Murphy's Multiverse

Author: Joseph Aberl

  • Marvel Studios’ ‘Loki’ to Premiere in June

    Marvel Studios’ ‘Loki’ to Premiere in June

    Here’s a surprising reveal. In December, Marvel Studios’ president Kevin Feige revealed the release dates for various upcoming Disney+ shows. We finally found out that Falcon and the Winter Soldier would premiere in March and it would be followed by Loki in May. Well, it looks like production for the series has been dragged out a bit longer, as Marvel Studios just unveiled that the series will premiere on June 11th on Disney+.

    It’s an interesting delay, as we originally predicted they are trying to release something new every week. Black Widow is still focused on getting that May release date, as we haven’t heard any plans on delaying it more. It would imply there will be a brief pause between Falcon and the Winter Soldier and Loki, so it will be interesting to see if they have something else to fill the gap or they want to give Black Widow some breathing room in theaters. The return of the God of Mischief will certainly bring us into a unique story, as he becomes involved with the TVA and faces different timelines throughout his journey.

    Source: Twitter

  • First Official Images for the Upcoming ‘Spider-Man’ Threequel Released Alongside Multiple Titles

    First Official Images for the Upcoming ‘Spider-Man’ Threequel Released Alongside Multiple Titles

    Update: Zendaya has joined the fun as well.

    Many mysteries are keeping Marvel Studios’ watchers on edge. We’ve been anxiously waiting for the reveal of how the entire events of WandaVision have unfolded and what the title will be for Spider-Man‘s third entry in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The film is set to release in December and has been in development for some time now. There were many theories about what the title would be, as they seemed rather keen on sticking to the “Home” titling of the past two. Now, Tom Holland took to Instagram and finally unveiled the title for the film, Spider-Man: Phone Home. Wait no, is it Spider-Man: Homewrecker?

    It looks like the cast of the upcoming threequel is having some fun with us, as they revealed our first look at the iconic trio of Peter, MJ, and Ned alongside various fake titles. It is a great way to play with us while we wait for the official reveal, as we were a little confused the moment we read Phone Home.

    Tom Holland wasn’t the only one but fellow actors have joined in for the fun with new images:

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CLpxI_oFrp2/

    The images certainly look to be real, especially with Jacob Batalon‘s Ned wearing the Midtown High jersey. These images seem to imply that they are trying to find a place that Peter can hide out while he is on the run from the police. After the end of Far From Home, he was framed for murder by Jake Gyllenhaal‘s Mysterio which will force him to leave his regular life behind. We have had a variety of rumors pointing to a multiversal storyline, so it’ll be interesting to see if we have to guess which title is the real one as they release more.

    Source: Instagram (Peter), Instagram (Batalon)

  • New ‘The Falcon and the Winter Soldiers’ Pictures Teases the Weight of Captain America’s Shield

    New ‘The Falcon and the Winter Soldiers’ Pictures Teases the Weight of Captain America’s Shield

    WandaVision is on everyone’s minds right now. Yet, we are only less than a month away from Marvel Studios’ next major Disney+ release, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. They’ve been busy releasing various TV spots to promote the show’s release while balancing various promotions for the one that is currently airing. A few days ago, we got a brief look at Wyatt Russell‘s Captain America, who seemed to be going through something. So far, the trailers have been very focused on the titular duo and keeping various secrets as they continue to promote it. They weren’t done yet as we got some brand new stills teasing the weight of the shield that Anthony Mackie‘s Sam Wilson will face in the series.

    The main focus of the series will be on Sam’s questioning of carrying on the title that was bestowed upon him. There is a good reason that the series is titled Falcon and not Captain America and the Winter Soldier. The first image is actually interesting, as it is the first time we see Sam try to pull it out of the tree. We got a lot of short snippets of him practicing, so either he underestimated his strength or Bucky was mean enough to throw it into the tree to prove a point.

    There is a fun detail if you take a close look at Bucyk holding the gun in the final image. His real fingers are sticking out of the metal hand, so these images might not have been touched up yet. It’s crazy to think that we only have two more weeks of WandaVision to go before we near the next entry in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. I cannot wait to see if they start exploring the vast history of the iconic Captain America shield.

    Source: Twitter

  • ‘Harley Quinn’s Started Recording for Its Third Season

    ‘Harley Quinn’s Started Recording for Its Third Season

    DC has been producing a variety of great shows in the last few years. What started with Titans has expanded into a plethora of original productions. They used the opportunity to explore the different aspects of the comic universe. Once Warner Bros. migrated them to HBO Max, we’ve seen a large increase in new shows entering a form of production. Of course, the sophomore series that started on the original DC Universe app is continuing, as well, such as the before-mentioned Titans currently in production.

    The stand-out, however, was the R-rated animated comedy Harley Quinn, which saw Kaley Cuoco take on the role of the Joker’s most iconic henchwoman. We got to see her grow into her love the course of two seasons, and many were ecstatic when the third got announced last September. We’ve been anxiously waiting for an update, and it looks like it finally arrived, as executive producer Patrick Schumacker shared an official update on Twitter.

    It is great to see the return of Diedrich Bader, Jim Rash, and Chris Meloni, who gave some iconic performances in the last two seasons. The idea of a washed-up Gordon just hanging on as best as he can be a genius interpretation of a commissioner living in the most crime-ridden city of the world. Bader was a perfect choice for this universe’s Batman, especially how much it contrasts the version he played in Batman: The Brave and the Bold. I cannot wait for the next season, especially how they plan to continue where the last one ended.

    Source: Twitter, IMDb

  • Uncovering the Real Identity of Lewis Tan’s Cole Young in ‘Mortal Kombat’

    Uncovering the Real Identity of Lewis Tan’s Cole Young in ‘Mortal Kombat’

    After a long wait, the Mortal Kombat trailer has finally released. It gave us a good look at the various iconic characters from gaming history in live-action. Not just that, but the trailer teased introduced us to a new character that is new to the franchise that started in 1992. Lewis Tan is playing a man named Cole Young, who seems to have a relevant role in the story. They don’t give away any real details besides the strange dragon birthmark on his chest. They are making a big deal to include this newcomer to such a degree he even got a motion poster alongside MK legacy characters. Lewis Tan is a great actor and a perfect addition to the franchise. It would make sense they want to highlight his inclusion. Yet, it makes you wonder: is there more to this character that they are teasing?

    https://twitter.com/MKMovie/status/1361997570776698880?s=20

    Unlike the first film adaptation, the film seems to be taking a unique direction with the story and isn’t jumping straight into the iconic tournament. It got teased briefly with a shot that alludes to the great Kung Lao, who won the last entry, but it seems the main focus is the ongoing conflict with Sub-Zero. He destroyed Jax’s arms, and it looks like there is a personal vendetta. What stands out is that there is a brief mention that Cole shares the same birthmark with their primary suspect, which implies a connection to Sub-Zero. What makes this so interesting is that they hide the iconic blue ninja’s identity in the trailers. Fans of the games will know that there are two that took on the role. Bi-Han was the first to hold the mantle before his younger brother Kuai Liang took over. It seems to imply that Cole might end up being Kuai, who got separated from Bi-Han at a young age. The big fight between Sub-Zero and Scorpion in an icy landscape reveals a third player, who seems to be Cole.

     

     

    It almost seems like Sub-Zero was after him before Hanzo Hasashi uttered the iconic line to pull him back. We know that these two continue the fight in some manner, so there is a chance that there is a running red herring about who is trying to protect Cole. Scorpion also plays a role in the character’s backstory. Earlier in the trailer, we briefly see Cole staring into the mirror before getting interrupted by a range premonition with Scorpion. It seems to imply that Cole might have some connection to those events. So, as a result of the attack, Cole was cast out from the Lin Kuei, Sub-Zero’s clan. Perhaps Hasashi took his vengeance on the Chinese assassins for killing his family, and Bi-Han tried to hide his brother’s identity so he wouldn’t get targeted. The conflict between the two iconic ninjas may be at the center of this film’s story.

     

     

    It would explain why the story moved away from focusing on Liu Kang, who usually is the stories’ protagonist. They want to switch it up and explore Cole to uncover his history. Perhaps he even learns to master his abilities. If they follow the game’s, Bi-Han’s fate may also be the motivation why Cole will enter the Mortal Kombat tournament. The battle between Scorpion and Sub-Zero has become a staple for the franchise, so they will probably continue fighting in future sequels. Sub-Zero’s introduction as a villain could lead to his potential downfall and future as a specter of darkness. His rivalry with Scorpion and his brother is one of the most iconic storylines of the franchise. It would make sense to try something new and focus on that development instead of going the usual destined warrior route with Liu Kang. I am excited to see which direction they are heading with this franchise once the reboot premieres in April.

    Source: Twitter, YouTube

  • Bruce Campbell May Be in London for ‘Doctor Strange In The Multiverse of Madness’

    Bruce Campbell May Be in London for ‘Doctor Strange In The Multiverse of Madness’

    Back in June, in an interview with Diabolique Magazine, Evil Dead actor Bruce Campbell gave a surprisingly insightful answer on Sam Raimi‘s upcoming Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness film. He has been a mainstay in Raimi‘s films, commonly appearing in a brief cameo, so many thought that the chances were good he would do the same for Raimi‘s first film since 2013’s Oz the Great and Powerful. Campbell may have revealed that he will potentially make an appearance, as he shared a brief video confirming that he is in London in quarantine.

    Of course, there is no confirmation that he is there explicitly. The only thing we know is that he is involved with the upcoming Evil Dead Now film. He confirmed that he doesn’t have a starring role but will only have a producing credit. Given their history, it just seems to make sense that he would also make an appearance in some form. They have kept the tradition for some time, as he also appeared in Oz The Great and Powerful. It would be amazing if they bring back the concept from Raimi‘s scrapped version of Spider-Man 4, which would’ve seen Campbell play the role of Mysterio.

    If they had the rights to the Evil Dead franchise, they could’ve paid tribute to one of the earlier Marvel Zombies runs, which features Ash Williams fighting an onslaught of zombified Marvel heroes. The Doctor Strange sequel’s focus on the multiverse offers a wide variety of possibilities to happen, so who knows what direction they might take if he is indeed joining the production.

    Source: Diabolique Magazine via The Direct, Twitter, Variety, Den of Geek, What Culture

  • Marvel Studios Has Begun Their Search for ‘Fantastic Four’ Writers

    Marvel Studios Has Begun Their Search for ‘Fantastic Four’ Writers

    Yesterday, a rather bizarre story dropped about the possibility of Jennifer Lawrence joining the Fantastic Four. The report by The Daily Telegraph tabloid claimed that she was heading to Australia to film it. It was strange that its director, Jon Watts, is still actively working on the untitled Spider-Man 3, as laid out in the original article. The rumor regarding Lawrence‘s casting mentioned she is also there to film a different series, which would have to be in production for some time if she were to join the other potentially. So, like with many rumors, we can only take it with a grain of salt. Justin Kroll took to Twitter to share some information on the production. He dropped the return of Chris Evans as Captain America around a month ago. It offers some insight into where the production of the Fantastic Four film currently is.

    Fantastic Four got revealed at the tail-end of Disney’s Investors Day’s Marvel Studios panel, so it makes sense that it is later down the production pipeline. They only recently hired Stacy Osei-Kuffour to pen Blade. They might be looking for writers for a variety of projects at the moment. Speaking of, they have cast Bahershala Ali in the role of the vampire hunter already in 2019, so it isn’t new for them to sign-up talent long before they enter any form of pre-production. They have cast actors early for them to make an appearance in earlier projects. Either way, it will be interesting to see who they might get to write the project about Marvel’s first family and the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s attempt at adapting the iconic characters.

    Source: Twitter, Deadline

  • ‘Ms. Marvel’ Production Heading to Bangkok Next

    ‘Ms. Marvel’ Production Heading to Bangkok Next

    Marvel Studios has been busy working on the various Disney+ shows that are eyeing a release this year. So far, we only know that Falcon and the Winter Soldier will start next month before Loki takes over in May. Right now, Hawkeye and Ms. Marvel are currently filming as they prepare to release in late 2021. Especially Ms. Marvel has been filming for some time, they even had enough to showcase a small sizzle reel during Disney’s Investors Day last year. It gave us our first look at newcomer Iman Vellani in the titular role. Now that an additional casting has been revealed, it looks like their current plans will see the production head to Bangkok. In a recent Instagram posting, atlanta_filming mentioned in the comments that the series is going to be heading to the iconic city of Thailand next.

    Our own sources back up the next shooting location, as they aim to wrap up its production in Atlanta next month. They would be heading to Bangkok shortly after, but it is unsure how it might be affected by the pandemic. Thailand may serve as the backdrop for a famous storyline from comics that took place in Badin, Pakistan. It is the hometown of Kareem, or better known as the hero Red Dagger. We know that Aramis Knight has joined the series in the role, so it could be how they introduce him. We have no details, so it is uncertain what they plan on shooting in the city, but it would be interesting to see the character explore her roots. It could also serve as a backdrop for some creative interior shots, so we’ll see once the show airs sometime later this year.

    Source: Instagram

  • RUMOR: Jennifer Lawrence Joins ‘Fantastic Four’

    RUMOR: Jennifer Lawrence Joins ‘Fantastic Four’

    So, this is a rather bizarre story but too interesting not to cover. Right now, Marvel Studios has started production on a variety of projects, such as Thor: Love and Thunder. They have been expanding beyond their usual Atlanta filming location, as Australia has been growing into a popular filming location. It looks like they will continue working there with another upcoming project, as according to The Daily Telegraph, Marvel Studios also plans to shoot the Fantastic Four film there. Not just that, as they also reveal that Jennifer Lawrence is already on her way there to film it.

    It’s a bit of a strange surprise if you consider that Jon Watts is set to direct the upcoming film. Yet, he is still at work on the untitled Spider-Man 3 film, so it would be strange to start production so soon. We’ve reached out to Disney, but they have not yet responded on the validity of this rumor. Daily Mail also sourced The Daily Telegraph, where they explicitly state that she is involved in a Marvel project. It also states that she will arrive there in a month to start production on a series in the coming weeks.

    So, even if the production will be in Australia but it is unlikely to start anytime soon. Jennifer Lawrence is quite a high-profile actress to join the franchise and the second former X-Men actress to join a Marvel Studios production. So, she won’t have a minor role and it would be easy to say that she might be playing Susan Storm, or better known as the Invisible Woman. We’ll see what the validity is to this story moving forward.

    Source: The Daily Telegraph via Daily Mail

  • EXCLUSIVE: Russo Bros.’ Production for Netflix’s ‘The Gray Man’ Set After Delays

    EXCLUSIVE: Russo Bros.’ Production for Netflix’s ‘The Gray Man’ Set After Delays

    We are only a few days away when Joe and Anthony Russo‘s next major film, Cherry, releases on Apple TV+. It is their first film since their work on Avengers: Endgame that will see them tackle a more intimate story of a young man, played by Tom Holland, going down a dark path. The two aren’t going to take a break, as the directing duo is already eyeing the next blockbuster project, The Gray Man. The film is described as Netflix’s most ambitious feature film, which will see Ryan Gosling and Chris Evans in the leading roles. The last time we heard anything from the production was in July, as the film was eyeing a January production start. However, we have exclusively learned that the film is facing a production delay.

    Originally, it was going to start shooting the film in January, but it was delayed until March or April. They are currently still casting for the film, but no details are given for the delay. The production start was already delayed for two weeks back in December due to the rise of COVID concerns, so it is most likely why it was given another two to three months.

    The story is an adaptation of the 2009 novel of the same name by Mark Greaney, where a deadly duel where the former CIA operative Gosling‘s Gentry is hunted by his former cohort Lloyd Hansen, who is played by Evans. The film’s script was written by Joe Russo with some polish by their Captain America and Avengers co-writers, Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely. It will be produced by their production house AGBO.

    Source: Deadline (Film), Deadline (COVID)