Murphy's Multiverse

Author: Joseph Aberl

  • ‘Marvel’s Avengers’ Deep Dive Finally Offers Closer Look at Hawkeye

    ‘Marvel’s Avengers’ Deep Dive Finally Offers Closer Look at Hawkeye

    It has been some time since we last got a major update for Marvel’s Avengers. The last few weeks, we’ve been building up to the big reveal of the game’s second major DLC character, Clint Barton. It is our second archer addition and many were anticipating how the original Hawkeye would stand out from his protégé. In the latest War Table Deep Dive, Crystal Dynamics gave us a closer look at his moves, heroics and so much more. Without further ado, let’s jump right into the latest video from the developer:

    They started the trailer with a tease of Lucky the Pizza Dog, which is the perfect way to get our attention. It seems he will also have a larger role in the story and hang around. Sadly, it looks like the wait will be a bit longer, as Hawkeye won’t be playable until March 18th. He will release alongside the next-gen version of the game. It will continue where Kate Bishop’s operation left off, which will throw the archer into the future against Maestro. They confirm in the video that it continues its first season into its second chapter, so this story arc has just begun. The trailer also reveals Old Man Hawkeye will have a role in the story, which might also explain how the archer ended up collapsing t the end of the last storyline. The wait might still take some time, but I cannot wait to play as the archer.

    Source: Twitter, YouTube

  • How ‘WandaVision’ Lays the Groundwork for a Hexagonal ‘Secret Wars’ Battleworld

    How ‘WandaVision’ Lays the Groundwork for a Hexagonal ‘Secret Wars’ Battleworld

    It’s a hexagonal multiverse, and we are living in it. The latest episode of WandaVision has started to expand. Interestingly enough, even as it grew, it kept its original shape. As such, the hexagon represents something more than just a wordplay on Wanda’s hex abilities. We are still waiting for an official confirmation why such a focus is given to this shape. We know that this Disney+ series will act as a set-up for future multiversal storylines of Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness and Spider-Man 3. If we are about to enter other parts of the multiverse, we may see this structure return in the future. We have seen something similar to how Marvel has approached a connected multiverse in the comics. It made me wonder if we might get Secret Wars‘ famous Battleworld consisting of multiple hexagonal shapes.

    Originally, Secret Wars was a storyline that ran from 1984 until 1985. A strange entity, who goes by the Beyonder, decided it would be fun to throw various heroes and villains into a world known as Battleworld. There they have a selection of alien weapons and technology. It was Marvel’s first attempt at a Battle Royale storyline that got two sequels. However, the latest incarnation of 2015 introduces us to a concept where multiple dimensions started to converge. As the map below showcases, different sections originally belonged to a part of the multiverse. It included the HYDRA Empire from the Secret Empire run, Old Man Logan‘s Wastelands, and so many more.

     

     

    In the comics, the third version of Battleworld, the one shown above, was created after Doctor Doom and Doctor Strange defeated the Beyonder. Their universe got threatened by incursions of others colliding with each other. After Doom took the Beyonder’s powers as his own, he put together Battleworld from the remnants. If WandaVision is setting up the multiverse, it may be setting the ground rules for how the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s version of Battleworld may be structured. Instead of going the route of multiverses colliding, they introduce us to the concept of pocket dimensions jumping into existence. They take the shape of a hexagon when introduced or created within a new world. It also isn’t the first time we’ve seen this shape in the MCU. What also supports this theory is the way space travel works in the MCU. In Guardian of the Galaxy Vol. 2, we learn that Hyperdrive travels through different dimensions. The gateway between them is in a hexagonal portal. The Kree even built their entire architecture around that shape.

     

     

    As such, it could be the structure for a future Battleworld or the entirety of the multiverse. The different universes that Doctor Strange will visit in the upcoming Multiverse of Madness may get connected through this shape. He uses the sling ring in a round shape to travel from one location to another in the mainline dimension. So, once he tries to travels in the multiverse, it may change into the hexagon we first witnessed in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2. Marvel Studios has always been very good at creating rules to keep everything together, which we saw with their time travel antics in Avengers: Endgame. They may be slowly setting the foundation that will connect all future multiversal stories in the coming years. Once the building blocks are set, it wouldn’t be too surprising to see a Secret Wars storyline in a few years as the next major crossover event that could replicate Endgame‘s success. I think we are just at the beginning of a major storyline that is about to unfold.

  • Limited Edition ‘WandaVision’ Billy and Tommy Funko Pop! Revealed

    Limited Edition ‘WandaVision’ Billy and Tommy Funko Pop! Revealed

    Earlier today, we got the first reveal of WandaVision‘s new “Pietro Maximoff” Funko Pop. It was great to finally see the real deal after many fake leaks made us wonder if Quicksilver would show up in the Disney+ show. At first, it was strange that we didn’t see any Funkos for the twins, who have a prominent role in the show. Well, it looks like the reveal was going to follow shortly after, as our first look at their figurines has been revealed. Just like Evan Peter‘s Funko, we get them both in their Halloween costumes from the latest episode.

    It looks like it will be a limited edition so you’ll only have to be fast to get your hands on them. Billy has a Halloween-inspired version of his original costume while his brother has a copy of Pietro’s. It doesn’t look like we get Tommy’s running ability showcased like with his uncle, but Billy does have the blue glow in his hand that was only briefly teased in the latest episode. It’ll be interesting if they will age up again as the show continues with the next three episodes. If so, we might get some more Funkos from them, which could explain why these are limited edition. If anyone wants to get the Maximoff-Vision family together, these will certainly be a must purchase for fans of the show.

    Source: Twitter

  • ‘Raya and the Last Dragon’ To Premiere With First New Original Disney Animation Short Since 2016

    ‘Raya and the Last Dragon’ To Premiere With First New Original Disney Animation Short Since 2016

    We are only a few weeks away from Disney’s first big film premiere of 2021. Raya and the Last Dragon will release simultaneously on Disney+’s Premier Access and in theaters. It will be their major test if this hybrid model will determine their future release plans. They went all out advertising it during the Super Bowl with a brand new trailer. Now, it looks like they have one more little incentive for people to check it out in theaters. Disney has just revealed a brand new theatrical short titled Us Again. It is the first one in over five years by the famous studio. It will premiere alongside Raya and the Last Dragon in theaters worldwide as of March 3th. It will premiere on Disney+ in June. Check out the first official image of the upcoming short here:

     

     

    The upcoming short is about an elderly couple. One magical night, they rekindle their forgotten passion on a magical night. It will not feature any dialogue, as the couple’s love for dance will transport them back through time. Executive producer and Walt Disney Animation Studios chief creative officer Jennifer Lee shared her excitement for the new short and teased a future for more animated shorts:

    One of my priorities has been to bring back theatrical animated shorts and to give artists at our Studio an opportunity to explore new ideas.  ‘Us Again’ has so much spirit and energy, and pushes the boundaries of our short form storytelling

    The upcoming short was directed by Zach Parrish, who is the first to attempt one since 2016’s Inner Workings. Parrish is n stranger to Disney’s work, as he was the director of the Short Circuit film Puddles and served as the head of the animation on Big Hero 6. The short will combine dance, music, emotional storytelling, and animation with the help of Award-winning choreographers and dancers Keone and Mari, who worked with Justin Bieber and Billie Eilish. Their performance is given new life through the help of composer Pinar Toprak. Brad Simonsen, who has worked as associate producer on Big Hero 6, Zootopia, and Ralph Breaks the Internet, is set as a producer. The first visual already promises a heartfelt story of how dance and music connect us through the ages.

  • ‘Marvel’s Avengers’ Valentine’s Tweet Reveals Matt Fraction’s Inspirations and First Civilians

    ‘Marvel’s Avengers’ Valentine’s Tweet Reveals Matt Fraction’s Inspirations and First Civilians

    I hope everyone is enjoying their Valentine’s Day so far. As usual, many official Twitter accounts are sharing their excitement in a small tweet. Marvel’s Avengers is no exception to that rule. Not just that, they also used their latest tweet to celebrate the holiday and build up some hype for next week’s reveal of Hawkeye. So, they showcased a brand new emote of Clint Barton shooting an arrow with a heart symbol. It also gives us our first official look at the in-game design that got teased early on when he was confirmed as one of the first DLC characters. At first, it seems like a nice little gesture until you noticed something in the background.

    Yes, it looks like the game will finally get some civilians. It may sound strange, but it has been something that players have requested for some time. The current maps have no real NPCs besides the various AIM beekeepers and bots. So, it will add some more life to the game. Now that I take a closer look, this could also be a reference to the iconic apartment from Matt Fraction‘s run My Life as a Weapon.

    So far, the only thing we knew about the upcoming DLC is that it would focus on a brand new biome called The Wasteland. It looks like they are also going to add some new elements to the Eastern Seabord location. Hopefully, we’ll get some cameos from some famous inhabitants, such as Grills or an actual cameo by Lucky, the PIzza-Dog. We are only two days away from the Deep Dive that will tease the future expansion of this game, so we’ll get more insight by then.

    Source: Twitter

  • First Official ‘Zack Snyder’s Justice League’ Trailer Teases the Coming of Apokolips

    First Official ‘Zack Snyder’s Justice League’ Trailer Teases the Coming of Apokolips

    Yes, it has been a long wait but the official full trailer for Zack Snyder’s Justice League has finally dropped. As one might suspect, it gives us a good look at the many elements that didn’t make it into the original 2017 release of the film. We get a good look at Darkseid, the new design for Steppenwolf, and so much more. The age of heroes has returned with the brand new trailer that is sure to make a lot of people happy that are highly anticipating our first real look at Snyder‘s original vision of the film.

     

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vM-Bja2Gy04

     

    The trailer offers a lot of the sequences that have been teased ever since it was officially revealed. We get a closer look at our favorite heroes and Superman’s new black suit. It will be interesting to see how different the film will be once it officially releases on HBO MAx next March. Surprisingly, there is no showcase of Martian Manhunter, who has been revealed to be in the film some time ago. So, there is a chance there are still quite a few secrets that Snyder is keeping close to the chest for once it officially releases. At least, we got our first look at the SWAT uniform version of Jared Leto‘s Joker. We only have to wait for a little over a month until it finally is released, so you can be sure we will be checking it out once the Snyder Cut is finally released to the world. Let’s see what the future may hold for the DCEU as it continues to expand and explore new ventures.

    Source: Twitter, YouTube

  • ‘WandaVision’ Takes the Top Viewing Spot Worldwide

    ‘WandaVision’ Takes the Top Viewing Spot Worldwide

    Disney+ has seen astounding growth throughout its first year. It already surpassed 90 million viewers, which was originally meant to be the streaming service’s four-year prediction. It is impressive if you consider that the only real high IP that was provided for the service was The Mandalorian‘s two seasons. Last month’s release of WandaVision did make people wonder if the first Marvel Studios’ original series would continue the service’s growth. Well, according to Parrot Analytics, the series has become the number one series worldwide.

    The interesting aspect is that the show didn’t start as the most popular show. It seems the initial three episodes kept it between the seventh and the 35th spot. Once the third episode hit, it skyrocketed up to the third or second spot. Ever since the major twist at the end of the fifth episode, it has officially taken the number one spot and hasn’t left it since the episode aired. It shows the relevance of the weekly release model. Wade Payson-Denney, an analyst of Parrot Analytics, points out the difference between Disney+ and Netflix’s binge strategy:

    They really pop up at first but quickly trail off. It’s a quick hit for these streamers. Whereas with weekly release, we see popularity gradually build over time, especially for a show like The Mandalorian and WandaVision

    The Mandalorian actually didn’t peak until its season finale, as it just saw a continuous growth since its initial episodes. WandaVision still has three more weeks to go, so it is sure to stick to that top spot before Falcon and the Winter Soldier takes over in March. Netflix’s focus on releasing their shows in one burst means they have an early peak but fizzle out fast. It’ll be interesting to make a comparison between the Marvel shows. The next two shows will have shorter runtimes of six episodes, which may go through a faster viewer cycle. As Payson-Denney points out, these shows remain in the conversation longer and are able to grow their audience as a result of everyone sharing their viewing experiences and theories online. It’ll be interesting to see how far WandaVision goes in the coming weeks.

    Source: Forbes

  • Marvel Studios Seeking Mayan Warriors for ‘Black Panther 2’

    Marvel Studios Seeking Mayan Warriors for ‘Black Panther 2’

    Marvel Studios has been quite busy since the New Year started. We finally got our first Disney+ show from the studio with WandaVision. There is still a lot of uncertainty if Black Widow will get released in May after being delayed by an entire year. They just released a brand new trailer for Falcon and the Winter Soldier, as other projects are slowly entering production. It looks like one secret Marvel project has started its casting process, as POC Culture has learned that one Marvel Studios film is looking to cast two Mayan characters. They also confirm that this isn’t for a Disney+ series but a film project, a fact we can also verify.

    Marvel Studios casting director Sarah Finn is on the search for actors to portray characters named” Zyanya” and “Cadmael” in strong supporting roles.  Zyanya gets described as a fierce warrior whose actress should have a background in fighting and dance. The role of Cadmael is seeking someone above six feet tall, who is strong and loyal. There are no established Marvel Comics characters with these names, so as usual these are likely codenames. They are open to accepting actors with North and South American indigenous backgrounds for these roles.

    The timing of this casting matches Black Panther 2 upcoming production start in July. There was also the rumor that Namor and Atlantis might play a role in the upcoming sequel, so, we may get to visit other cultures that are hiding from the outside world. Perhaps the history of the underwater city is directly tied to Mayan culture. Either way, it’s great to see the diverse casting continue by Marvel Studios, as they seek to represent indigenous voices in their future projects.

    Source: POC Culture

  • EXCLU: First Plot Details on Henry Joost and Ariel Schulman’s Heroic ‘Secret Headquarters’ Film

    EXCLU: First Plot Details on Henry Joost and Ariel Schulman’s Heroic ‘Secret Headquarters’ Film

    Last month, it was announced that directing duo Henry Joost and Ariel Schulman will tackle a new project for Paramount titled Secret Headquarters. It came hot of the heels from their major film release on Netflix, Project Power. They are working on a draft based on an original screenplay by Christopher Yost, whose work includes Thor: Ragnarok and The Mandalorian. So far, the plot details have been kept under wraps, but we were able to get our hands on some exclusive plot details about the upcoming project.

    The story is about young Charlie Kincaid, who discovers a secret headquarters under his home that seems to belong to a superhero. He shares it with his friends, and they start to believe that his estranged father might have a secret double life. After this discovery, they have to embrace their inner heroics when a team of mercenaries attacks and they have to keep it safe at all costs. They are currently holding an inclusive casting process for its leads.

    It looks like Joost and Schulman will continue focusing on superhero action in their next film. There are no specifics if these children have any powers or abilities, but it does sound like a superhero version of Home Alone. The directors are quite busy, as they are also working on an adaptation of the graphic novel Nemesis and a Mega Man film. Jerry Bruckheimer has also been quite busy bringing back some iconic franchises like Bad Boys and Top Gun. Secret Headquarters has become a top priority for Paramount Pictures, which makes sense after their success with Project Power and we cannot wait to see this unique take on a superhero story.

    Source: Deadline

  • ‘Wonder Girl’ No Longer In Development at The CW

    ‘Wonder Girl’ No Longer In Development at The CW

    We recently reported on CW moving forward with a pilot order for a live-action adaptation of Powerpuff Girls. It also included the official order for DC’s Naomi which will be produced by Ava DuVarney and former Arrow executive producer Jill Blankenship. There was one show that was surprisingly missing in the pilot orders. A few months ago, it was announced that a new series based on Wonder Girl was being developed focused on Yara Flor, who was a brand new character that only recently joined DC in their Future State event. It looks like we found out why it was missing, as Dailyn Rodriguez took to Twitter and announced that they passed on the project.

    https://twitter.com/dailynrod/status/1360324356354629633?s=21

    It is a shame that they aren’t moving forward with their first Latino superhero series. I do wonder if this would’ve been set in the Arrowverse’s future. It would’ve been an interesting way to expand the cast with iconic DC characters while also giving the show a bit more freedom. Hopefully, the world that Rodriguez teases gets another chance at HBO Max. Perhaps the streaming service could offer her the budget to create a live-action Future State adaptation that would make it stand out among other DC shows. CW has become more selective in which shows are moving forward, as various veteran shows like Black Lightning and Supergirl are ending. They even skipped on a sequel series to the show that started it all, as Green Arrow and the Canaries was passed on. It’s going to be interesting to see how the Arrowverse continues in the coming years.

    Source: Twitter