Murphy's Multiverse

Author: Joseph Aberl

  • Warner Bros. Premiering All 2021 Films on HBO Max and in Cinemas Simultaneously

    Warner Bros. Premiering All 2021 Films on HBO Max and in Cinemas Simultaneously

    Looks like going to the cinema will not be the same anymore. In a curious move, Warner Bros. has just announced that their entire 2021 film library will release simultaneously in theaters and on HBO Max. Not just that, this isn’t a Premier Access situation as you get all these films for free on release. Now, this will kick-off with December’s Wonder Woman 1984 release. That means you’ll be able to watch The Suicide Squad, Space Jam: A New Legacy, Mortal Kombat, Godzilla vs. Kong, The Matrix 4, and so many more films as a subscriber to HBO Max. It is crazy that they are pulling off this move for the entire year. Most of us suspected they would test the waters with WW84‘s release later this month. Yet, they decided to define the future of films right now and didn’t waste any time to announce it with the trailer below.

    Now, this is going to change the market as we know. Cinemas are already on the verge of going into bankruptcy. Companies tested out VOD solutions earlier this year, but many hoped that everything would return to some form of normalcy by the end of the year. Well, it doesn’t look like it’ll be anytime soon, so WB was the first to just go with where the market is developing. This move makes sense, as even if the current pandemic comes to an end, people might still be quite nervous about returning to their usual daily activities. As such, it is uncertain if cinemas will be running at full capacity again once lockdown measures are a thing of the past. It’ll be interesting to see how other production companies will react. Disney+ isn’t directly comparable to HBO Max, so they might have to go down a very different route.

    Source: Twitter

  • RUMOR: ‘House of Dragons’ Eyeing Matt Smith as Series Regular

    RUMOR: ‘House of Dragons’ Eyeing Matt Smith as Series Regular

    It looks like House of the Dragons is continuing its casting. The Game of Thrones spin-off will go back in time to an era when the Targaryen’s ruled alongside their dragons. Around four months ago, we covered Illuminerdi’s exclusive on the show’s lead, Prince Daemon Targaryen. There hasn’t been much news so far. We did get the casting of Paddy Considine, who is up for the role of King Viserys. Now, it looks like HBO may have found their Prince, as Illuminerdi is reporting they are eyeing Matt Smith for the titular role.

    The character is the most experienced warrior of his time. He is easily bored, as he keeps moving from one distraction to another. All he wants the love and acceptance of his brother, the king. The most notable description is that he is the series “true rogue”. We can expect the character to straddle a thin line between good and vile. They haven’t yet offered the role to Smith, so there is a chance it might still end up being someone else. Warner Media is looking into multiple actions.

    The dynamic will be quite interesting, as we will have an ambitious warrior trying to make his brother accept him, who may not be the man he believes he is. Considine‘s Viserys may be a good man, but that doesn’t make him a good king. It will be interesting to see how these two world views will end in conflict, as the story develops. We still don’t know how many Targaryen’s will be featured in the series, so we might see the cast expand only as we near its production start.

    Source: Illuminerdi

     

  • ‘DuckTales’ Ending With a Three-Season Run in 2021

    ‘DuckTales’ Ending With a Three-Season Run in 2021

    Looks like the popular Disney XD series is coming to an end, as DuckTales will not return beyond its current third season. It may have been one of my favorite reboots of a classic animated series. Similar to 2012’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, the show combined every aspect of the franchise. It paid tribute to the original Uncle Scrooge comics while also combining it with elements of the original 1987 series. It even paid tribute to the iconic video games, such as the moon melody making an appearance. We had an amazing overarching secret that finally let us meet Della Duck, the triplet’s mother. Sadly, the series is ending its run with the current season with the following statement by Disney XD:

    “The talented creative team, led by Matt Youngberg and Francisco Angones, have delivered exceptional storytelling with uniquely reimagined characters for three seasons of 75 episodes and more than 15 shorts. While physical production has wrapped, ‘DuckTales’ continues to be available on Disney Channels and Disney+ around the world and fans will get an epic season finale in 2021.”

    Sadly, Disney is known to cut many series short. It is sad, as the updated cast of characters truly made them their own, especially David Tennant as Scrooge McDuck. There is one glimmer of hope as the series introduced a variety of minor characters that could spin-off into a series. There is already a Darkwing Duck reboot in the works, so that will hopefully continue where this series started the character. Especially, their unique take on Negaduck set up quite a lot of potential. Gizmo Duck is also a perfect character to give his series that could have our favorite icons to make their return.

    I’d even want to see a story focused on Donald as he adjusts to his life without adventure. Maybe combine it with a Goof Troop reboot, especially after Goofy made his appearance in an earlier episode. I still want to see Duck Avenger, or Phantomias as he was called in Austria, get his series. Have to say, this getting canceled after only three seasons is sad, but it looks like the team is ending it on their note, so I cannot wait to watch the series’ finale next year.

    Source: Variety

  • Olivia Wilde Should Cast Aubrey Plaza as Spider-Woman

    Olivia Wilde Should Cast Aubrey Plaza as Spider-Woman

    Looks like Aubrey Plaza is at a career-high. She was a standout in Hulu’s Happiest Season. Her next film, Lawrence Levine’s Black Bear, is scheduled to release on December 4th after receiving rave reviews at 2020’s Sundance Film Festival. Now, the news broke that she is also joining Jason Statham in Guy Ritchie‘s upcoming thriller Five Eyes. Now, we started to wonder if we might see her join another superhero-based franchise in the near future. She has openly talked bout her interest in playing She-Hulk in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

    She-Hulk? Oh my god, I would love to be She-Hulk. Because I had super-strength? Yes, I want to be She-Hulk. Write that movie and I’ll do it. I would love to be any kind of superhero or person with super-strength.

    Well, the role went to Tatiana Maslany but that doesn’t mean there is still a chance for her to get a role. Now, there are many great roles she could take on, especially with her interest in a character, who has super-strength. Actually, isn’t there one more Marvel property looking for a female superhero? One that already has an amazing director signed on? I think there is even a rumor that while it being a separate company it will have Marvel Studios’ involvement? Oh yeah, Olivia Wilde‘s Spider-Woman is currently in some form of production. The story of Jessica Drew, a former HYDRA agent who is trying to find her place in the world after realizing her memories were manipulated.

     

     

    Now, we have no idea which story arc the upcoming film will be inspired by. She was part of HYDRA, she had a private detective agency, she got replaced by the Skrull Queen, and just recently had a kid. That last storyline especially redefined her character after a controversial image was released that oversexualized her. It gave her a truly unique story arc. We got a sassy mother-to-be trying to juggle her life and her friendship with Carol Danvers. Aubrey Plaza is no stranger to playing a mother figure, as she took on that role in the Child’s Play remake. Her time on NBC’s Parks and Recreation showcased her snark that would be perfect for a hero, who has probably gone through anything one can think of in a superhero world.

    Plus, if Kevin Feige is involved with the project, we could see her play off of Brie Larson and join other heroes in the wider MCU. She would be a great addition and we could even get a joke when she meets Maslany‘s She-Hulk. Plaza can bring in a unique charm that could play on Spider-Woman’s unique experiences. The character exists solely to ensure the copyright to any variation of Spider-related characters but received some of the most unique storylines out there. Here’s hoping that Wilde makes use of the characters’ unique history and listens to this random writer fan-casting her film’s lead.

    Source: Deadline, CinemaBlend

  • Another ‘Hawkeye’ BTS Video Offers a Closer Look at Hailee Steinfeld

    Another ‘Hawkeye’ BTS Video Offers a Closer Look at Hailee Steinfeld

    Just today, we finally got a great look at Hawkeye‘s brand new set. They were filming a sequence in the subway, which showcased Clint, Kate, and everyone’s favorite dog, Lucky. It was a tad bit blurry, but it finally confirmed that Hailee Steinfeld joined the cast as Kate Bishop. It is crazy to think that it still has never been officially announced, but after these videos made it online, we are sure to get that statement sooner rather than later. Luckily, once one video is out, more are sure to follow, and it looks like @HSteinfeldNews got an even better look at the sequence that is taking place in the subway.

    https://twitter.com/HSteinfeldNews/status/1334235622958096384?s=20

    That close up pretty much confirms it is her. It is also great seeing her run around with the bow in her hand. Also, if you look closely, the shirt she is wearing under her mantle is her iconic purple as well. It seems they are on the run. They certainly seem impatient about jumping on that subway, or Jeremy Renner is just freezing. Also, it looks like Lucky will be part of the action. Perhaps he is on the hunt for some pizza. We’ll see how this all fits together once the show releases, but it’ll be interesting where else they might be filming.

    It’s crazy seeing some of these BTS sequences. After a year filled with delays and cancellations, it is good to know that they are still hard at work on future shows. We will see if we can get more shots from the set as they continue to film in NYC. She-Hulk and Moon Knight are going to start production in the coming months. So, we might get some glimpses from that as well. Now, if only we could already watch WandaVision.

    Source: Twitter

  • ‘Fortnite’: Leak Reveals First Look at ‘God of War’ Kratos Skin

    ‘Fortnite’: Leak Reveals First Look at ‘God of War’ Kratos Skin

    Looks like we have a brand new leak for Fortnite‘s latest season. Just a week ago, it was revealed that our favorite Mandalorian would be joining the latest season once Galactus tried to eat the planet. The Marvel event has come to a major turning point, as everyone faced the Celestial down with an army of Battle Buses. Before his defeat, he did manage to pull out the planet’s core which has thrown everything into chaos. It’s the perfect set-up for a brand new season of the popular Battle Royale game. Now that the new season has started, we are about to get one more legendary addition. @HYPEX, who is a well-known Fortnite leaker, has revealed the first look at Kratos skin for the game.

    He looks fantastic and showcases how Fortnite’s aesthetic really works for almost any kind of franchise. I do wonder if we also get variations of his skin that pay tribute to the original trilogy, or they’ll stick with his iconic beard. Funny enough, he leaked it mere minutes after PlayStation prepared an entire audio presentation that teased his upcoming inclusion in the game.

    It is uncertain if he might be an exclusive skin for the PlayStation. We could see each console get one exclusive character to join from their respective franchises. I am not sure though if we get Mario with some guns. There is also a good chance that the “Join the Hunt” tagline might be used to include a variety of characters from any kind of medium. Hunt could be a perfect way to add a skin for the Predator. They might just add Alien so everyone can replay the iconic showdown between the two. There is a lot of potentials, so who knows which direction this season might be heading.

    Source: Twitter

  • EXCLU: First Look at Lucky the Pizza Dog on ‘Hawkeye’ Set

    EXCLU: First Look at Lucky the Pizza Dog on ‘Hawkeye’ Set

    Hawkeye finally started filming in NYC. Going by Anchor Point, they are currently filming underground, so it is difficult to get any good shot. Luckily, we were able to snag something rather special. Yes, we finally got our very first look at Lucky the Pizza Dog. It looks like they are getting ready for a scene with him, as he is just waiting above the stairs. It is uncertain what they might be filming but it is great we finally get our first look at him. There is a chance he might bolt down the stairs, or someone is about to run towards him.

     

     

    I still hope he might get his very own episode, where we follow him around. It was one of the best chapters in Matt Fraction‘s Hawkeye run. We still don’t know who is playing Kate Bishop but at least we got our first look at the iconic archer companion in live-action. He was briefly teased a while back during the Disney+ special that showcased artwork for the various upcoming series. Just these few glimpses are already making this quite an exciting project.

  • ‘Marvel’s Avengers’ Leak Teases Super Adaptoid Ahead of First DLC Release

    ‘Marvel’s Avengers’ Leak Teases Super Adaptoid Ahead of First DLC Release

    Marvel’s Avengers has been facing quite the drought, but we are only one week away from finally getting our hands on the game’s first major DLC. Kate Bishop will hopefully kickstart the game’s expansion, which got delayed due to bugs. Now, we are closing in on the release, which is slated for December 8th. One more week to go until we get our first look at what the future may hold for us. Luckily, the always reliable leaker @mmmmmmmmiller seems to be starting what one can describe as the Seven Days of Kate-mas. As we are building up to the release, he promises that we will get a small leak per day. So, let’s not waste any more time and jump into our first tease.

    That robotic voice would automatically make one think of Ultron. Of course, we know that this is most likely the voice of the Super Adaptoid, who will be the main enemy of Kate’s unique single-player campaign. He is a robot designed by AIM that copies the abilities of our favorite heroes. His design is surprisingly comic-accurate, especially with his green glow. I am surprised he has a voice, which sounds surprisingly similar to that of the Roy robots that are vendors in the various outposts. There is a good chance that they were prototypes that would eventually become the Adaptoid and, just maybe, Ultron later down the line. We’ll see what else may be heading our way in the coming days, but it is a nice little tease of what is to come.

    Source: Twitter, Vocaroo

  • Exploring ‘Daredevil’s Future Beyond Its Netflix Run

    Exploring ‘Daredevil’s Future Beyond Its Netflix Run

    For those out there hoping to support the return of Netflix’s Daredevil, be sure to check out the site SaveDaredevil.com. They’ve probably been campaigning for its return since its cancellation, so be sure to give them a visit while you’re at it!

     

    It is crazy to think that Daredevil‘s third season aired two years ago. Charlie Cox and Vincent D’Onofrio reminded us why they were the perfect duo to take on the dynamic between Matt Murdock and Wilson Fisk. The original Netflix deal was massive, as they signed up for four series consisting of 13 episodes. Not just that, they also made a deal to film most of the series directly in New York City, where it would all lead up to a The Defenders crossover. It was going to be the small-screen Avengers built on Marvel’s Television division. Right now, Netflix still held a tight grip on the rights to all franchisees that aired on the streaming service. So, many of us were waiting for the moment they could return. Supposedly, the rights return two years after it aired its final episode, and we are finally at that point. So, let us look at how exactly Daredevil could become part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

     

     

    Now, like many, I want the core cast to return. Charlie Cox, Deborah Ann Woll, and Elden Henson were outstanding. Matt Murdock is always conflicted between the devil calling him to defend the streets, but also his human need for a normal life. He is nothing without Karen Page and Foggy Nelson keeping him centered, as he balances being a lawyer and vigilante. Of course, there is also Vincent D’Onofrio‘s Wilson Fisk, who may be one of the best Marvel villains brought into live-action. Also, I hope we also see the return of Ayelet Zurer‘s Vanessa. Her relationship with Fisk elevated it in unique ways and managed to humanize all of Fisk’s actions in an interesting way. While we’re at it, Wilson Bethel deserves more time as Bullseye, just saying. Now that Jamie Foxx is going to return as Electro in Spider-Man‘s still-untitled third entry, there is no excuse that they can’t have the iconic cast return.

    There is, sadly, one major issue of continuing the series where it originally ended. I don’t believe that every part of The Defenders will remain the same. Most notably, there is a good chance that Iron Fist will get a complete reboot. Out of all of the Netflix series, it felt like it was trying its hardest to avoid the aspects that made the character unique, which may be something that Marvel Studios CEO Kevin Feige wants to change. Yet, a massive part of the crossover was how the main antagonists, the Hand, had strong ties to K’un-Lun, where Danny Rand gained his magical fist. Maybe this time we get to visit the hidden city. Daredevil‘s third season has built on the events that transpired during Netflix’s mini-series. If it weren’t for the four vigilantes taking on a group of supernatural ninjas, we wouldn’t have had Matt’s reawakening that would lead to him taking on his original mantle.

     

     

    As I write that, it doesn’t mean it is impossible, just that it may not fit into Feige‘s plans. Plus, they seem to have mapped out quite a bit ahead, as plenty of series and films are about to enter production. So, we might not see anything related to any of the Netflix series by the latest of 2023 or even 2024. Now, there is a way that it could work to integrate the events from all Defenders into the mainline MCU overarching storyline. The approach is simple: all of them are already active once we meet them again. It would be a similar approach to that of The Incredible Hulk. Yes, Mark Ruffalo looks nothing like Edward Norton, but the storyline mainly remained the same. So, why couldn’t everything from Daredevil‘s first season up until Jessica Jones‘ final season has taken place in the same timeline with some slight alterations?

    Even if someone else takes over the role of Iron Fist, Jessica Jones, or Luke Cage, the main events still occurred. Viewers are technically familiar with what transpired. They can make references to past events as an easy recap for newer viewers. They can also leave some aspects vague to adapt it to fit the new narrative. There is no need to rehash Murdock’s origin story again besides showcasing some of the emotional cores that defined him. Netflix could be part of a different dimension, as the mainline MCU’s events were similar in most places.

     

     

    They did something similar with Spider-Man: Homecoming, where they built on everyone’s understanding of the character’s core principles. It was a popular show on Netflix, so there is no need to retread old ground. That would only be necessary if Feige had any plans to reuse the Hand in different ways. Even if they don’t continue the storyline set up by the first three seasons of Netflix, they can still use people’s understanding of the characters to move forward rather than retread familiar ground once again. We also saw the advantage of an ongoing format for the characters, so it would be a waste not to continue the series on Disney+, especially when they are exploring darker characters like Moon Knight on the platform. Their introduction though could open up the potential to having them crossover into films, which seems to be the plan for many of the streaming characters. Either way, if Marvel Studios decides to move forward, I hope to see this amazing cast return so that they can continue the story where they left off.

    Source: Digital Spy

  • Peter Dinklage Joins ‘Toxic Avenger’ Reboot

    Peter Dinklage Joins ‘Toxic Avenger’ Reboot

    No, you read that title correctly. It looks like Peter Dinklage has already selected his next feature film, which will be a remake of the 1984 low budget comedy. Toxic Avenger was a cultural phenomenon when it became a success through midnight screenings in New York City. The film managed to get three more sequels before It was created by Troma Entertainment, who is well-known for some rather bizarre films like Redneck Zombies, Poultrygeist: Night of the Chicken Dead, and Tromeo and Juliet. That last film was co-written by James Gunn, as he started his career with the studio. Co-Founder Lloyd Kaufman even has a cameo in Guardians of the Galaxy.

    It is uncertain which role Dinklage will have in the film and how closely it’ll follow the original. Toxic Avengers is the story of a mild-mannered janitor who lives in Tromaville. After being dumped into a vat of toxic waste, he transforms into the titular character, who will become an unlikely hero of the fictional city of Tromaville. He tries to keep his community safe from corruption and greed that is threatening their suburban lives.

    Macon Blair joined the production last year after Legendary acquired the rights to the comedy franchise. He will act as the writer and director of the film. His debut film I Don’t Feel at Home in This World Anymore was highly-acclaimed and won the Grand Jury prize at the 2017 Sundance Film Festival. Troma Entertainment founders Lloyd Kaufman and Michael Herz are also involved with the picture, as they will serve as producers. Legendary’s Alex Garcia and Ashenfelter are overseeing the project.

    Source: Deadline, Variety