Murphy's Multiverse

Author: Joseph Aberl

  • ‘Andor’: Forest Whitaker to Return in the ‘Rogue One’ Spin-Off

    ‘Andor’: Forest Whitaker to Return in the ‘Rogue One’ Spin-Off

    Andor has been busy filming for some time now and we still know very little about what direction the series is heading. All we know is that it’ll take place before Rogue One and explore the early days of its titular character, Cassian Andor. Some time ago we did get a good look at the cast, which includes Marvel Studios veteran Stellan Skarsgard. Well, it seems he accidentally let slip in an interview with Sverige Radio that he had “at least two good” scenes with Rogue One veteran, Forest Whitaker. He played the character of Saw Gerrera, which he even returned to play in the Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order video game.

    It actually makes a lot of sense for his character to return in the series. While he did find his end in Rogue One, there are a lot of stories that can be explored while he leads the Rebellion against the Empire. We might get a closer look at how he became infamous among even their ranks. It also opens up the question of how much Andor will explore in its first season, as we might get a look at the darker side of the Rebellion rather than the hopeful one we are introduced to in Star Wars: A New Hope. It looks like we might have al to more surprises heading our way.

    Source: Sveriges Radio via The Direct

  • Halle Bailey and Jonah Hauer-King Sighted in New ‘The Little Mermaid’ Set Photos

    Halle Bailey and Jonah Hauer-King Sighted in New ‘The Little Mermaid’ Set Photos

    It looks like it’s set photos season, as we’ve been seeing a lot of current projects find their way online. In a way, it’s the true sign that the film industry is recovering slowly and we’re a step closer to business-as-usual. Now, we’ve covered a lot of set photos from various superhero properties, such as Shazam: Fury of the Gods and Titans. There were also quite a few set photos from Thor: Love and Thunder teasing the franchise’s potential craziness from returning director Taika Waititi. Now, it seems that another Disney property recently started production, and the first set of photos already found their way online for the live-action adaptation of The Little Mermaid. Twitter user @cravemedia took to Social Media and shared a few images of the production.

    https://twitter.com/cravemedia_/status/1402792169186881542?s=20

    The photos offer our first look at our leads Halle Bailey and Jonah Hauer-King. If we go by their costumes, this may be them rehearsing for the iconic sequence when Ariel saves Prince Eric from drowning. If you look closely, you can see that she has a fin attached to her legs. It doesn’t seem to have any color or scales, which might indicate she is still getting used to moving with it in the water. It’s uncertain if they will take a practical approach with the fin or it might be added digitally. We’ll see if more images find their way online that may give us a look at the duo in full costume.

    Source: Twitter, Digital Spy

  • ‘The Mandalorian’ Season 3 Eyeing Late 2021 Production Start

    ‘The Mandalorian’ Season 3 Eyeing Late 2021 Production Start

    We’ve all been wondering when the third season of The Mandalorian would finally enter production. It was revealed earlier in the year that the spin-off The Book of Boba Fett would be the first to enter production and premiere in its usual time slot this year. Star Wars‘ expansion into streaming has already seen them pick up the pace with the Rogue One spin-off Andor and Obi-Wan Kenobi entering production throughout the year. Well, it looks like the expansion has also come at a price.

    Collider revealed that the third season won’t enter production until the end of 2021 or the latest in early 2022. So, we certainly can’t expect the continuation before the end of the next year. There are multiple reasons for this, as the LA stages the film usually utilizes are pre-occupied by Ewan McGregor‘s return as Obi-Wan Kenobi. There is also the fact that Pedro Pascal recently joined HBO’s live-action adaptation of Naughty Dog’s The Last of Us franchise.

    It’s going to be a long wait for Mandalorian fans until the next entry finally releases, but it doesn’t mean we aren’t getting more Star Wars on Disney+. Collider also hinted at the fact that we can expect some familiar faces in the spin-off, as it is described as a mid-season event. So far, the only confirmed addition besides Temuera Morrison‘s Boba Fett is Ming-Na Wen as Fennec Shand. The series recently ended its production. So, we might get some more news in the coming months about what we can expect from the series.

    Source: Collider

  • Bill Skarsgard in Talks to Join ‘John Wick 4’

    Bill Skarsgard in Talks to Join ‘John Wick 4’

    It looks like the upcoming fourth entry in the John Wick franchise is continuing to expand, as The Hollywood Reporter revealed that Bill Skarsgard is currently in talks to join the fourth entry of the Keanu Reeves franchise. It’s another major addition after recent reports revealed that the film is also adding IP Man’s Donnie Yen as an old friend of Wick’s. The film’s plot still remains tightly under wraps but will be based on a script by Shay Hatten and Michael Finch. The announcement didn’t come in their usual article but through a video on Twitter.

    We’re generally seeing an expansion of the John Wick franchise, as the team is already working on a TV series that explores the origin stories behind the famous Continental hotel. It’s uncertain if they might also be eyeing to expand with other new stories exploring the backstories of the various hitmen we meet along the way. There’s a lot of potentials to play around with, as John Wick introduced us to a variety of assassins that have their own interesting backstory with our titular hero.

    Source: Twitter

  • How ‘Loki’ May Have Decanonized ‘Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.’ from the Current MCU Timeline

    How ‘Loki’ May Have Decanonized ‘Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.’ from the Current MCU Timeline

    After the first Loki trailer teased the existence of the Time Variance Authority, it made us wonder how the Marvel Cinematic Universe will play around with the various timelines. It will finally explore the fallout from the events of Avengers: Endgame when Loki managed to escape his timeline and ends up in their timeless offices. We’ve hoped it may explore and explain what we can expect from the upcoming multiverse-focused Doctor Strange sequel. Especially if you consider that the film is written by Loki’s head writer Michael Waldron. Yet, the newly expanded introduction to time travel may have confirmed that Marvel TV’s first series may not be canon after all.

     

    A true Marvel: Agents of SHIELD is the hidden gem of the MCU | Agents of SHIELD | The Guardian

     

    The first Avengers film led to the death of Clark Gregg‘s Phil Coulson. After getting stabbed in the back, the SHIELD agents’ popularity led to a campaign that would see his grand return on the small screen. Marvel TV, independently from its film studio, developed an entire series that focused on the mystery of his revival. Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. went on to air for seven seasons. It started as a threat-of-the-week series before introducing magic, space, and even time travel. Of course, many wondered if these elements get explored in the time-focused Loki series. Yet, it seems that TVA agent Mobius, played by Owen Wilson, may have decanonized the series by just stating Coulson died. End of story.

    There is also the concept of the Sacred Timeline that may have pruned it from the current MCU. It seems that the universe currently exists in one singular timeline that is kept in unison by the timeless bureaucrats. Things happen because they were meant to happen, as Loki learns painfully by witnessing his futile future. Now, we believed that there was a chance it took place in an alternative timeline. At the end of the final season, we see the complete resurgence of SHIELD yet hints that the Snap never happened in their timeline. Yet, the TVA confirms that the timeline tends to repeat over and over again. So, the events from the MCU so far don’t match up with that season’s finale to even confirm it canon in the main timeline.

     

    Loki Trailer Hints How Many Post-Endgame Timelines Exist In The MCU

     

    So, is Agents of SHIELD officially not canon? Yes and no, as there is one possible way it becomes canon once again. The brief video introduction to the organization by Miss Minutes explains there was once a multiverse war that broke all timelines before they got restored into the Sacred Timeline. They also warn of the events that unfold when the multiverse comes into existence. It’ll be the focal point of Doctor Strange’s film, where he explores the madness resulting from it falling apart. As such, that nexus event could happen in Loki, as teased in one of the trailers when we see the timeline breaking apart at different points in time. The Variants in the upcoming What If series are our first indicator that this single timeline wasn’t going to last. For now, Agents of SHIELD do not seem to be part of the singular MCU timeline, but upcoming events could end up changing it. It may even be intentional if we consider other Marvel-related content. All we know is that the multiverse is inevitable and things can always change moving forward, but it seems the next multiversal war is a definite.

  • Latest ‘Shazam: Fury of the Gods’ Set Photos Reveal Rachel Zegler in Golden Armor

    Latest ‘Shazam: Fury of the Gods’ Set Photos Reveal Rachel Zegler in Golden Armor

    Not too long ago, we broke the story that Rachel Zegler was spotted wearing golden armor on top of a rooftop. It was an interesting reveal, as she was also spotted in a high school setting alongside Jack Dylan Grazer’s Freddy. Now, her role remains under wraps, and hints are pointing to her potentially being part of the three sisters with only Helen Mirren’s Hespera and Lucy Liu’s Kalypso confirmed.  It looks like the set photos have finally found their way online, as the images showcasing the actress in the before-mentioned golden armor got shared on Reddit.

    Rachel Zegler Suited Up On The Set of Shazam FOTG
    byu/aduong inDCEUleaks

    The actress officially joined the production around three months ago and is the second Colombian American joining a DC project. She’s been an up-and-coming actress who has garnered a lot of attention after getting the leading role opposite Ansel Elgort in Steven Spielberg’s remake of West Side Story. She is joining the returning Zachary Levi, who was already sighted on set with a brand-new look as the titular hero Shazam. As production ramps up, we might expect a lot more set photos to find their way home giving us an inkling of the story. We still don’t know which Gods will enact their fury in the film. So, we may find out who the Three Sisters are working alongside to get their hands on the Shazam family.

    Source: Reddit 

  • Latest ‘What If’ Merchandise Offers a Closer Look at Uatu the Watcher and the Guardians of the Multiverse

    Latest ‘What If’ Merchandise Offers a Closer Look at Uatu the Watcher and the Guardians of the Multiverse

    It always seems like Marvel Studios’ biggest enemy for leaking information is toys. What If was no exception to this rule, as our first look at various characters came through an early released poster featuring the now-titled Guardians of the Multiverse. Just recently, an image from LEGO found its way online revealing Tony Stark on Sakaar building what seems to be a Hulkbuster out of scrap metal. There even was another set, which names reveal the name of Steve Rogers’ mech that was teased throughout the first trailers.

    Now, Walmart released some merchandise that offers some closer looks at the design of Uatu the Watcher and the Guardians of the Multiverse. It is interesting to note that Uatu is simply called The Watcher with an Avengers-inspired logo. It makes sense as it might be more recognizable for non-comic readers buying these coin purses or wallet covers.

     

    The merchandise offers us our closest look at Uatu’s design which seems like the perfect combination of his comic design, which got featured briefly in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, and his voice actor Jeffrey Wright. Interestingly, Peggy Carter’s character is named Captain Carter rather than Captain Britain. She held the title in the leaked LEGO set. It might also just make the marketing easier as Party Thor will not go by that title. A few known members are missing, such as Gamora, Black Widow, and Killmonger. Zombie Captain America is also missing though leaked merchandise has featured him prominently. We might see more merchandise get released soon featuring the rest of the cast with hints of their potential storylines.

    Source: Walmart (Watcher), Walmart (Captain Carter), Walmart (Party Thor), Walmart (T’Challa)

  • First Look at Harrison Ford in Latest ‘Indiana Jones 5’ Set Photos

    First Look at Harrison Ford in Latest ‘Indiana Jones 5’ Set Photos

    Just recently, we got our first look at Indiana Jones 5‘s set photos that teased a flashback sequence. A stunt driver was wearing what seemed to be a mask resembling a younger Harrison Ford. There was no sighting of the main man himself, but it seems that changed quickly as the first image of Ford has found its way online. The actor is in full Indiana Jones gear and it looks like he hasn’t dropped his fashion sense in all these years. In the image released by @IndianaJones_ch, he is standing alongside Kathleen Kennedy, the president of Lucasfilm.

    James Mangold is taking over directing duties for the Lucasfilm project and the plot still remains tightly under wraps. There was a recent report by Illuminerdi that hinted at the latest addition of Mads Mikkelsen potentially playing a former Nazi scientist that is enlisted by NASA. It is uncertain how true this story will turn out to be, but it’ll be interesting to see how they continue the story that was last explored in 2008 with Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. If NASA is involved, it doesn’t seem too crazy for Indiana to explore space after uncovering the existence of aliens in the last film. As more set photos find their way online, perhaps we’ll get a better look at the rest of the cast and how much of these reports turn out to be true after all. No matter what, it just feels right to see Ford back in action with his iconic outfit.

    Source: Twitter

  • Gugu Mbatha-Raw Reveals That ‘Loki’ Will Explore Ravonna Renslayer’s Origin

    Gugu Mbatha-Raw Reveals That ‘Loki’ Will Explore Ravonna Renslayer’s Origin

    It was revealed two months ago that Gugu Mbatha-Raw‘s character is actually Ravonna Renslayer. Now, the significance of this role is huge for comic fans, as she is the love interest of the one and only Kang the Conqueror. Now, we know that Jonathan Majors will play the character in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, but his casting was already nine months ago. This led to a lot of speculation on him potentially appearing in an earlier storyline. The introduction of the Time Keepers and the Time Variance Authority in the upcoming Disney+ Loki made it seem like the perfect place for him to appear. In the show’s press junket, Mbatha-Raw revealed that the upcoming season will act as an origin story for the comic character.

    Well, luckily or unluckily for me, Kate explained to me that this was sort of more of an origin story for Ravonna Renslayer. You know, sort of predating some of the stuff in the comics. All that stuff is there, but theres also the opportunity to feel like starting with something fresh with the TVA that hadn’t been seen before by fans on screen.

    Interestingly enough, she also teases that there might be a bright future ahead for the character beyond Loki.

    There’s so much there, that I’m, you know, I feel like there’s plenty of potential for her in the future as well.

    Now, the implications are huge if you consider that this also means we might see her first meeting with Kang. In an earlier interview with Vanity Fair, he did hint that the series will also play around with romance in an interesting way. Perhaps we’ll get a star-crossed romance between Kang and Ravonna throughout the Disney+ series that builds up his character before he takes a darker turn once Quantumania releases 2023. Who knows if Loki might also be the reason why Kang becomes the Conqueror we all know him as from the comics.

    Source: Vanity Fair

  • EXCLUSIVE: ‘Loki’ Season 1 Will Be a Standalone Season

    EXCLUSIVE: ‘Loki’ Season 1 Will Be a Standalone Season

    There has been one major rumor circling the Disney+ series Loki. Okay, there are quite a few but one of the standouts was the potential of it receiving a second season. Almost a year ago, there seemed to be rumblings of it happening, but we never got any confirmation. There was the report that head writer Michael Waldron signed up a deal with Disney that included his work on Kevin Feige‘s untitled Star Wars film. It also confirmed a reference to a potential second season. Charles Murphy got a chance to ask Waldron if he could say anything on the rumors, but he swiftly played coy on the fact but did tease that the upcoming season will tell a complete story.

    It was really always my hope and intention with this to tell a complete story with this season. Season 1 would stand on its own and, you know, is there more story to tell in the future? I don’t know, time will tell.

    There are a lot of hints that there is something happening and we hope to see a lot more TVA in the future of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Waldron also teased the potential of a Secret Wars connection. So, even if they don’t move forward with Loki, there is always a chance that they explore another Variant of a popular Marvel character. There are a lot of creative ways to utilize this simple premise and continue building upon the TVA mythology we can expect from the upcoming series. Now that they are opening up the rest of the multiverse, it feels like there is no more limit to what stories they may tell.