Murphy's Multiverse

Author: Joseph Aberl

  • New ‘Uncharted’ Game and ‘The Last Of Us’ Remake In Development as Sony Faces Internal Strife

    New ‘Uncharted’ Game and ‘The Last Of Us’ Remake In Development as Sony Faces Internal Strife

    Bloomberg’s Jason Schreier took a closer look at Sony’s recent issues adapting to the market and their strong focus on Blockbuster-level games. It looks like an internal shift at the company led to the company’s Sony’s Visual Arts Service Group to take a more active hand in game development. It ended up leading to some unrest with the various departments of the massive cooperation.

    There are also some game-related reveals in this report. It seems Sony is working on a PlayStation 5 remake of 2013’s The Last of Us for their next-gen console. It looks like a secretive team was working on it before it got passed back to the franchise creator, Naughty Dog. The problem was that this team was never fully supported and led Michael Mumbauer, the founder of Visual Arts Service Group, to leave the company after founding this small team. This revelation also confirms that Sony’s conservative approach to its game development may hurt them in the long term. It seems at one point they wanted to remake the first Uncharted but realized that the modern game would’ve been easier to produce, but if their work would’ve been successful, they would return to their initial pitch.

     

    Bericht: Naughty Dog arbeitet an Remake von The Last of Us - und ein Days Gone 2 wird nicht kommen • Eurogamer.de

     

    Their strong focus on only allowing successful or proven studios to take the reigns on massive projects has led to some internal strife. Santa Monica, Naughty Dog, and Guerrilla Games have become their go-to choices. Their niche teams and studios have seen a high turnover, such as the Japanese office seeing massive departures. The teams behind Gravity Rush and Everybody’s Golf are no more, as the studio moves away from niche projects that aren’t 100% proven profitability worldwide. This development proves a point made by Iron Galaxy Studios founder Dave Lang.

    The people funding the work are often risk-averse, and if they have to pick between a team that’s done it before, and someone trying to do it on their own for the first time, I can see why some people pick the prior developer over the latter.

    The Sony Bend division has also seen the results of this new direction. Their pitch for a Days Gone sequel was canceled due to the initial game’s decent sales and mixed reviews. Now the studio is split to help Naughty Dog with a multiplayer game, which many still believe to be part of the initial The Last of Us 2 release. The other half of their team is working on a new Uncharted game. Naughty Dog will supervise the project. Yet, it is uncertain at what stage this project is at the moment. Sadly, the small team led by Mumbauer has pretty much disbanded, and these decisions are opening up a lot of questions about Sony’s future approach in the gaming market.

    Source: Bloomberg

  • Dwayne Johnson-led ‘Black Adam’ Adds Bodhi Sabongui in Key Role

    Dwayne Johnson-led ‘Black Adam’ Adds Bodhi Sabongui in Key Role

    It looks like Dwayne Johnson’s upcoming superhero film keeps growing with each passing day. The Hollywood Reporter has just revealed that rising actor Bodhi Sabonui will have a key role in the upcoming Shazam spin-off. The plot remains largely a mystery and the 13-year-old actor’s role is also not disclosed in the article. He is joining quite a cast that consists of Pierce Brosnan, Aldis Hodge, Noah Centineo, and Quintessa Swindell. The Canadian actor has already appeared in another DC project, CW’s Legends of Tomorrow. He has also appeared in A Million Little Things, The Babysitters Club, and The Main Event. Black Adam will be his biggest project yet that is set to film this week.

    The film will tell the story of Theo-Adam. In the comics, the character has been commonly known as an anti-hero. We were teased bout his origin during the DC FanDome panel last year in August, where Johnson introduced us to his upcoming origins. He was given the powers of the wizard Shazam before being imprisoned for his misdeeds. After 5,000 years he is free and will take his vengeance on the world. He will also come face-to-face with the Justice Society of America. Jaume Collet-Serra will bring the film to life after working together with The Rock on Disney’s Jungle Cruise film. It’s going to be interesting to see how the film sets up Adam’s story. We’ll see if it might even tie directly into the upcoming Shazam sequel.

    Source: The Hollywood Reporter, Instagram

  • New ‘Hawkeye’ Set Photos Offer Closer Look at Alaqua Cox’s Echo

    New ‘Hawkeye’ Set Photos Offer Closer Look at Alaqua Cox’s Echo

    It has been some time since we got our last look at the Hawkeye set. A while back, we got our first look at the new supporting character of Maya Lopez, who is better known as Echo. Alaqua Cox will debut as the deaf Native American character in the series, which will then be the jumping-off point into her own Disney+ show. It is still uncertain how her character fits into the story that is set up, but her comic origins include her carrying the title of Ronin at some point, which may play a factor.

    The newly released photos offer a better look at Cox. She isn’t wearing a comic-accurate costume and the iconic white handprint on her face is missing. Still, it looks like the show is taking a more grounded approach with her in motorcycle gear. After taking a closer look and with the help of our amazing Discord, she does have her comic symbol embroider in the leather jacket. If you look closely it also looks like she is joined by Fra Fee, who is playing Kazi in the series, which could imply them working together.

    Check out the images on Just Jared by clicking here.

    It’ll be interesting to see how her story intertwines with Clint’s, as he tries to teach a young Kate Bishop how to become the next Hawkeye. They may take the angle of her also wanting to take on his mantle, such as becoming the new Ronin. There are many different angles they can take with her character. The fact she is getting a spin-off show may also hint at a larger role moving forward. Her comic incarnation has close ties to Daredevil, which could be an interesting angle to work on with his potential appearance in Spider-Man: No Way Home. Whatever direction they go, we will find out later this year when the show premieres on Disney+.

    Source: Just Jared

     

  • ‘Marvel’s Avengers’ Updates Roadmap; Confirms ‘Black Widow’ Tie-In For May

    ‘Marvel’s Avengers’ Updates Roadmap; Confirms ‘Black Widow’ Tie-In For May

    It’s already been a few weeks since Clint Barton got released as Marvel’s Avengers’ second DLC character. At the time, we got our first look at the game’s roadmap, and we’ve been anxiously waiting for an update on when we can expect the various events to release. The first to arrive is the Tachyon Anomaly, which most of us guessed as an April release. They even have a tie-in event to the upcoming Black Widow film titled Red Room Takeover, which seemed like the perfect release for May. The recent delay of the upcoming Marvel Studios film could’ve been a sign that the tie-in missions may have gotten delayed. Well, the latest War Table blog revealed that it is sticking to its May release date. It even confirms our theory regarding the Tachyon Anomaly.

     

     

    Now, we still don’t have an exact release date for the Tachyon Anomaly. Yet, its placement might point to it potentially getting revealed by next week. Its structure would also point to each one of these events or releases taking place within a month. So, Black Panther may release in August going by this structure. We know that the Omega-Level Threat Missions will also drop once they are ready. This roadmap is just an indicator for the next few months, and they might continue to update it as time goes by. It is great to know that we’ll get our first event this month as the game starts to expand beyond its current structure.

    Source: Play Avengers

  • Netflix Will Become Sony Pictures’ Exclusive Streaming Home

    Netflix Will Become Sony Pictures’ Exclusive Streaming Home

    It looks like we won’t be getting a Sony streaming service shortly. According to IndieWire, Sony Pictures and Netflix have made a deal to turn Netflix into their exclusive streaming home as of 2022. Its upcoming films like Venom: Let There Be Carnage, Morbius, Uncharted, and Bullet Train will be heading directly to Netflix after they left theaters and are released physically. They’ve also inked a first-look deal. So, we will see more Netflix Originals produced by Sony. It’s another massive gain for the streaming service after crossing the 200M subscriber mark and purchasing the Knives Out sequels. Netflix’s Head of Global Films, Scott Stuber, gave the following statement:

    Sony Pictures is a great partner and we are thrilled to expand our relationship through this forward-thinking agreement. This not only allows us to bring their impressive slate of beloved film franchises and new IP to Netflix in the U.S., but it also establishes a new source of first run films for Netflix movie lovers worldwide.

    Now, there is one big question mark that hangs over everyone’s head, and that is how this will affect Sony’s relationship with Disney. The current live-action Spider-Man films are co-produced by the studios. Marvel Studios tackles the creative output so that it aligns with their Marvel Cinematic Universe. It may not directly affect their production, but it does mean that the latest adaptations won’t be available on Disney+ anytime soon. There is a chance that they might make an additional deal and share the rights, but anything is game in the current streaming wars. Deadline confirms that the Spider-Man installments are part of the deal. So, it doesn’t look like the wall-crawler will be available on Disney+ anytime soon for the foreseeable future.

    Source: IndieWire

  • RUMOR: ‘The Mandalorian’s Din Djarin May Cameo in ‘The Book of Boba Fett’

    RUMOR: ‘The Mandalorian’s Din Djarin May Cameo in ‘The Book of Boba Fett’

    We’re going to wait a bit longer for the third season of The Mandalorian. Luckily, we’ll get a brand new series titled The Book of Boba Fett to tie us over until the return of Din Djarin. At least that was what we expected, as the iconic Bounty Hunter took over center stage. It seems that Cinelinx has heard from independent sources that Din will also make an appearance in the upcoming spin-off. So far, he would be the only familiar face from the first Disney+ series to join the show, which will focus on Ming-Na Wen‘s Fennec Shand and Temura Morrison’s Boba Fett.

    They do point out that there are multiple reports on why the character may show up in the new series, but nothing concrete. He will most likely only make a brief appearance, as it may tie into his next adventure. We don’t know how they went their separate ways after the finale from The Mandalorian‘s second season. It could pick up from there and fill the gaps. There is a chance that other characters might also make an appearance.

    There is a chance that the various shows that’ll spin out of the first might come together for a major story arc. So, The Book of Boba Fett might continue to build on that while he goes down his bingo book to take revenge on those that wronged him. Hopefully, it means that we’ll get more of Ming-Na Wen and Temura Morrison in the other spin-offs as well. It’ll be interesting to see how Din’s story continues after parting ways with Grogu. We might get a hint at his upcoming season once Boba’s ends.

    Source: Cinelinx

  • WarnerMedia No Longer Releasing Its Films Simultaneously in Theaters and HBO Max as of 2022

    WarnerMedia No Longer Releasing Its Films Simultaneously in Theaters and HBO Max as of 2022

    Warner Bros. surprised everyone when they decided that every major release of 2021 will be available simultaneously in cinemas and on their streaming service, HBO Max. We’ve seen others follow suit, such as Disney releasing their films on their new Disney+ Premier Access, like Black Widow. The pandemic is still an active problem that doesn’t have an end in sight for now. So, it is difficult to really pinpoint where everything is heading.

    Luckily, Godzilla vs. Kong managed to defy expectations and nab 48M in the local Box Office. It was a sign that maybe things can go back to normal. Yet, it looks like WarnerMedia is not quite done with its streaming strategy, as CEO Jason Kilar revealed in an interview with Recode Media that they are switching it up next year:

    I think it’s very fair to say that a big, you know, let’s say a big DC movie … it’s very fair to say that that would go exclusively to theaters first and then go to somewhere like an HBO Max after it’s in theaters.

    As such, The Batman‘s upcoming 2022 release will head to theaters before releasing on the streaming platform unlike this year’s The Suicide Squad. It matches a recent announcement where the Regal theater chain made a deal for a 45-day exclusive showing before it is allowed to be streamed. It was never officially confirmed until now, as pointed out by recode. The decision makes sense and we might see it with many other films. It is common for digital releases to come out before they’re available physically. We might see Disney also echoed this strategy in the near future to promote Disney+ followed by many other publishers with streaming services.

    Source: Recode Media via Vox, Deadline

  • First Set Photos of CW’s ‘Powerpuff Girls’ Reveal the Iconic Outfits

    First Set Photos of CW’s ‘Powerpuff Girls’ Reveal the Iconic Outfits

    Well, it didn’t take long for our first look at the live-action adaptation of the Powerpuff Girls to find its way online. The production has just begun on CW’s now-titled Powerpuff series that will explore the teenage life of the iconic sisters. Dove Cameron, Chloe Bennet, and Yana Perrault are taking on the roles of the iconic characters. The first images offer a closer look at the trio in some easily recognizable outfits for long-time fans of the Cartoon Network series. IT is surprisingly very faithful to the original series with its simple design. TMZ even includes a video of them flying off with Donald Faison‘s Professor Utonium in the background. It seems they are in front o the iconic house from the original series, which seems to have been faithfully replicated for this series.

     

    https://i0.wp.com/celebrityslammer.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/b07798230f4f450597130f9a72b3ee50_xl.jpg?w=1200&ssl=1

     

    Luckily, the outfits from the original Cartoon Network series are quite simple in design. It is just strange seeing adults wear them. They still managed to translate them well into live-action and it’ll be interesting to see how they’ll change their look once they embrace the teen angst part of the story. The way it is shot, t almost seems like this is early in the pilot episode when they confront Utonium about spending most of their childhood fighting monsters and villains. It is surprising to see the older version of these characters wear these outfits, as it seemed more like something they would jokingly tease in the background. Either way, it’ll be interesting to see how this design will look in the show and how it’ll tie together with the confirmed appearance of Mojo Jojo’s son.

    Source: TMZ

  • ‘Black Widow’s May Have Tripled Its Potential Box Office Through the Delay

    ‘Black Widow’s May Have Tripled Its Potential Box Office Through the Delay

    Godzilla vs. Kong may have finally achieved what seemed impossible a few months ago. It garnered more than $300M worldwide in the first two weeks, which seemed to imply the potential of releasing films in theaters and on streaming services simultaneously instead of delaying. Yet, it looks like an early analysis has pointed to Marvel Studios’ choice to delay Black Widow into July may have been a blessing in disguise.

    According to The Numbers, their predictions have moved the film’s Box Office from $45M up to $135M. As Observer points out, it is a far cry from its original 300M+ opening during non-pandemic times, but it might become the largest opening since cinemas closed last year. Currently, 55% of cinemas are only opening with reduced seating. It is uncertain how much that will change by then. Plus, it is mostly focusing on its domestic debut, which also opens up the question of how it’ll expand internationally.

    The interesting aspect is that this potential uptick in Box Office numbers would also take into account that the film will be available through Disney+ Premier Access. This development may also be a clear sign that Shang-Chi and the Legend of Ten Rings will be a theatre-only release once it premieres in September. It explains why there was no mention of it during the announcement. We have to keep in mind that anything can happen until it releases, but it is a positive development and is a sign that the delays are slowly coming to an end. Other tentpole releases for 2021 are also seeing better predictions for now. So, let’s be hopeful that we are entering a new age once more.

    Source: The Numbers via Observer

  • RUMOR: Ryan Reynolds ‘Deadpool’ R-Rated Series In Development for Hulu

    RUMOR: Ryan Reynolds ‘Deadpool’ R-Rated Series In Development for Hulu

    We have seen quite an R-rated animation boom. It has also gotten the attention of the comic book industry. DC’s animated series Harley Quinn offered a rather bloody look at Gotham and its villains with enough humor to balance its bubbly characters. It looks like it may have also gotten Marvel and Marvel Studios’ attention that there is a potential market here. The site Bubbleblabber reported on the recent news that Disney started the 20th Century Animation studio. In the Deadline report, they’ve revealed that various new projects are n development. They would join the currently produced eleven shows, such as Family Guy, Bob’s Burgers, Central Park, and many more. According to the site Bubbleblabber, one of those mystery projects is an R-rated Deadpool series starring Ryan Reynolds, who may be in talks for the titular role.

    It is interesting to note that Deadpool 3 is in active development, as we know they are already preparing the script for the film, which will be part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. There was no mention of this series that will connect to the MCU. If they manage to get Ryan Reynolds involved, it would be a creative way to continue Deadpool’s adventures in the MCU. It isn’t the first attempt at an R-rated adaptation of the Merc with a Mouth. Donald Glover was developing a series for FXX alongside Marvel Television. The series was going to be run by him and his brother Stephen Glover. We have no further news on this new adaptation. So, it could be in a very early conceptual stage. We have to this news with a grain of salt for now.

    Source: Deadline, Bubbleblabber, Inverse