Murphy's Multiverse

Author: Joseph Aberl

  • ‘Mortal Kombat’ Release Pushed Back To Give ‘Godzilla vs. Kong’s More Time In the Spotlight

    ‘Mortal Kombat’ Release Pushed Back To Give ‘Godzilla vs. Kong’s More Time In the Spotlight

    Well, it seems that Warner Bros. wants to bank on their upcoming Godzilla vs. Kong release, as they’ve decided to postpone Mortal Kombat‘s release by a week. As Deadline points out, the latest entry in the Monsterverse has been garnering a lot of attention and Box Office buzz. So, it isn’t too surprising that the studio wants to cash in on the current revival of cinema and give tomorrow’s release some breathing room. Mortal Kombat also has been quite a success with its initial reveal, as it is the most viewed red band trailer at around 116M views. So, it seems they want to make sure both films get enough time to bank on their potential success.

    As of now, Mortal Kombat will release on April 23rd. It’s the next film delay after Black Widow was pushed into July alongside many other Disney properties. Of course, the difference isn’t as bad and we can wait another week after it already got pushed back from its initial January release.

    Godzilla vs. Kong is going to be a beast that has already reenergized the international Box Office. So, Warner Bros. is hoping to get their money back on both properties, which have had some amazing early buzz. Of course, they will still be available on HBO Max at the same time. If they can revive cinema and add to their subscriber count, they will probably be looking into adjusting their overall schedule to ensure that each film has enough breathing room moving forward.

    Source: Deadline

  • CW ‘Powerpuff Girls’ Adds Donald Faison as Professor Utonium and a New Title

    CW ‘Powerpuff Girls’ Adds Donald Faison as Professor Utonium and a New Title

    The CW’s Powerpuff Girls pilot has been busy finding its cast. Just recently, we got our first look at its main trio. Chloe Bennet, Dove Cameron, and Yana Perrault will play the sisters in their 20s, who are disenfranchised growing up as superheroines. Of course, part of that blame goes to their “father” Professor Utonium, who has yet to be cast. Luckily, Variety has unveiled that Donald Faison will tackle the iconic role in the upcoming pilot. The series based on the Cartoon Network series by Craig McCracken will also be renamed to just Powerpuff.

     

    YARN | Hello, Professor Utonium. It's very nice to meet you. | The Powerpuff Girls (2002) | Video clips by quotes | 1ab5c0bb | 紗

     

    Faison‘s interpretation of the character is described as “quirky, debonair, and a pinch narcissistic.” It looks like he’ll be facing his midlife crisis throughout the series, as he tries to make up for the past and get back together with his now-adult daughters. The description matches the series general approach by making these characters more adult yet stays true to their animated counterparts. Donald Faison has built-up quite the comedic career with his time on Scrubs alongside Zach Braff. They also have a podcast named Fake Doctors Real Friends inspired by their time on set.

    It’ll be interesting to see his quirky sense of humor coupled with the darker themes teased by the series’ description. He may be in contrast to his daughters’ now-adult look at the world. His hope to reconnect with them might become a sticking point, as he tries to play on their time as children while not accepting they grew up. Even if a live-action adaptation of Powerpuff Girls is still a curious choice, the show’s casting has been very impressive so far.

    Source: Variety

  • ‘The Flash’ Adds Jordan Fisher as Bart Allen

    ‘The Flash’ Adds Jordan Fisher as Bart Allen

    It looks like CW’s The Flash has added one more speedster. According to Variety, Jordan Fisher has joined the cast as Bart Allen. Comic fans might recognize him as the superhero Impulse. As his name implies, he is Barry and Iris’ son from the future. He is described as “wildly impulsive,” which makes it difficult for Barry and Iris to keep him in check. He’ll make his debut in the series 150th episode during its seventh season. He will be a recurring guest star. So, we can expect a lot more from the actor throughout the later half of The Flash.

    Fisher has quite the resume as an actor, musician, and dancer. He has appeared in films, television, and on Broadway. He has appeared in Hamilton, Teen Wolf, and voiced She-Ra and the Princess of Power. So, he is quite a talented get for the long-running show and it will be interesting to see how the addition of Bart Allen might change the overall dynamic.

    It will be the second child of the Allen’s to be introduced in the show, as we also were introduced to Nora West-Allen from an alternate future. Her fate was left ambiguous. So, it’ll be interesting to see how they explore the dynamic. She is still remembered by the team, as hinted at in the new timeline. Perhaps Bart gets a little sister at some point in this new part of the multiverse. The show has played around a lot with timetravel. It adds an interesting wild factor to whatever the writers have planned in the future.

    Source: Variety

  • Latest ‘Spider-Man: Miles Morales’ Update Includes a New Free Suit

    Latest ‘Spider-Man: Miles Morales’ Update Includes a New Free Suit

    Here’s an interesting little update. We’ve been talking a lot about Marvel’s Avengers game until now, but it looks like the other 2020 Marvel game, Spider-Man: Miles Morales, is getting some more love. Insomniac and Marvel Games took to Twitter to announce that the upcoming patch will include a nice little bonus suit. As shown in the tweet below, we will get the Advanced Tech Suit, which combines Miles’ iconic color scheme with a more technologically advanced version. It seems inspired by Peter Parker’s Anti-Ock Suit from the first Insomniac Spider-Man game.

    The Spider-Man games have been incredible at adapting iconic costumes. The latest remaster of the first game even added some new skins. Of course, Peter Parker has a long history in the comics and live-action. So, they were able to include a long list of costumes that we’ve seen throughout our childhood. Miles Morales may be a recent addition, but he also includes some incredible costumes. Insomniac has also included some great-looking original costumes, which they continue with the latest free inclusion. I always like how the designers play around with the iconic Spider symbol by making them feel more distinct with each suit. It’ll be interesting to see what the next Spider-Man game might surprise us with.

    Source: Twitter

  • ‘Godzilla vs. Kong’s Adam Wingard Adapting ‘ThunderCats’

    ‘Godzilla vs. Kong’s Adam Wingard Adapting ‘ThunderCats’

    Adam Wingard’s latest film, Godzilla vs. Kong, hasn’t even hit theaters or HBO Max, but he is already eyeing his next major project. According to Deadline, the director is now deadset on adapting the 1985 Rankin Bass animated series, ThunderCats. In previous interviews, he has been open about his passions regarding adapting the animated classic. So, it is great to see him get the chance to make his dreams a reality.

    The report states that he will use the animated series as a jumping-off point for his adaptation. It will not be a live-action adaptation but rather a hybrid of CGI and classic animation. It had already been developed by Rideback’s Dan Lin and Vertigo’s Roy Lee for some time. A script was prepared by David Coggeshall, which Wingard will rewrite. It will still take some time before we see anything from the upcoming film.

    The original series focused on an alien race, which looked like humanoid cats. Their home planet Thundera was dying. So, they flee their homeworld and end up in a battle with the Mutants of Plun-Darr. Their goal was to capture the mystic Sword of Omens, which is in the possession of the ThunderCat’s leader, Lion-O. They crash-land on a planet known as Third Earth, where they fight the evil overlord Mumm-Ra. The series has seen a few revivals in the past years, such as Cartoon Network’s ThunderCats Roar. It’ll be interesting to see how Wingard wants to adapt to this iconic franchise.

    Source: Deadline

  • Taking a Closer Look at Disney+’s Pixar Premier Access Strategy

    Taking a Closer Look at Disney+’s Pixar Premier Access Strategy

    Disney has entered the streaming market. It has been a resounding success and has already surpassed 100 million subscribers. It saw an impressive boost in subscribers after the release of Pixar’s Soul in December. As such, it had already passed 90 million, and Marvel Studios’ WandaVision was only around the corner. Sadly, it seems that the pandemic has no end in sight. So, Marvel Studios and Disney decided to drop Black Widow through their Premier Access service in July. It joins Mulan and Raya and the Last Dragon, which could be purchased for an additional fee of $30 bucks to watch them three months early. The pricing has been questionable at times. It would at least make the films available for those still cautious about visiting cinemas.

     

    Black Widow' Super Bowl Trailer Shows Natasha's Superhero Family - Variety

     

    Now, it is understandable that Disney would want to make their cash back some way. It would seem that the streaming service won’t cover the costs of these massive blockbusters. Yet, Disney has also made some contradictory decision with their properties that makes the Premier Access debacle strange. The entertainment behemoth decided to release Soul for free on the service and is following-suit with Luca. Oddly, both Pixar productions get the same treatment, while Cruella gets the Premiere Access treatment. According to The Hollywood Reporter’s Matthew Belloni, Pixar is feeling it.

    It’s a strange decision that these properties are the only ones getting this type of treatment. There is probably a financial reason for it, but, understandably, Pixar employees aren’t thrilled by this. Soul was an emotionally gripping tale that would’ve left quite the impression in theaters worldwide. Luca would be sure to do the same, but there is no mention of a simultaneous release in theaters. Pixar is, by far, one of the biggest players in the animation market. So, the release of Raya and the Last Dragon but not Luca through Premier Access seems odd without this decision getting clarified by Disney.

    So, why would they decide to do this? Well, it probably is connected to two factors. On the one hand, Soul got released after the first attempt with Mulan seemed to falter. They decided to bite the bullet and hope that it would raise the overall subscription numbers. As we learned, it did manage to do that. Now, they must’ve believed that they can make up the production costs through the increase in subscribers. Yet, if Raya proved that the service could be profitable after all, it seems strange to sideline one of the most recognizable brands in the market.

     

    Watch the first trailer for Pixar's Luca - The Verge

     

    There is probably a reason for this decision, but only Disney can offer the complete picture. As it is now, it seems an odd choice to push the Premier Access brand as a showcase of their most-valued productions. If things “normalize,” we might never see this branding again. It was created as a reactionary option during the pandemic until theaters could open again. Godzilla vs. Kong has shown that some international markets have seen a resurgence in the Box Office, but it will still take some time before we’re talking about what we’ve seen before the pandemic started. Either way, it feels like a disservice to Pixar’s hard work and standing in the industry to not put it on their Premier Access selection. No matter why they took this route, the bigger question remains: what could be the fallout of this business decision? There is a possibility that the demoralized employees are just the first cracks to appear in the relationship between Pixar and Disney moving forward.

    Source: Twitter, The Verge, Digital TV

  • EXCLUSIVE: Amy Aquino Talks John Walker’s Challenge in ‘Falcon and the Winter Soldier’

    EXCLUSIVE: Amy Aquino Talks John Walker’s Challenge in ‘Falcon and the Winter Soldier’

    Amy Aquino has quite the filmography. She started her TV career with 1991’s Roseanne before becoming a mainstay on Brooklyn Bridge. Aquino started in film years before, as she appeared in 1987’s Moonstruck. She has recently appeared in series like Bosch, as well as Grace and Frankie. Now, she got the chance to tackle a new character in Disney+’s The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. She plays Dr. Christina Raynor, who helps Bucky overcome his inner demons. In an exclusive interview, she revealed there is one more character she thinks needs to be interviewed by Raynor.

    Well, at this point, number one on my list has got to be John Walker because he is in such a weird position. And, he is someone that I’ve known. I knew them, I fought with them. So, I get him. I think he could really use a little help taking this on. He’s a soldier. Now, he is doing this thing and they are doing all this hoopla around it. So, he can’t just focus to be a soldier but also this giant public figure. It’s a lot. I could start with him.

    John Walker is still a bit of a mystery box so far. We get a shade of his darker side, but they haven’t offered a full-glimpse at what may be lurking behind the pressure of being the new Captain America. There is also that brief mention of him not being able to “punch his way out,” which might be a good indicator that someone is not going to have a good time in a future episode. Hopefully, Aquino’s Dr. Raynor will return in the later episodes to give her a diagnosis on the insanity that will occur throughout the upcoming episodes. After the question, she also makes a reference to Dr. Banner, who would be a perfect patient for her. The heroes have to fight enough throughout their journeys in the MCU. So, there could be a future for Amy Aquino to reappear in other series or films.

    Source: IMDb

  • EXCLUSIVE: Amy Aquino Talks Bucky’s Inner Turmoil in ‘Falcon and the Winter Soldier’

    EXCLUSIVE: Amy Aquino Talks Bucky’s Inner Turmoil in ‘Falcon and the Winter Soldier’

    Falcon and the Winter Soldier continues Marvel Studios’ expansion into long-form storytelling and exploring the smaller side of their universe. Its action is certainly what we expect from the franchise, but they have started to explore a new aspect that wouldn’t get enough focus in a limited timeframe. We get to see the humanity of these characters. WandaVision focused on Wanda battling her grief and the losses she faced.

    The latest Marvel Studios project is the same. We get small moments that leave an essential impact on these characters lives. Ever since the show started, we got a lot of insight into Bucky’s mind through his court-mandated therapist, Dr.  Christina Raynor, who is played by the amazing Amy Aquino. Luckily, we got a chance to interview Aquino and she offered some interesting insight into Raynor’s motivations to help Bucky through his sessions.

    I think she takes it, she doesn’t, she takes it on a micro-level. Instead of saying: ‘Oh, this guy was a pawn for HYDRA and had all these super, you know, magical things happen to him. She is looking at him, Bucky, as a soldier, as a human being who had to do these things that horrify him. He is suffering from the same kind of post-traumatic stress that I went through myself and others went through, I want to save his life. I know if he doesn’t do this, he is going to die. He will kill himself.’

    Her approach to bringing Dr. Raynor to life really highlights the complexity of these characters. We’ve already seen Bucky fight the urge to hurt those that wronged him early on. The trailers have already teased that he’ll confront Zemo at gunpoint in a later episode. So, we might see the points she made reach their limits as the show continues. It also opens up the door to what the future holds for the former Winter Soldier. The title of the series would imply he might end up embracing it. He could turn that title into something positive. It wouldn’t be too out of place in a series about identity and living through someone else’s legacy. Sam is struggling to accept Steve Roger’s while Bucky does the same with his.

  • ‘Obi-Wan Kenobi’ Cast Includes Joel Edgerton, Kumail Nanjiani, Sung Kang, And Many More

    ‘Obi-Wan Kenobi’ Cast Includes Joel Edgerton, Kumail Nanjiani, Sung Kang, And Many More

    Disney+ has been slowly expanding. 2021 is going to be a major year for the streaming service, which will see a long-list of Marvel Studios’ shows premiere throughout the year. Of course, Star Wars also has quite a few shows planned with May’s Star Wars: The Bad Batch and The Book of Boba Fett at the end of the year. Of course, we learned of a slew of new productions starting this year that will continue to expand on the galaxy. On the official Twitter page, Star Wars unveiled the cast for their sequel to Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith, which will explore Obi-Wan Kenobi’s time after the Jedi Council has fallen. The casting list includes the already confirmed actors and some new and familiar faces.

    There are some stand-out castings here. Joel Edgerton returns as a young Owen Lars. He played the character in Star Wars. Episode II – Attack of the Clones and Episode III – Revenge of the Sith. Bonnie Piesse is also returning as Beru, his girlfriend, and future wife. Eternals star Kumail Nanijani has also joined the cast in an unspecified role. They’ve also nabbed Sung Kang of The Fast and Furious: Tokyo Drift fame. It is quite a cast and it’ll be interesting to see how the show tells this bridge story before he makes his return in A New Hope. They could even answer the question of how Ewan McGregor ages into Alec Guinness in a few years.

    Source: Twitter

  • Dwayne Johnson Unveils ‘Black Adam’s New Release Date at Times Square

    Dwayne Johnson Unveils ‘Black Adam’s New Release Date at Times Square

    DC has been busy preparing its future line-up. They just dropped Zack Snyder’s Justice League on HBO Max and are already hard at work on its future releases. We’ve been getting a lot of casting announcements for the upcoming Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson-led Black Adam film. a while back, it lost its original release date and it was uncertain if it may have been postponed. Recent casting announcements have changed that perception and we were waiting for the new one to drop. Well, it has finally arrived in a dramatic fashion that just matches Johnson‘s flair for the dramatic.

     

    We also got a visual accompanying the reveal that showcases the logo and new release date:

     

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    It is certainly a bold move to take over Times Square to reveal the release date. This marketing move shows how much influence Dwayne Johnson has and it is a cool surprise for anyone who was near there. It’s a classic guerrilla marketing tactic that is attention-grabbing and will get people to check it out once it hits theaters in July. The recent casting of Pierce Brosnan as Doctor Fate has probably also echoed across news outlets quite a bit.

    Black Adam will introduce the world to Teth-Adam and the Justice Society of America. It also will build-up towards the eventual clash between him and Zachary Levi‘s Shazam, who made his live-action debut in 2019. We are looking forward to what direction the film will take and, hopefully, we’ll get our first look at Dwayne Johnson in his full Black Adam attire.

    Source: Instagram, Twitter