Murphy's Multiverse

Author: Joseph Aberl

  • ‘Daredevil’ Should Kick-Off Disney+’s Expansion

    ‘Daredevil’ Should Kick-Off Disney+’s Expansion

    Spider-Man 3 is going to be quite the film. It is bringing together so many corners of Marvel franchises that it feels like it might reinvent our expectations of a Spider-Verse film. João has offered an overview of how this concept could work for the untitled threequel. There was one piece of news that may have caught everyone off-guard. Charles V. has revealed that Charlie Cox will return to play Matt Murdock once again. This reveal is massive, as not too long ago, the rights moved back to Marvel, as the last season of the Netflix series released two years. Now, we are also left with the question: will Daredevil finally get a continuation or new series?

    Even after its cancellation, the series was the third most popular series on the streaming service with an average of 25M viewers. It brought the character to the forefront of the popular consciousness and defined Charlie Cox in the role. It also introduced us to a part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe that broke beyond the PG-13 barrier. Sadly, it got canceled after its third season pushed the franchise to new highs. Erik Oleson, who took over the role as showrunner duties for the final season, even pitched a fourth one before Netflix axed it. It was also no coincidence that Disney was looking into developing its streaming service at the time.

     

     

    Disney+ introduced us to a familiar-friendly streamer, so it seemed unlikely it would get added to its library. From that perspective, it seemed like there was no chance that Daredevil would make it to the service. Well, that was until the recent developments may have changed the playing field. Rumors are going around that Disney+ will combine with Hulu in the US while Europe gets the Star branding. It allows them to include R-rated content that will help grow their subscription numbers exponentially. It seems probable that they could announce this at the upcoming Investor’s Day, which Edward points out in his latest article.

    Such a massive announcement could use a headliner series. So, why not explore the return of Daredevil as a big selling point. They could even include Moon Knight in this expansion to explore the character’s darker side in a future season. If they also buy the rights to stream the original Netflix shows via this service, we could get a confirmation that this is a continuation of the character we already know. There have been hints that Spider-Man 3 is bringing back the iconic actors to play new versions of existing characters. Plus, the whole multiverse aspect could also add to the confusion whatever direction they go with the character. I am sure Daredevil returning with a brand new show on Disney+ Star will certainly get everyone’s attention at the streaming service expansion.

    Source: Forbes, Business Insider, Digital Spy

  • RUMOR: Tobey Maguire Spotted at a Potential ‘SPIDER-MAN 3’ Costume Fitting

    RUMOR: Tobey Maguire Spotted at a Potential ‘SPIDER-MAN 3’ Costume Fitting

    Spider-Man 3 is turning into quite a massive film. Just in the last week, we’ve gotten so many crazy confirmations about what classic characters from the original films might make their return. It got confirmed that Andrew Garfield and Kirsten Dunst are set to return. Marvel Studio’s cooperation with Sony is turning into quite the tribute piece to the franchises that laid the groundwork for Tom Holland‘s interpretation. The original cinematic Spider-Man, Tobey Maguire, has yet to sign a contract since the announcement. Well, a recent sighting might add some more discussion to the potential of his addition.

    According to JustJared, they shared images of Maguire getting ready for a costume fitting in North Hollywood. Now, there is no significant evidence that this is indeed for the upcoming threequel. We still have no official word on his casting, but the timing is rather peculiar. It also helps to note that Marvel Studios is located in North Hollywood, where he might be finalizing the deal to return in the upcoming film. Getting to join Alfred Molina would be quite the selling point, who is set to return as Doctor Octopus.

    If he is indeed there for a costume fitting, it makes you wonder if they have the original one or they remade it from scratch. It is crazy to think of how many classic characters might be returning in this film. At this point, it is going to be a live-action adaptation of the Spider-Verse icon. Marvel Studios has balanced a massive cast before while not losing their focus on the main character, so we’ll see how they manage to balance it out.

    Source: JustJared

  • First Look at ‘Hawkeye’s Tracksuit Mafia Revealed in BTS Images

    First Look at ‘Hawkeye’s Tracksuit Mafia Revealed in BTS Images

    At this point, we have seen more of Hawkeye than any of the Disney+ shows that were meant to release this year. We got our first look at what seemed to be Kate’s prototype Hawkeye suit from a leaked set of photos from the series’ Disney+ set. Now, it looks like we have one more reveal from the set, as lord_fxk shared some shots from behind-the-scenes that offer us our very first look at the Tracksuit Mafia. Hailee Steinfeld is also wearing her outfit from the earlier leak, so there is a good chance this is from the same sequence. Going by their wounds, they might be hunted down by the mafia, which could also be a follow-up or take place before the earlier scenes shot in the subway. You’ll find a very familiar-looking member of the gang in the third image.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CIjjKe8njYx/?igshid=11zmg2yv44afv

    The Tracksuit Mafia was heavily featured in the Matt Fraction run. In the comics, Hawkeye called them the Tracksuit Draculas but was never given an official name. He actually had quite a few synonyms when referencing them. They are actually the reason why the Clown got involved, as he kept getting involved in their business. The interesting thing is, the person shown is wearing a black tracksuit, unlike the usual red. Well, there is one character with a very similar mustache in the comics known as Ivan Banionis. He was a member of the mafia that actually rented out the building Clint was staying in during that run, which could hint at him also renting out the place in the series.

    There is also the running gag of the Russian mafias constantly saying “Bro” to such a degree it became a name for them. Well, it looks like the series is also leaning into it, as lord_fxk also shared a story that gave us a look at a company named “Trust a Bro”. Yesterday, @evgrieve shared a redesigned location in the East Village that became Brothers Heating & Air Supplies. We’ll be seeing a lot of them in the upcoming Disney+ series once it releases sometime next year.

    Source: Instagram, Twitter

  • ‘Halo Infinite’ Delayed Until Fall 2021

    ‘Halo Infinite’ Delayed Until Fall 2021

    Well, Halo fans are going to face a longer wait time than anticipated. At one point, Master Chief’s return in Halo Infinity was going to be a launch title for their next-gen console, Xbox Series X. The reception to the first publicly showcased trailer was mixed until the game got officially delayed last month. 343 Industries studio head Chris Lee stated that they wanted to use the time to deliver the Halo game experience they have envisioned when they started the project. It was uncertain if this meant it would get delayed into early 2021, but it looks like that the wait will be even longer. In a blog post on the official site, creative director Joseph Staten revealed that the game is eyeing a release in Fall 2021.

    It looks like their campaign demo in July hasn’t gone over as intended, which sparked a realization that they needed more time. They’ve decided that the visual fidelity and art style of the game might need a new look that would honor the past but still be approachable for new players. They’ve showcased a few screenshots for future content and player customization, which you can check out here.

    They even mentioned the meme that came from the rather deadpan face of the character many know as Craig. It seems that the facial animations weren’t far in development during that showcase, so it wasn’t intended for us to see that version of the model. It looks like they are putting a lot of work into customization, achievements, and challenges to ensure a well-rounded experience. There is a strong emphasis on the long-term roadmap, so the game might take some cues from Games-as-a-Service with various seasons expanding the multiplayer content for years to come. 343i wants to ensure that they approach this project player-first, so that is the key reason they want to plan more time to ensure everything is the way that fans are familiar with. 

    Source: GeekWire, CNet, HaloWayPoint

  • BTS Photos Offer First Look at Hailee Steinfeld’s Hawkeye Costume

    BTS Photos Offer First Look at Hailee Steinfeld’s Hawkeye Costume

    It has been a crazy week for Marvel Studios’ upcoming Disney+ show, Hawkeye. We got a variety of screenshots from the New York City set that confirmed earlier reports that Hailee Steinfeld would be taking over the role of Kate Bishop. We even got our first look at everyone’s favorite pizza dog, Lucky. Now, we were wondering if we get a chance to see her in a more comic-accurate suit. So far, she was only seen in civilian clothes. If they were undercover, they at least avoided the cliché of wearing a hat and sunglasses to hide their identity. Well, it looks like we didn’t have to wait long as we finally got our first look at what may be an early prototype of Kates’s superhero suit provided by @CreamOrScream.

    It certainly matches her iconic purple color scheme. It looks slightly homemade, or just a prototype outfit provided by Clint. She is rocking the same bow we saw her hold earlier when they were going into the underground. We don’t quite know how these two meet and form a duo of Hawkeye’s, so either it is a bow she practiced with or Hawkeye provided her with one to train. We will probably see her get a more sophisticated version, which we are used to for the character later down the line. We’ve actually already seen the artwork of what her final design would look like, which will be interesting to see if they changed it for the live-action show.

    It is interesting to note that she has a strange attachment to her buckle around her hips. If you look closely, it seems like she may have different arrowheads attached to it. It could be a pouch with different compartments that she pulls the arrowhead out. Unlike Clint, she can only work with what she has. He had a quiver that he could control electronically, so it is nice to get a more down-to-earth design approach here. Steinfeld also seems to be having quite a bit of fun on-set, so cannot wait to see her approach to the character. Just today, Marvel’s Avengers added an entire storyline featuring the iconic archer, so we’ll have some Kate Bishop content to tie us over. Now, if only we got some kind of release date for the other Disney+ Marvel shows.

    Source: Twitter

  • ‘Persona 5 Strikers’ Finally Heading to the West

    ‘Persona 5 Strikers’ Finally Heading to the West

    Finally, the long-awaited sequel to Persona 5 is making its way to the west. Atlus took to Twitter to share a brand new trailer for the action-RPG spin-off featuring everyone’s favorite Phantom Thieves. Instead of the classic RPG-style, this sequel is co-developed by Koei Tecmo, who is well-known for their Dynasty Warriors series. As such, this new entry combines the original’s game style with hack and slash. Unlike Persona 5 Royal, this is not an expansion of the base game but a true sequel that continues the story of the original with a brand new set of villains to face. The game is slated to release worldwide on February 23rd next year.

    The story takes place six months after the ending of the original. The Phantom Thieves of Hearts return to investigate mysterious events taking place across Japan. The game has already been available in Japan since February 2020 with the title Persona 5 Scramble. It is crazy to think that the Western release took an entire year, but long-time fans might remember when the mainline games took this long to release outside of Japan. Persona 5 has already had multiple spin-offs, such as Royal expanding the base game and the main characters taking center stage in Persona Q2: New Cinema. I hope we are also building up to an announcement or tease for the sixth installment in the franchise. These spin-offs add content in-between the main series development cycle, but after 5’s success, I hope we do not face another eight years of development.

    Source: Twitter

  • Kate Bishop Won’t Save ‘Marvel’s Avengers’, But It Is a Good Start

    Kate Bishop Won’t Save ‘Marvel’s Avengers’, But It Is a Good Start

    Tomorrow is the big day. Kate Bishop finally joins Marvel’s Avengers. It has been quite the wait, but we finally get our first DLC that showcases what we can expect from this brand new entry in the Games-as-a-Service market. It’s been a very rough start to get to this very point. The game once was littered with bugs, and many questionable business practices have shed the game in quite a negative light. It was followed by quite the drop in players, especially on Steam. It just recently saw a small increase after the Black Friday sale, but all eyes were on the first real addition to defining the game’s future. Now, as the title has already revealed, I do not believe Kate Bishop will suddenly save the game from its player base loss. However, I do think that it will have an essential role in the game’s future development to get it to where it needs to be.

    How will Kate’s addition do that? Well, the whole point of GaaS is that it continues to grow as time moves on. It got revealed that they were planning multiple years that would expand the game with an ongoing narrative and new heroes. Kamala Khan introduces us to this world’s Avengers and the aftermath of A-Day. Once they have taken down M.O.D.O.K., the story has only just begun. In our last minor update, we were introduced to Tachyon Rifts. They were not just a brand new mission type but also teased that something will be affected by a time storm. Our first War Table since the game launched then confirmed that Clint is going to travel through time to face a future version of Hulk, who is known as Maestro. They both face-off in the ruins of what once was Earth.

     

     

    The original campaign had a more grounded storyline, so the first major DLC expansion to already jump into time travel and multiverse is quite the development. Kate is going to be our introduction to this brand new storyline that will finally get the ball rolling on future additions. The important thing is that future updates come at a good pace to ensure that the issue of repetition is solved. They have also confirmed that they are working on various reworks of systems that still seem a bit unrefined as of now. Kate is just a pebble in comparison to what is to come but an important one. There is also the argument that the character isn’t as popular as, let’s say, Black Panther or Captain Marvel. Yes, the character isn’t as big a name as those that were popularized in the public conscious by Marvel Studios, but she still has been a well-established character in the comics for some time. They also don’t have to get their biggest players out just yet, as even the Marvel Cinematic Universe was built on what were once B or even C-list characters.

    Now, the true test will be once they finally release the multiplayer-focused Omega-Threat levels. Next year, we will kick off with the addition of Hawkeye, who will introduce us to brand new environments and is a direct follow-up to complete Kate’s story. Leaks have also teased that Black Panther, who will most likely be the third DLC character. Speaking of, Crystal Dynamics and Square-Enix have the perfect opportunity to promote the game with high-profile characters. It would even be the perfect opportunity for a soft launch to get new players into the game. They have a lot of opportunities to build up their audience with each major character release. It’ll take time until we get to that point, but Kate’s release is the moment it finally gets rolling. Her addition is going to be our first taste of what we can expect and also the moment for Crystal Dynamics to build up the momentum they’ve been working for all this time.

    Source: SteamCharts, IGN

  • First Look at ‘Falcon and The Winter Soldier’s Flag-Smasher(s) Revealed

    First Look at ‘Falcon and The Winter Soldier’s Flag-Smasher(s) Revealed

    Falcon and the Winter Soldier still has no release date. It was originally going to air in August, but now WandaVision has the honor of kickstarting the new Disney+ era for Marvel Studios. Even after the constant delay, we barely have any idea about what we can expect from the story. We know that Baron Zemo will play a major part, and we get introduced to a brand new Captain America. Charles revealed one more big bad about two months ago would also make his appearance in the series, ULTIMATUM’s Flag-Smasher. We didn’t get a great look at the character, but some of his goons wore outfits quite similar to their comic counterpart. @tfatwsbr was so nice to share some promotional material that offered our first official look at the character and ULTIMATUM’s logo.

    It looks like they took a very different approach from the character’s original design. It states Flag-Smashers, so we might see a variety of members wear that moniker throughout the show. It could even be a new name for the group instead of ULTIMATUM. We still have no official word, who could be playing the character, but it was theorized that it is Noah Mills. So, who knows if the one showcased here might turn out to be the real one.

    For those wondering, as per usual in the Marvel Universe, ULTIMATUM is an acronym. It stands for Underground Liberated Totally Integrated Mobile Army To Unite Mankind. They might be avoiding having to spell that out in the show, so they just went with a new name. The group’s logo is a nice spin on the original. Hopefully, the fact that this promotional material making the rounds also means we could get some news on the show’s future soon. Until then, we can theorize what their inclusion might indicate for the Disney+ show.

    Source: Twitter

  • ‘Marvel’s Avengers’ Leak Confirms America Chavez

    ‘Marvel’s Avengers’ Leak Confirms America Chavez

    Two more days to go until Kate Bishop finally arrives on Marvel’s Avengers. As such, we still get some fun leaks from @mmmmmmmiller that offer us a glimpse of what we can expect from the game’s future. His last leak may have given us a better understanding of who is voicing T’Challa in what may be our third DLC. The day before we even got a look at some new architects that teased the existence of Moon Knight and Namor within the game‘s universe. Miller has now taken to Twitter to share another voice clip featuring Steve Rogers and Kate discussing the search for a member of the Young Avengers. The multiversal traveling America Chavez seems to be missing, and Kate is out to find her.

    This reveal is quite curious, as it may hint at other Young Avengers existing as well. We know that Kate was about to join the Avengers officially, but we don’t know much about other teams existing. We are still waiting to see if the X-Men or Fantastic Four already exist in this universe. I am curious how this will develop, as America might become playable at some point or act as an NPC on an Outpost. Her addition makes sense as the Tachyon Rifts are going to break the multiverse.

    So, she might be the one to help you travel between different dimensions, such as revisiting the post-apocalyptic world teased in Clint’s storyline. Marvel Rising viewers might also remember that her origin is tied to the Kree, which seems to be the main threat of the game’s first season. So far, it looks like they are not holding back with the various corners of the Marvel universe. Hopefully, this means we’ll get to visit some unique locations in future updates.

    Source: Twitter, Vocaroo

  • ‘Marvel’s Avengers’ Leak May Hint at Black Panther’s Voice Actor

    ‘Marvel’s Avengers’ Leak May Hint at Black Panther’s Voice Actor

    All eyes are on Kate Bishop’s release next week that will finally expand Marvel’s Avengers. She will get the ball rolling on future content while teasing the overarching storyline that we can expect for the game’s first season. So far, we know that Clint Barton will join her next year and, hopefully, Black Panther shortly after. we still haven’t officially seen his design or any real information on him, but that never stopped anything from leaking. @mmmmmmmiller offered us some teases of the design and even an audio voice clip. Well, now he revealed some more that has started many wondering who exactly might be playing the king of Wakanda.

    So, a lot of this dialogue seems to take place during the missions. “They are getting too close” could hint at a new mission type, where you have to keep enemies from reaching a new area. There is a strange line where it sounds like he mentions “Goku”, but I am unsure who he is referring to in this. There is even a mention of the Heart-Shaped Herb that gives him his powers. So, these are probably just early recordings that were added in advance, so they don’t have a massive update once the character is made available. It is uncertain how far into development he is still, so they might’ve just started recording not too long ago. We have to keep in mind that every voice actor also has to abide by the two-week rule when they travel for recordings and mo-cap.

    Now, the big question remains who might be voicing T’Challa. A lot of people online have pointed out that it seems to be Christopher Judge. Many will recognize his voice from God of War‘s Kratos or his time as Magneto in X-Men: Evolution. I was a bit skeptical about it, but they have gotten some big names to join them, such as Ashly Burch as Kate Bishop and Giacomo Gianniotti as Clint Barton. Now, I think the only audio file that gives it away is the third one. The rest sounds a bit off, especially as they seem to be a combination of multiple lines that muddles it a bit. Yet, I also wondered if they may have taken a look at the character’s history in animation and video games.

    I tried to compare those that have voiced T’Challa before to see if one came close. I wondered if they brought back Djimon Hounsou, who voiced the character in the Marvel Knights animated series. One of my favorites was James C. Mathis III’s iconic take on Black Panther from Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes. Luckily, he continued to voice the character in Avengers Assemble, but his voice doesn’t match that of the leaked recordings, so it doesn’t look like he is part of Marvel’s Avengers. Hounsou‘s original take on the character was quite distinct and wouldn’t match this one either. Still, especially with that third recording, the voice matches that of Christopher Judge the most. I would love to see Hounsou return to the role, as in some film’s his voice could match the audio files. We’ll have to wait for an official announcement, but it was fun to speculate. For fun, I’ll leave you with this hilarious video of Judge telling dad jokes as Kratos.

     

    Source: Twitter, Vocaroo (1), Vocaroo (2), Vocaroo (3), Vocaroo (4), YouTube