pushed back after the upcoming Black Panther expansion. Of course, we hoped to get some more insight into what the future holds with the latest developer stream. Luckily, they did exactly that, as we got some insight into what was revealed, some future teases, and

    • The reasoning for the switch was that they want to focus on endgame content. As such, they wanted to get Omega-Level Threats and multiplayer options out first. It also gives them time to continue work on Patrol Mode to add some elements to it.
    • Power Level cap was pushed to release after War for Wakanda, as they want to combine it with the right content that requires that extension.
    • Monica’s Villain Sector will be the template for future content, as they want to avoid enemy sponges but offer unique challenges with their bosses. She actually shouldn’t be able to get one-shotted by players, which is due to a missing threshold. It will be corrected in the future. AI was purposely a little dumb, as they want to enforce the focus on playing with others to finish these types of missions.

     

    Marvel's Avengers Update Accidentally Doxes Streamers - ComingSoon.net

     

    • Thor’s Marvel Cinematic Universe skin will not be the next release, but it is on its way as they have to finalize some details.
    • OLTs follow the same philosophy as Monica’s Villain Sector. The first OLT, titled Family Reunion, is similar to the mission introduced in Kate’s operation. However, the major difference is that this one isn’t puzzle-focused. So, the big challenge here will be the boss fight against the Super Adaptoid. Cloning Labs is the more puzzle-focused entry.
    • There was a brief tease that the Super Adaptoid might resurface somewhere. No details were given but could imply the Patrol Mode.
    • Duplicate heroes are a permanent feature moving forward and are also active in OLTs, but they highlight that a good combination of characters is essential. It got prioritized because they wanted to ensure people can play Black Panther. Yet, do not expect any story content to explain this. It is simply a gameplay mechanic moving forward but could get used in future events.

     

    THE FAKE THOR in Marvel's Avengers - YouTube

     

    • Crystal Dynamics highlighted the character-specific missions. It’s uncertain if they will return with War for Wakanda, but they highlighted that they want to continue working on the storylines set, such as the one teased with Loki.
    • Black Panther will feature more new villain types than just the Spider-bot. You can also expect a unique Faction and more non-robot foes. They also teased other additions after the expansion has launched.
    • They’re working on a mode where you have no companions but couldn’t offer any details. Loadouts are also currently in development.
    • There was a question regarding a villain lock-up location. They confirmed it’s something they’d be interested in doing, but there are no plans. Right now, their main focus is providing variety and endgame content. They want to get to a point where you can find specific gear by tackling specific bosses or missions.

    Overall, the future seems promising. We got a confirmation that content got planned for the next few years, and we’ll get an update for the game’s second year around Black Panther’s release. Right now, it’s their primary focus, as it includes a playable Wakanda region. Here’s hoping we won’t have to wait too long to finally try out the OLTs and get our first glimpse at the king in action.

    Source: Twitch

  • Patty Jenkins’ ‘Rogue Squadron’ Adds Writer Matthew Robinson

    Patty Jenkins’ ‘Rogue Squadron’ Adds Writer Matthew Robinson

    It looks like the upcoming Star Wars film Rogue Squadron has finally found its writer, as The Hollywood Reporter has just revealed that Matthew Robinson has joined the project. He famously co-wrote and co-directed the 2009 comedy The Invention of Lying with Ricky Gervais. The upcoming Star Wars film will be the first entry since 2019’s Rise of Skywalker. Not much is known bout the project and THR has also pointed out they are unsure how long he has already been working on the film’s script. It seems the project is eyeing a production start this fall or early in 2022 to hit its 2023 December release date.

    The franchise has mainly focused on its Disney+ outings that started with The Mandalorian. It’ll expand into a variety of franchises, which include this year’s The Book of Boba Fett and the upcoming Ahsoka seres. There have already been hints that the latter started casting and is seeking to add The Clone Wars‘ character Barrs Offee. Just recently, Discussing Film shared some details regarding The Acolyte series which is eyeing a February production start.

    After a brief slowdown, it seems that a lot more Star Wars is heading our way in the near future. In the meantime, Disney+ has been dominated by Marvel Studios’ original series that is also seeing a return to theaters in July with Black Widow. Disney has been expanding their iconic franchises through different media and it’ll be interesting to see how they plan to expand the Star Wars franchise through films that are more loosely connected than before.

    Source: THR

  • Latest ‘Loki’ Funko Pop Revealed for Sophia Di Martino’s Sylvie

    Latest ‘Loki’ Funko Pop Revealed for Sophia Di Martino’s Sylvie

    The tradition continues, as another Funko Pop has found its way online for the latest Disney+ series. As the latest episode focused on introducing the world to the Loki Variant played by Sophia Di Martino, it was only. question of time before we get her unique Funko. Not just that, it seems they also wanted to make her stand out, as the new Funko will also include a glow-in-the-dark version to highlight her green enchantment powers.

    Here is the Funko Variant showcasing her eyes and sword glowing in the iconic green:

    We got the reveal for two more Funkos last week featuring some more TVA members last week and there might be many more heading our way. It’s uncertain what other characters we might expect in the coming weeks to join the series and if they are big enough to get their own Funko Pop. Still, it’s become a fun tradition that these get revealed shortly after even if sometimes they accidentally end up leaking things ahead of time for upcoming series due to early listings.

    Loki has been an exciting project that explores the Marvel Cinematic Universe in creative ways. We got our glimpse at the opening of the multiverse and the introduction of the Time Variance Authority. It broke many of the classic conventions and it’ll be interesting to see how it continues to grow. We still know very little about the show’s next few episodes with the latest featurette offering a glimpse at Sylvie’s fate. We cannot wait for Wednesday to return.

    Source: Twitter, Twitter (Glow)

  • Loki Heading to ‘Fortnite’

    Loki Heading to ‘Fortnite’

    It looks like Marvel wasn’t quite done with Fortnite. A few months ago, they had a major event that saw a variety of Marvel characters join the Fortnite Crew in a battle against an invading Galactus. The recent event saw the addition of Superman during an alien invasion. Well, it looks like they aren’t quite done yet, as the official Twitter channel revealed that Loki is joining the game with a tweet. The golden horns aren’t subtle but it’s certainly a great addition to the game. We still don’t have our official look at the skin’s design, but it seems likely it’ll be strongly inspired by Tom Hiddleston‘s run as the character.

    Fortnite has become the center of pop culture and gaming. They’ve added a grand list of classic comic and movie-inspired characters. They’ve also added countless gaming icons, which include franchises like Tomb Raider, Horizon, Street Fighter, and even Halo. The developer also had done collaborations with Disney+ in the past. So, there’s a good chance the July release of Loki is to coincide with a new collaboration.

    It would be great if we even get an alternative skin to ply as Sylvie, who got recently introduce into the Marvel Cinematic Universe. There are still some reveals to come n the upcoming weeks, as we are only halfway through the series. So, we might get a lot more as the show continues to grow and expand into the multiverse. Who knows if it might even build up the next Fortnite season.

    Source: Twitter

  • ‘Shang-Chi’s Latest Trailer May Hint at the Ten Ring’s Origins

    ‘Shang-Chi’s Latest Trailer May Hint at the Ten Ring’s Origins

    The latest Shang-Chi and the Legend of Ten Rings trailer gave us our first look at the grand return of Abomination. He is fighting what most likely is Wong during a tournament. It’s been what everyone has been talking about, but there is one more major reveal that got a bit overlooked in the trailer. We briefly get a sequence of Shang-Chi underwater getting confronted by a mysterious dragon. Now, we automatically assumed it might be Fin Fang Foom, but a Funko Pop leak offered a better glimpse. It even confirmed his name is the Great Protector. Now, the fact we get to see him interact with Shang-Chi made me wonder how he connects to the mysterious Ten Rings and the overarching story.

     

    In the trailer, Simu Liu‘s character is submerged in water while wearing what seems to be the outfit from the final fight in the trailer. We see the entire body of the Protector with his head coming closer. The visual has a deeper meaning, as in Chinese mythology, the dragons, also known as Long or Lung, are rulers of weather and water. There is also a Chinese idiom that states people are “hoping one’s child will become a dragon.” This belief might match Teny Leung‘s words as Wenwu: “You can’t run from your past!” They might reflect his hopes of bringing his son back into the family business. The trailer seems to imply there might be a deeper connection between the dragon and his family’s history, which may tie together with the physical symbol of their legacy, the Ten Rings.

    In the comics, they are literal rings one wears on their fingers that each has a unique ability. They weren’t magical creations but of alien origin, which made us think it might connect to Fin Fang Foom. He is a shape-shifting alien from Kakaranthraa or Maku IV. It’s still uncertain how the rings work, but they seem to have an energy field. Not just that, they also seem to change depending on the user, as they light up yellow when Shang-Chi is holding them. They might utilize a person’s energy and give it form, which matches the abilities showcased by Michelle Yeoh’s Jian Nan, where she is controlling nature around her. So, it may act more like an energy siphon to utilize one’s inner powers, which, if we return to Chinese mythology, is known as Qi.

     

     

    So, how does it all connect? Well, the Great Protector might be the originator of the rings. They may pay tribute to the comics by them being literal rings on the dragon’s claws. They got gifted to the founding father of Shang-Chi and Wenwu’s family, who might have been part of the war teased in the trailers. The brief sequence of floating water might be another reference to that deep connection. Liu‘s character coming face-to-face with the dragon might be the passing of the torch before the final battle between him and his father commences. In Chinese mythology, four Dragon Kings represent the four seas. One of them, most notably, being the White Dragon that is the patron of Qinghai Lake. The colors would match with the Great Protector, and it might be the birthing place of the Ten Rings. It may even be the lake teased in a brief sequence in the latest trailer, but it may be an original location that is strongly inspired by the original myth.

     

     

    We’ve already seen glimpses of Chinese mythology playing a key role in the film. It would make sense they would also establish the Ten Rings to have a stronger connection to the country’s mythology. Of course, it is just speculation and it may be purely the resting place of the dragon, as earlier sets did hint at the Valley of the Sleeping Dragon. They could’ve combined the comic location with a real-world inspiration. Whatever direction they may take, it is great to finally explore a new section of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and its vast mythology.

    Source: YouTube

  • REPORT: ‘Star Wars’ Disney+ Series ‘The Acolyte’ Eyeing February Production Start

    REPORT: ‘Star Wars’ Disney+ Series ‘The Acolyte’ Eyeing February Production Start

    It looks like the Star Wars live-action series are revving up, as Discussing Film has shared some interesting news regarding the upcoming The Acolyte Disney+ series. It seems it is eyeing a production start in February of 2022. They will film in London’s The Volume, which has been popularized by the streaming platforms’ first galactic entry The Mandalorian. It currently is being used by Peyton Reed for Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania. They also revealed that casting has already started. Lucasfilm is currently eyeing a young woman of color to tackle the lead role. Leslye Headland is serving as the show’s showrunner after her success with Netflix’s Russian Doll.

    Details have been quite sparse on the project. It’s uncertain if the multitude of shows might build up to a specific storyline. The various shows that are spin-offs from Mandalorian‘s second season might potentially build to a crossover event. Now, there are some series that explore the different timelines such as Andor, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and the above-mentioned Acolyte. There is a chance these series will act as their own independent property that can spin off into other various shows that explore that specific era.

    Andor is all bout the beginning of the Rebellion, while Kenobi explores the fallout from Order 66. It could even connect into the currently running The Bad Batch series that is exploring a similar timeline. It’s not the first time we’ve seen animated characters find their way into live-action. So, the franchise is certainly not restricted in how it expands. Here’s hoping we get more information on what the future holds for Star Wars in the near future.

    Source: Discussing Film