Murphy's Multiverse

Author: Joseph Aberl

  • ‘Loki’ Head Writer Michael Waldron Teases Multiple Lokis for the Disney+ Show

    ‘Loki’ Head Writer Michael Waldron Teases Multiple Lokis for the Disney+ Show

    We are only a week away from the latest Marvel Studios show to hit Disney+. Loki will explore an alternative timeline version of who managed to flee his original fate through some time travel shenanigans from the Avengers. Of course, his existence throws the timeline for a loop and it forces the Time Variance Authority to step in. Now, the God of Mischief is forced to work alongside them to repair what he damaged. Leading up to the series premiere, there have been various rumors about other incarnations of Loki finding their way into the series. The trailer titling him as a Variant certainly added to that very theory.

    It seems that the show’s head writer Michael Waldron is having some fun teasing their potential inclusion in an interview with Vanity Fair. He doesn’t outright confirm it but finds a way to make it obvious that Tom Hiddleston might not be the only one to hold the mantle in the upcoming series, and how they might influence his journey throughout the various episodes.

    What being is more chaotic than Loki? What do you have to learn from any version of yourself?

    Vanity Fair goes on to discuss the comic origins of Kid Loki and Lady Loki. Especially the former is interesting, as some time ago it seemed like young actor Jack Veal may have nabbed the role of a prepubescent version of the Nordic god. We may get a clearer picture once the first episode premieres on June 9th. Hopefully, they won’t wait too long to give us a clearer picture of what trouble Loki will get into alongside TVA’s Morbius, especially if he will start talking to multiple incarnations of himself.

    Source: Vanity Fair

  • ‘Immortal Hulk’s Al Ewing and Ram V Taking over ‘Venom’

    ‘Immortal Hulk’s Al Ewing and Ram V Taking over ‘Venom’

    It looks like the iconic symbiote is heading in a new direction, as Marvel has just revealed the brand new creative team working on the next Venom run. In a blog post, they’ve announced that the masterminds behind IMMORTAL HULK, Al Ewing, and Ram V will bring their horror inspirations to the symbiote. They are planning a dramatic and dangerous new direction of the symbiote with Bryan Hitch lending his artistic talents to the new comic line. Ram V shared his enthusiasm about the chance to tackle such an iconic character and offer a new look at what it means to be possessed by a symbiote:

    When my editors at Marvel reached out about taking on Venom alongside Al Ewing and Bryan Hitch, I was not prepared for the kind of creative thrill it has been ever since. This story is going to expand and push the symbiote narrative and lore in even more unexpected and fantastic directions. It is also an utter thrill having the sort of call and response mechanic I’ve had with a writer like Al and an artist of Bryan’s caliber. Fans and new readers, strap in—you ain’t seen nothin’ yet.

    The team’s creative work on reimagining Hulk by exploring his horror roots offered a truly standout storyline in Marvel Comics’ historic line-up. The first artwork released for the 2021 entry in the franchise teases a space-focused storyline that is befitting the character’s roots. It also allows Al Ewing and Ram V to explore cosmic horrors in new and creative ways. It’ll be interesting to see how they continue the story that Donny Cates and Ryan Stegman explored into the King in Black crossover event. Whatever the future may hold, we’ll certainly get a lot more Venom-verse.

    Source: Marvel

  • ‘Creed III’ Eyeing Jonathan Majors as Michael B. Jordan’s Next Boxing Adversary

    ‘Creed III’ Eyeing Jonathan Majors as Michael B. Jordan’s Next Boxing Adversary

    It looks like Michael B. Jordan has found his next adversary for the third entry in the Creed series. Deadline reports that MGM is currently eyeing Lovecraft Country’s Jonathan Majors to take on the role of Adonis Creed’s next foe. The actor has been getting a lot of attention since his work on the critically-praised HBO series that explored racism and the supernatural in the United States. He broke out with his role in 2019’s The Last Black Man in San Francisco and has been cashing in one role after another. The actor is also joining the ever-expanding Marvel Cinematic Universe as the villain Kang the Conqueror in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania. He currently has two upcoming projects in the works. Majors will appear in Jeymes Samuel’s The Harder They Fall and Black Label Media’s Devotion.

    Deadline does report that his deal isn’t finalized. So, anything can happen in case he chooses to tackle a different project. If he decides to join the project, he will star alongside the returning Tessa Thompson and Phylicia Rashad. The upcoming Rocky spin-off will not feature Sylvester Stallone. It will be based on a script by Zach Baylin and Keenan Coogler. The film will also mark Michael B. Jordan’s directorial debut. It’s an exciting direction for the project and Majors would make for a great adversary in the ring. The film series tackles the legacy of Rocky, which could open up the possibility he might play a character related to Mr. T‘s Clubber Lang. Here’s hoping he signs on for the project.

    Source: Deadline

  • ‘Thor: Love and Thunder’ Wraps Production with a Tease of Korg’s New Look

    ‘Thor: Love and Thunder’ Wraps Production with a Tease of Korg’s New Look

    It looks like Marvel Studios’ Thor: Love and Thunder has officially wrapped production. Chris Hemsworth took to Instagram to share the news with an official still from the set. We once again get our look at a rockstar-inspired version of the God of Thunder. Of course, the actor wasn’t alone as he shared an image with director Taika Waititi. Now, what stands out is that he is in full Korg gear that gives us a glimpse at his film costume.

    It is funny to see the director with Korg’s head floating above him. He even went out of his way to add a shirt that acts like his rocky exterior. Thor’s overall design seems strongly inspired by Thunderstrike from the comics. He is generally seen wearing jeans on set, especially those that were made four months ago where he is standing alongside the Guardians of the Galaxy. It certainly is a new direction for the character but fits perfectly into Waititi’s sense of humor.

    Thor: Ragnarok already took a step away from the character’s iconic long blonde hair and Asgardian humor. It seems that in exchange for his hair growing out again, he had to sacrifice his usual armor. Hemsworth also seems to continue growing with each film, as his workout routine promises a true heavy hitter with this version of the character. It’ll be interesting to see how the film will work in his travel through the galaxy and the return of Natalie Portman‘s Jane Foster, who is also taking on the iconic role of the Mighty Thor. At this point, anything can happen and we are in for a ride no matter what.

    Source: Instagram

  • REPORT: First Details on Thor’s ‘What If’ Episodes Tease an Intergalactic Party

    REPORT: First Details on Thor’s ‘What If’ Episodes Tease an Intergalactic Party

    It’s fascinating how much we’ve seen from Thor: Love and Thunder‘s set but we still have no idea how the pieces fit together. Just recently, we got photos revealing our favorite God of Thunder ready for a workout and even a secret set for New Asgard. Yet, it’s not the only time that Thor will get the spotlight in the coming months, as Illuminerdi has just offered some more details on the Thor-centric What If episode. It seems that his episode will explore the scenario that he never finds his humility on Earth but instead decides to throw an intergalactic party there. Of course, a planet of that size will draw the attention of the wrong people that could even end the world.

    We may have already gotten our first look at Party Thor from the series’ first merchandise leaks. There is also a chance he was heavily featured in the first trailers, as we saw a recreation of the first Thor film. Perhaps he was able to pull out Mjolnir on the first try and that sets off the events of this episode. If he never learned what it meant to be unworthy, he wouldn’t have become the Asgardian he is today.

    We’ve already gotten our first look at Party Thor from the series’ first merchandise leaks. He was included on a t-shirt with the name “Party Thor” similar to how the alternative version of Captain America as a Zombie is simply titled “Zombie Captain America.” We still don’t know if these multiple episodes might connect throughout the first season especially with the tease of the Guardians of the Multiverse.

    Source: Illuminerdi

  • Seth Rogen Reveals August 2023 Release Date for CG ‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles’ Film

    Seth Rogen Reveals August 2023 Release Date for CG ‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles’ Film

    Seth Rogen has been busy dipping his toes in almost every major pop culture project of late. His production company Point Grey Pictures recently garnered a lot of su0ccess with their animated adaptation of Invincible. He also acts as an executive producer on the popular Amazon series The Boys, where he even had a few cameos. Now, their next major project is a CGI animated film based on the popular Nickelodeon franchise Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Around two months ago, the rumor hit the web that they’re already looking for the four brothers. Now, Rogen took to Twitter to reveal the release date for the upcoming film with a small visual that seems to stem from Leonardo’s science lesson.

    It is still uncertain which direction they will take the characters. The original comic was quite a bit darker before the 80s animated series gave it a child-friendly vibe. Even the latest adaptations have played around with different styles that continue to make the franchise a mainstay in popular culture. There are countless storylines to chose from, as they may try to avoid introducing the long-time villain Shredder in the first entry. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles has a lot of franchise potential.

    So, they might be mapping out a storyline that could be built upon if the first entry is a success. Rogen‘s track record has proven he is a powerhouse in the industry and it will be exciting to see what visual style we can expect from this CG-animated film. The actor and producer seem excited about the project. So, we might expect quite a few teases in the coming years as we near the August 11th release date

    Source: Twitter

  • Paul Bettany Reveals That White Vision’s Future Post-‘WandaVision’ Remains Uncertain

    Paul Bettany Reveals That White Vision’s Future Post-‘WandaVision’ Remains Uncertain

    WandaVision introduced the world to Marvel Studios’ first venture into Disney+. It offered a unique tale as Wanda faced her guilt and finally learned to let go of the past. While she was able to say farewell to her love, viewers know that Vision isn’t truly gone. After a heated debate on which is the original, White Vision’s memories were restored and he flew off into the big unknown. We still have no idea what Marvel Studios has planned for the character and it seems neither does the actor who portrays him. In an interview with The Playlist, Paul Bettany revealed that there have been no discussions regarding his character’s future.

    I mean, I guess it would be difficult to introduce White Vision and not deal with him in some way, but we have not discussed that.

    The actor makes a good point that they wouldn’t sideline the introduction of Vision only to drop him. Some time ago, we pitched an idea to explore a Vision Quest spin-off with the character trying to find his identity after the Boat of Theseus discussion. There is also a chance he might have a role in Armor Wars. The series will tackle Tony’s weapons falling into the wrong hands, which could include the Synthezoid. Hopefully, we’ll get a clearer idea of where Bettany’s character is heading after the events of WandaVision. Wanda will be busy in the upcoming Doctor Strange sequel and it is uncertain if that may also tie into his return.

    Source: The Playlist via The Direct

  • ‘A Quiet Place Part 2’ Trumps ‘Cruella’s Box Office Over Memorial Day Weekend

    ‘A Quiet Place Part 2’ Trumps ‘Cruella’s Box Office Over Memorial Day Weekend

    Godzilla vs. Kong brought in a new era for post-pandemic cinema, as it seemed to showcase that there was a future for indoor sitting after all. Now, the trend is being continued as Paramount’s A Quiet Place Part II opened with $19.3M on a Friday. Even with a weaker Sunday, the film managed to gross $47.4M over three days and $57M with the four-day opening weekend. It’s not too far away from the pre-pandemic predicted $60M opening for the film. Currently, the film is slated to hit Paramount+ after a 45-day theatrical release, which might become the new norm for other projects moving forward.

    On the flip side, there was Disney’s latest cinematic release with Cruella that managed to earn $26.5M over the four-day weekend. While it wasn’t able to compete with the A Quiet Place sequel, it still managed to pull in a respectable number. The guess is that its release on Disney+ Premier Access strongly afflicted its release. Disney’s Global Theatrical Distribution Head, Tony Chambers, shared his enthusiasm over the weekend performance:

    This weekend repped for many their first experience going back to the theater and seeing the security measures in place. Audiences got to watch the trailers for the upcoming summer blockbuster movies this summer. It will invite them to come back and do it all over again.

    As to be expected, no numbers were revealed on Cruella’s performance on the mouse’s streaming service. Still, US cinemas managing to cross the $80M mark over a 3-day weekend is a good sign for where cinemas are heading. July could see another uptick in overall performance within cinemas. Of course, Memorial Day weekend would normally peak around $200M to $300M, but we are still some time away from returning to a pre-pandemic Box Office. It’ll be interesting to see how strong Disney’s next major entry, Marvel Studios’ Black Widow, will do once it premiers on July 9th.

    Source: Deadline

  • Latest ‘Eternals’ Merchandise Hints at a Thanos Connection

    Latest ‘Eternals’ Merchandise Hints at a Thanos Connection

    Even after the first trailer was released for Marvel Studios’ Eternals, we still know very little about the film’s plot. There have been rumors giving us a small hint at how it comes together. We see the alien race of humanoids help in humanity’s evolution as they claim to have never intervened in the events of people. There was only a brief glimpse at the main antagonists, the Deviants, but nothing concrete of where they came from, or their creation at the hands of the Celestials. In Avengers: Infinity War, we got a brief glimpse at their comic homeworld, Titan, yet there was no hint if they have some connection to the Mad Titan. Luckily, Twitter user @Eternalsupdate noticed a new listing on Amazon that revealed their homeworld.

    Living on Saturn’s moon, Titan, the Eternals protect Earth from the Deviants–and all other forms of cosmic evil.

    It is the first time that their origin is tied to Titan in some capacity. Of course, it is merchandise so it could change or not be addressed in the film directly. Yet, the same Twitter user also noticed in the MCU-canon Marvel’s Avengers Station exhibit that there is a mention he was the last of his species.

    Now, the latest trailer confirmed the timing of the film, or at least part of it, will take place after the events of Avengers: Endgame. Perhaps it was the Mad Titan that banished them to Earth and stripped them from their memory, which is why they weren’t involved in the mess. It also opens up the possibility of Thanos potentially appearing in the film in some capacity. In the comics, he has part of the Deviant gene and is the reason for his purple appearance, which could get explored in some capacity as we uncover what exactly these mysterious villains truly are. No matter what direction they are heading with Eternals, it’s exciting to see how it may influence the ever-expanding Marvel Cinematic Universe. It’s also great that more evidence is hinting at their connection to Thanos and Titan, which seemed oddly sidelined so far.

    Source: Amazon, Twitter

  • REPORT: ‘Secret Invasion’ Eyeing ‘True Detective’s Carmen Ejogo

    REPORT: ‘Secret Invasion’ Eyeing ‘True Detective’s Carmen Ejogo

    Marvel Studios continues to expand, as we are still anxiously awaiting the release of their next Disney+ series, Loki. Now, they are already busy with various other productions that will continue to expand the franchise in new and creative ways. During their December Investors event, Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige revealed that the classic comic storyline, Secret Invasion, would get adapted with the confirmed return of Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury and Ben Mendelsohn as Talos. So far, the series already has a stacked cast and t seems they might be adding True Detective‘s Carmen Ejogo. She was given an offer for a role that is described to be a powerful leader with a “spy” feel from the same world as Fury. It seems likely she might be a former director of SHIELD if Ejogo decides to accept the offer.

    The actress is a fantastic addition after her roles as Coretta Scott King in 2014’s Selma and appearing in the Harry Potter spin-offs Fantastic Beasts. It seems that they originally were eyeing an African-American or Asian actress in the age of 50 to 70, but kept it open to also casting someone in their mid-late 40s which matches Ejogo‘s age. It’ll be interesting to see how much of a spy thriller this series ends up being that features the invasion of an alien species that can turn into anyone. She would be joining a cast that includes Christopher McDonald, Olivia Colman, Emilia Clarke, and many more. It is slated to enter production soon. So, maybe we get a better picture what roles they have once we get our first look at the set.

    Source: Illuminerdi