Murphy's Multiverse

Author: Joseph Aberl

  • Like a Phoenix from the Ashes: The Empire Reigns on in ‘The Mandalorian’

    Like a Phoenix from the Ashes: The Empire Reigns on in ‘The Mandalorian’

    Return of the Jedi ended with the end of the Empire. Luke Skywalker defeated the Emperor and ended their conquest to own the entire galaxy. In its place, a new Republic would take over. Years later, a new Empire known as the First Order would rise from the ashes to once again seek dominance over a galaxy far far away. We all wondered how it could be that the moment we returned to the Star Wars franchise in 2015 that nothing has seemed to change. Dave Filoni did tease that this season of The Mandalorian would explore that very origin. Well, the latest episode continues to showcase the Empire’s thrive in a world after two Death Stars were blown up. Now the question comes, when will we start the build-up to their transition into The Force Awakens‘ First Order.

     

    Here’s a spoiler warning. I will be talking about some major reveals in this episode, so only continue at your own risk.

     

    In the first season, it felt like the leftover of the Empire was trying to sustain its importance in the Outer Rim. Yet, at the end of the episode, we got introduced to Giancarlo Esposito‘s Moff Gideon. The intimidating Security Enforcer seemed to know more than he let on, which made him the perfect foil for our favorite Mandalorian. He is deadset on getting his hands on the Child, which he believes could be the asset to resurrect the entire Empire. Chapter 12 offers a closer look at what exactly they were planning once they got their hands on the poor 50-year-old kid. It seems that they are trying to recreate the abilities of the Force by injecting it into test subjects. The last shot of the episode showcases Gideon in a room filled with a new set of Troopers. Eagle-eyed fans of the franchise may notice that these are the Dark or Shadow Troopers that appeared in a 1995 game Star Wars: Dark Troopers.

     

     

    Well, how does this reveal connect to the Child? These Troopers are known for being able to use the Force in the comics. They want the kid’s blood to develop this new type of soldier that could change the tide in the war against the New Republic. In the game, it was a nearly indestructible type of battle droid. We saw test tubes filled with the poor people that got experimented on, who might’ve been the first test subjects before they got fused with droid technology. This series has been incredible in tying together elements from the Legends series, cartoons, and now video games. We didn’t see these types of Storm Troopers as part of the First Order, but it could be one of the reasons they rose back to power. We might get to see some ongoing upgrades to the existing armors that hint at how they end up with the design we see in Force Awakens. Maybe some Troopers get the infusion that would have later generations be force sensitive, which may be the event that leads to Finn breaking his programming later down the line. I would love to explore more of the Empire in a spin-off series, as there seem to be so many fractions across the galaxy we have yet to explore.

    Source: The Wrap

  • Disney May Premiere Future Tentpole Films on Disney+

    Disney May Premiere Future Tentpole Films on Disney+

    The pandemic has hit the film industry in many ways. Film productions had to close down prematurely once the first lockdown hit. Cinemas across the world got shut down. Many production firms were considering moving their theatrical releases to streaming services. Universal was the first to test it only to get banned by AMC. They have reconciled since, but that was only the beginning. Now, as many countries entered their second lockdown, even Warner Bros has decided to move their last tentpole film of the year, Wonder Woman 1984, to their streaming service HBO Max alongside its theatrical release. Now, this move opened up the question if other studios would follow, especially Disney, who tested out a premium service with Mulan a few months ago.

    It looks like Disney has at least been considering putting the option on their table. According to Deadline, the mouse-led company is considering launching a variety of their tentpole films on their service. These films consist of Craig Gillespie’s Cruella, Robert Zemeckis‘ Pinocchio, and David Lowery‘s Peter Pan and Wendy. They haven’t decided yet if they will go down the route with Soul, which will release for free, or take the Premium Access route once again.

    Disney+ has seen a massive increase in subscribers over its first year. The addition of high-profile films could get people’s attention and increase that number. Yet, there is an important franchise missing from that list. It seems that they are hellbent, for now, to see the Marvel Cinematic Universe remain in cinemas. They might still be testing the profitability of such ventures before risking losing Box Office numbers off of their cash cow franchise. The upcoming release of WandaVision could also be a test to see how many subscribers join with the addition of MCU content to the platform. Whatever Disney ends up deciding, the cinema landscape will not be the same as it used to be.

    Source: IndieWire, The Atlantic, Deadline

  • ‘Ms. Marvel’ BTS Set Photos Reveal Kamala Khan’s Inner Fangirl

    ‘Ms. Marvel’ BTS Set Photos Reveal Kamala Khan’s Inner Fangirl

    Just today, we got our first look at Iman Vellani as the young hero Kamala Khan. Marvel Studios just recently started shooting the brand new Disney+ series, so finally, we got a look at the show. Well, it looks like that is not all. It seems that the sequence was earlier in the day for a Halloween-themed episode. Some more set pictures got released that show young Kamala fully decked out in probably the best Captain Marvel costume I’ve ever seen. She comes fully equipped with a light-up Mohawk so you know for sure who she is a fan of the iconic character.

    Check out the photos at Just Jared.

    Remember the pictures of people covering costumes in the last article? Well, it looks like those might’ve been them preparing for this specific stunt. She is climbing on the exact same rooftop that we saw earlier. She also has her bicycle helmet on her backpack, so we know this might be the same day. Her friend, who looks like it could be Mitchell Hope, is also in costume as Bruce Banner. He is still wearing his bicycle helmet from earlier yet the lights seem to be a new addition.

    There is also the question of why she seems to be breaking into someone’s house. She might be visiting her friend Nakia, who didn’t join them on Halloween, or she just really wants to prank someone for not sharing candy with them. Of course, it could also be a rebellious Kamala trying to go out for Halloween against her families’ wishes. No matter what, this costume is genius as it is a nice tribute to the comics when Kamala accidentally turned into Carol Danvers after her powers activated. Plus, it just reconfirms that she is a huge fan of the character even in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. I really hope we get some more showcases of these shows in the near future as we wait for WandaVision to finally kick-off the MCU’s fourth phase.

    Source: Just Jared

  • ‘Hitman’ IO Interactive Working on an Untitled ‘007’ Game

    ‘Hitman’ IO Interactive Working on an Untitled ‘007’ Game

    In case you missed it, the minds behind the latest Hitman trilogy have announced their latest project. It seems like they are going to tackle one of cinema’s most iconic characters, James Bond. The spy extraordinaire’s origin story will take center stage in their upcoming project. The announcement also came alongside a short teaser that shows a transition from their logo into the iconic opening shot we know and love from the franchise.

    https://twitter.com/IOInteractive/status/1329426703186325504

    The project has no name as of now. It currently holds the Project 007 working title. Their website does highlight that the story will be completely original, which will see how James earned his 00 status. It looks like they are also recruiting people to join their team. This project might be very early in development, so do not expect it anytime soon. Something is interesting when you check out their applications, as they have various projects highlighted with who they are looking for. It seems IO is also looking for a Multiplayer Network Programmer, who will be attached to an unannounced project. They could be hiding the fact that this game will include multiplayer, or there is another major project to be announced soon that will be heavily focused on multiplayer.

    IO has built up quite the reputation with their quality releases from the Hitman franchise. The Danish company once was owned by Square Enix before they were able to perform a management buyout to become an independent production company. They were also the ones that created Kane & Lynch during a hiatus from the franchise that put them on the map. IO’s work on that project will certainly come in handy during the development of this brand new game. It is great to see the European company get their hands on such a massive IP, so cannot wait to see what they will be able to do with it.

    Source: Twitter, 007, Career IO

  • First Look at Kamala Khan on ‘Ms. Marvel’ Set

    First Look at Kamala Khan on ‘Ms. Marvel’ Set

    Marvel Studios is finally starting the production on their various Disney+ projects. WandaVision will get released in January and start the next phase. We are still waiting on any news regarding Falcon and the Winter Soldier‘s release, but to tie us over until then, we finally got our first look at Iman Vellani on the set of Ms. Marvel that just recently entered production. It isn’t an action sequence, but we do get some interesting tidbits from her outfit. You can check out the images by clicking here to see them on Just Jared.

    The biggest reveal is that Ms. Marvel will continue to be a massive Captain Marvel fan even in her live-action adaptation. Carol hasn’t been a well-known hero for long in the MCU, as she was off in space. Yet, we did get a tease that she may have been around on earth after the events of Avengers: Infinity War. Danvers may have supported the Avengers after the snap to ensure that those that were left behind remained safe. It looks like she has become a well-known hero to have her merchandise. If you take a closer look at Kamala’s helmet and jacket you can recognize some familiar visuals. It is also a cute addition that she has her initials on the helmet.

    The pictures also include two people hiding what they are wearing. It is rather interesting, as this is commonly used to hide costumes from the comics. Perhaps she is being visited by Kree that realized her potential to become an Inhuman. Even better would be if they were part of Attilan that are viewing people that have the potential to join them. It could be building up to the MCU’s version of the Terrigen Bomb that would change New Jersey.

    Source: Just Jared

  • ‘Marvel’s Avengers’: Kate Bishop to Release Early December

    ‘Marvel’s Avengers’: Kate Bishop to Release Early December

    Finally, the first Marvel’s Avengers post-launch War Table has arrived. We got our first look at Kate Bishop’s story in further detail, as well as more of the first major update to the game. We also finally got a release date, as she will be available as of December 8th. It looks like Kate will be forced to travel through time so that she can save her mentor Clint Barton, who will be the focus of the second patch.

    Her operation “Taking AIM” will feature our first new villain, which is the Super Adaptoid. A machine that combines the various abilities from the Avengers and also seems to work as a mini-raid. They highlighted that her final mission will be replayable at a higher difficulty. It also had a short tease that maybe we get another match with the Kree Sentinel from the Reassemble campaign.

     

     

    She uses AIM tech to teleport around and can make use of a sword to take on enemies’ close-up alongside her classic bow. Yes, she has unique arrowheads that can be used in a variety of ways. Her base abilities utilize quantum energy, so she can create an afterimage that also does damage. Kate can even upgrade her abilities to create portals for allies, which will be a great addition to the game.

    Clint Barton’s operation “Future Imperfect” is finally confirmed. It will be available in early 2021, which will teleport our heroes to the future to fight an evil version of Hulk named Maestro. Actually, if you look closely at his throne, you might even notice a Wakandan helmet, who will take center-stage after this game’s release.

    Strangely enough, there was no mention of the AIM Cloning Labs, which we assumed would be released in advance. This was a fantastic trailer that really showcased her abilities and Clint’s story looks really promising alongside Kate.

     

    Source: YouTube

  • ‘Star Wars: Squadrons’ Adding Two Free Holiday Updates

    ‘Star Wars: Squadrons’ Adding Two Free Holiday Updates

    I am revisiting Star Wars: Jedi Fallen Order as I got in the mood to revisit the galaxy far far away. Sadly, I have yet to try out Star Wars: Squadrons, which is the latest game released by EA from the franchise. Unlike the Fallen Order and Battlefront, this franchise focuses on space combat. It put you in the cockpit fas you fought through a single-player campaign or even with friends online. The game released in early October and is now getting some more content updates, which the developers Motive Studios titled their holiday supply drops. The best part is, the DLC will be free for those currently enjoying their time in the X-Wing or Tie-Fighter cockpits.

    In their first update as of November 25th, players will get a brand new multiplayer map. Fostar Haven, which was heavily requested from the campaign, will be available via Fleet Battles and Dogfight. You can expect some upgrades on the familiar location that will not side with either the New Republic or the Empire. They are also adding some new components, which will help add something new while battling it out in space.

    That is not all, as the December update will include two brand new Starfighters. The New Republic will be equipped with the B-Wing, or also known as the Blade Wing. It got classified as a brand new Bomber-class. Tie Defenders will be joining the ranks of the Empire, which will act as a Fighter-class starfighter. The update will also include the ability to create custom matches. So, players will finally be allowed to create their match with unique modifiers for a new challenge.

     

     

    The developers ended the blog article with a thank you to the fans that come to love this game. As I said, I haven’t been one of the lucky ones to try it out yet but seeing this much passion by the developers certainly has gotten my interest. Also, these designs look fantastic, especially the new TIE Defender has my interest. My favorite part of the Battlefront franchise was being able to take control of one of the iconic starfighters. So, I think it is about time I give the game a shot so I can enjoy these new additions alongside everyone playing the game.

    Source: EA

  • ‘Marvel’s Avengers’ Next War Table Finally Confirmed

    ‘Marvel’s Avengers’ Next War Table Finally Confirmed

    We’ve all been waiting for something relating to Marvel’s Avengers future updates. Well, it looks like we are this close to some answers, as Square-Enix has officially sent out a newsletter confirming when we will be getting a War Table video. The best part is, we will get the video tomorrow at 4 PM GMT, so there won’t be a long wait as we initially expected. The video will be a deep dive into the character of Kate Bishop, who will be Crystal Dynamics’ first major addition to the game. The e-mail also comes with a brand new look at the character, and a short tease of her story.

     

     

    Kate Bishop was on the fast track to becoming an Avenger when A-Day changed her course. Blindsided by the avengers’ disbandment and AIM’s crusade against Inhumans, she stuck with her mentor Clint Barton to investigate the disappearance of former SHIELD director Nick Fury.

    It looks like we might get our answers to Fury’s storyline earlier than expected. Her story will also act as a set-up to that of Clint Barton, so it will be interesting to see how exactly they will connect. The video is confirmed as a Deep Dive, so we will most likely get a tease of her gameplay, skills, and missions. Hopefully, they will also highlight some future content within the video, which isn’t evident as of now.

    Also, the fact that it is called a Deep Dive could be a hint at her being sooner rather than later. Keep in mind, that statement is just a theory of mine and not confirmed in any way. We hopefully will get an official release date within the video, as people believe she won’t be playable until December as of now. This reveal is fantastic news, as we finally are getting to the moment that Avengers can grow as a game. Here’s hoping this is just the first step that gets the ball rolling.

    UPDATE: They have also shared the news on Twitter, so here is the official tweet confirming the video will be pre-recorded:

    Source: Twitter

  • First Look at Spidey in Action on ‘Spider-Man 3’ Set

    First Look at Spidey in Action on ‘Spider-Man 3’ Set

    After a long hiatus, Marvel Studios has been kicking it into high gear. They were finally able to finish up productions that were put on hold in mid-April. Many of their upcoming films have also entered production as we slowly enter 2021. Their next line-up of films will start to expand what we thought was possible with the franchise. WandaVision and Doctor Strange Into the Multiverse of Madness will grow beyond the universe that we are familiar with. This concept may also expand into Sony and Marvel Studios’ next film, the still-untitled third Spider-Man film. They just recently entered production, so we were clamoring for something from the set. Well, it looks like we finally got a look at our favorite wallcrawler in action.

    It is hard to make out, but it looks like Spidey is on top of a container of some kind. As he is about to leap from it, he grabs another person that seems to be shouting or talking with him. Now, the blue container could also be a placeholder that they can replace in post-production. We can’t see what is below them as they jump down, but it seems to be quite the leap. If they are containers, maybe Elektro or another villain is making them float or fly away, so they have to leap off.

    Have to say, it is amazing to see the set-up for such a shot. We can see the wires hanging from the crane as they jump down. Just seeing the camera suddenly drop makes me wonder how this entire sequence will come together. It looks like it possibly could be a sequence with Zendaya or her stunt double. The person who shared this video pointed out she was on set. Her outfit seems to match that what she wore during Spider-Man: Far From Home, which could confirm it continues where the last film takes off. Just this small shot can mean so much for the production. Hopefully, we will get some more details in the coming months on the film.

    Source: Twitter

  • Council of Lokis: The True Founders of the TVA

    Council of Lokis: The True Founders of the TVA

    Disney+ will be the home for many new shows taking place in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The shows will introduce a variety of characters, but some mainstays are also finally getting the franchise they deserve. Among them, the popular villain Loki will be part of his very own series. Not just any version of the character but one version that escaped after getting his hands on the Cosmic Cube. During the events of Avengers: Endgame, Tony Stark, and Ant-Man were supposed to steal it. Yet, it ended up falling into Loki’s hands, who swiftly uses the chance to disappear before the events of the original film could take place.

    Now, his disappearance creates a brand new branch in the franchise’s timeline and will take center-stage in the Disney+ series. We even got a teaser that revealed that he’ll get involved with the Time Variance Authority, or TVA. Not too long after, we heard rumors of different versions of the God of Mischief appearing throughout the series. There was even evidence that we would at least see a variation of Kid Loki in the series. Some even believed we got a glimpse of Lady Loki through some set photos, as she has a similar outfit to that of the iconic character. The casting of Robert E. Grant could also be connected, as IMDb has now listed his stunt actor Dave Cutler as “Classic Loki”.

     

     

    How does this all connect to the TVA? Well, the organization has a long history in Marvel comics, but not much is known about its foundation. The casting of Kang for Ant-Man 3 long before the film even enters production could tease his appearance in earlier production. Well, if the conquerer beyond the limits of time is going to show up anywhere, it would be a show featuring the TVA. It wouldn’t be too surprising that he is the founder of the organization, but there is a good chance he isn’t alone. In the comics and even on Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes, we got introduced to the Council of Kang. These are different iterations from across the multiverse that consulted each other.

    Prime Kang led the council in the comics, who eventually would become Immortus. There was the rumor that Grant would potentially play that character. Now, some hints might be pointing to him being Classic Loki. Now that I think about it, Classic could also be the MCU version of Prime. Yet, it isn’t connected to Kang but rather Loki. It looks like we might have a Council of Lokis as part of the series. It wouldn’t be too surprising if Classic Loki might be a founder of the TVA. Now that the character is displaced from time, we could see his travel through time and space end up as the founder.

    He could be stuck in a time loop that got created due to the Avengers playing with time. Now, an older version of the character hopes to find a way to break the loop and is using other versions throughout time to solve it. Maybe he even is a version we know very well from his long history from the Earth-616. Perhaps this also inspired Kang to seek out others of his kind throughout the multiverse, as he realizes the damage they have done and sets out to do what Loki couldn’t. Erase the reason their part of the multiverse is lost in time.

    Source: Comic Book, IMDb