Murphy's Multiverse

Author: Joseph Aberl

  • ‘Moon Knight’ Adds Egyptian Director Mohamed Diab

    ‘Moon Knight’ Adds Egyptian Director Mohamed Diab

    Just yesterday, we got the massive reveal that Oscar Isaac was in talks for the titular role of Moon Knight. Marvel Studios’ upcoming Disney+ series was the last to be announced, so it still has some time before it is released but that isn’t stopping the studio. According to Deadline, they have added Egyptian filmmaker Mohamed Diab to direct the series. As such, he will be joining showrunner Jeremy Slater. Diab is well-known for his film Eshtebak, or Clash, which got him into the selection for the 2016 Cannes Film Festival.  He also directed various Egyptian franchises El Gezeira and Cairo 678. As Deadline points out, these were some of the highest-grossing films from the Arabic and Egyptian filmmaking market.

    His filmography and Egyptian heritage will help solidify Moon Knights’ deep connections to Khonshu. Marc Spector is a mercenary with a variety of alter egos. His mind is damaged, as he is also haunted by an Egyptian God known as Khonshu. He became its conduit after being left for dead by Raoul Bushman, his former employer. He was Marvel’s answer to Batman before growing into his own twisted take on a masked vigilante.

    Mohamed Diab will surely lend his very unique voice to make this series stand-out among the upcoming Disney+ slate. It will be interesting to see how much time we spend in Egypt and if they will focus more on his personality disorder before jumping into the mythology aspect. Also, will his costume be closer to that of his original run or could we see the latest Mr. Knight persona being adapted as well? Whatever direction they may go, this is certainly going to be an exciting addition.

    Source: Deadline

  • First Look at ‘Spider-Man: Miles Morales’ Prowler Released

    First Look at ‘Spider-Man: Miles Morales’ Prowler Released

    Now, this is an interesting way to reveal a major character in a game. Spider-Man: Miles Morales has teased its primary antagonist in the first gameplay trailer a while back. We got our first look at a very unique interpretation of the Tinkerer, who is in the middle of a gang war with Roxxon. Miles finds himself in the middle of the battle trying to keep people safe. We all wondered who else would be added with a short tease of Rhino as the first boss battle followed the initial announcement. Now, it looks like one more major villain will be added to the game, as they offered us our first look at the Prowler in the latest variant cover for Amazing Spider-Man #55.

    Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse introduced many to the iconic villain, who has deep ties to Miles’ family. Originally, the character made his debut back in 1969. Many held the title but none were as iconic as Miles’ own uncle, Aaron Davis. His design already teases that he may have gotten his hands on the equipment through Tinkerer. This is a callback to the comics, where he did the same thing in the Ultimate universe. Spider-Man: Miles Morales seems to be playing around a lot with its colors. Tinkerer stands out with her purples and Prowler will be utilizing green. It is interesting to note that purple was associated witht he Prowler in the past, as even his original Ultimate costume was a purple version of Deadpool’s. He also seems to have green-glowing claws similar to that of Black Panther. Sadly, his iconic cape isn’t included from the animated film but hopefully we will find out his role in the story soon, as we are only a few weeks away from the games’ release.

    Source: Twitter

  • Bryan Edward Hill to Write Hasbro’s ‘Power Rangers’ Film

    Bryan Edward Hill to Write Hasbro’s ‘Power Rangers’ Film

    Power Rangers has been seeing a resurgence as of late. Not too long ago, Hasbro hired Jonathan Entwistle to supervise the franchise over multiple media platforms. As such, it gives credit to the rumor that Hasbro, the new owner of the franchise, has ended ties with Toei. We still have no official confirmation, as one more season to be released on Nickoledoen that is based on the Super Sentai series. The upcoming film will be the third time the iconic teenagers with an attitude appear on the silver screen. This release will also reboot the 2017 version that is disappointed at the Box Office. Now, they are moving forward with the new film and, according to Deadline, has closed a deal with Bryan Edward Hill to pen the script.

    Hill has quite the history in the industry. Just recently was behind the adaptation of Studio 8’s Black, and he is the co-producer of DC’s Titans show. He was also a staff writer on Ash vs Evil Dead, which is a personal favorite. He also worked on a variety of comics, such as Killmonger, American Carnage, and Detective Comics to name a few. The earliest rumors pointed to the show to include some time travel elements, so it will be interesting to see if that remains as the script develops. We also know that Entwistle will supervise TV and film, so we might see some potential spin-offs being in the works. So, there is a good chance that Hill might return for future projects. It certainly is a project to keep an eye on.

    Source: Deadline, IMDb

  • ‘Assassin’s Creed’ Series in Development at Netflix

    ‘Assassin’s Creed’ Series in Development at Netflix

    Assassin’s Creed is one of those gaming franchises that are perfect for a live-action adaptation. We finally got the first attempt in 2016, which featured Michael Fassbender in the titular role. Sadly, while the film was a step-up of previous video game adaptations, it still only managed to get an 18% on Rotten Tomatoes with a mixed audience score of 43%. It seemed like that would be it for any future adaptations of the iconic Ubisoft franchise for the time being. Seems like they weren’t done yet, as Netflix has announced that they are developing a brand new series that wishes to re-explore the history of the Assassins. Jason Altman, Head of Ubisoft Film and Television gave the following statement.

    or more than 10 years, millions of fans around the world have helped shape the Assassin’s Creed brand into an iconic franchise. We’re thrilled to create an Assassin’s Creed series with Netflix and we look forward to developing the next saga in the Assassin’s Creed universe.

    Netflix is known for greenlighting projects early on before they even have a creative team ready. Just recently, they did the same thing with their new show focused on the iconic Conan the Barbarian franchise. This time it is no different as Netflix is still searching for a showrunner. As such, it is uncertain how long it would take before the show would enter production. Netflix’s Peter Friedlander also gave the following statement.

    We’re excited to partner with Ubisoft and bring to life the rich, multilayered storytelling that Assassin’s Creed is beloved for. From its breathtaking historical worlds and massive global appeal as one of the best-selling video game franchises of all time, we are committed to carefully crafting epic and thrilling entertainment based on this distinct IP and provide a deeper dive for fans and our members around the world to enjoy.

    It also looks like an official logo to mark the new cooperation was released. This reveal will also be the start of larger cooperation that will include animated and anime series, similar to their approach with The Witcher.

    It also will be exciting to see how they explore the different eras. The show concept could lend itself to each season focusing on a unique timeline to further develop the plot. Plus, this would allow Netflix to keep the show running for multiple seasons, as each one would feel fresh and new. It won’t be cheap to constantly switch between new sets, costumes, and much more so we’ll see what direction they take.

    Source: Rotten Tomatoes, The Hollywood Reporter, Twitter

  • ‘Stargirl’ Adds Nick Tarabay as Eclipso & Jonathan Cake as The Shade

    ‘Stargirl’ Adds Nick Tarabay as Eclipso & Jonathan Cake as The Shade

    It looks like the DC show Stargirl finally found its core villains for the second season. Executive producer Geoff Johns already teased the addition of Eclipso and The Shade back in New York Comic-Con. Now, Deadline revealed that Nick Tarabay is playing Eclipso. Also, Jonathan Cake was cast as the Shade. They also teased that Ysa Paenarejo will join in an undisclosed role of a known DC character. Tarabay‘s Eclipso will be the main antagonist, who will clash with the Justice Society of America in the upcoming season. He was the life essence trapped in the blue diamond, which we briefly saw in the hands of the Injustice Society of America. He has the power to corrupt people based on their darkest and most impure thoughts. Interesting to note, the character of Eclipso is also rumored to appear in Black Adam.

    The Shade is an immortal, who can control shadows. He is stuck in his eloquent ways from the 19th Century, who is described as quite witty. It is uncertain what exactly his role will be. If we go by Johns‘ quote, he called him the most powerful and unpredictable character the JSA will have to face. It will be interesting to see what Cake brings to the role. He has a background in Grey’s Anatomy, SEAL Team, and The Affair. Tarabay has some experience with DC shows, as he portrayed Captain Boomerang on Arrow. He also voices characters in video games such as The Butcher in last year’s Call of Duty: Modern Warfare. Yves Penarejo just recently appeared in Netflix’s Project MC2. These are some great additions for CW’s latest superhero show, which will continue the adventures of young Courtney Whitmore and the JSA.

    Source: Deadline

  • ‘Destruction AllStars’ Delayed Until February as Free PlayStation Plus Release

    ‘Destruction AllStars’ Delayed Until February as Free PlayStation Plus Release

    We are only a few weeks away from the release of the next generation of consoles. I sadly did not get a chance to pre-order it, as they sold out quite quickly. Of course, a new generation of games also comes with a variety of new launch titles. PlayStation 5 has been garnering buzz for the games that will be available with launch, which includes Spider-Man: Miles Morales and Demon Souls. There is, however, one more major new launch title Destruction AllStars. It was a new entry into the popular Battle Royale genre. It would add the ability to switch between vehicles during combat to add a new spice to the genre. It was planned as a full release with the next-generation price increase.

    In a sudden twist, PlayStation announced that the game will be postponed until February 2021. Not only that, as it will also be available for two months on PlayStation Plus for free. Their official blog points out that they plan to let as many people as possible to experience it. The game will strongly depend on online players, so this might be a hint that the initial sales were lower than expected. The game is a brand-new IP and comes at a high price, which may have deterred some from trying it out.

    It is unsure if the game will be available for full-price after the two-month PS+ period ends. Of course, PlayStation confirmed that people will have their pre-order refunded. We will also get a new trailer next month to showcase what the game has to offer. It is just crazy to see a full retail game being pushed to PS+ on release for free. It must be a heavy blow, but these types of games also live off of microtransactions. Its delay does not bode well for the online game, but we will see in February how it performs.

    Source: PlayStation Blog

  • ‘Marvel’s Avengers’ is Square-Enix’s Second-Biggest Digital Launch

    ‘Marvel’s Avengers’ is Square-Enix’s Second-Biggest Digital Launch

    Marvel’s Avengers player base has been in question for quite some time. Shortly after the launch, it’s Steam player numbers were dwindling. It currently sits at around 2,000 players, which is a far cry from the initial 29K that started playing it. Still, the game was the best seller in the United States during September, even beating out nostalgia-driven releases like Super Mario 3D All-Stars and Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1+2. It was hinting at the game’s core player base primarily being on console. Now, another release on the numbers may have confirmed that suspicion.

    Crystal Dynamics’ first attempt at a Games-as-a-Server was a hit digitally. According to SuperData, the game has sold 2.2 million digital units in September alone. As such, it is now the second-biggest digital launch for Square-Enix. It is only beat by this year’s Final Fantasy VII Remake. They were even on-par with PlayStation 4-exclusive’s Spider-Man release. They also compare it to the release of other shooters, which puts it between Destiny 2 and Tom Clancy’s The Division 2, which is some great company to be in from a sales perspective.

    These are great numbers if you considering the controversies surrounding the game. Of course, this does not reflect how many people actively are playing the game. It also doesn’t showcase how many purchased skins through microtransactions. Its main selling point was on consoles, being placed behind NBA 2K21 and Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1+2‘s worldwide success. Those are two massive successes of this year, especially NBA 2K21‘s spike after the delayed postseason.

    Tony Hawk‘s remake was also a massive nostalgia-driven sale, as pointed out by SuperData beating out both Crash Bandicoot and Spyro’s remakes. Super Mario 3D All-Stars was also the biggest launch for a Mario-related title on the Switch. So, we should underestimate the success that is Marvel’s Avengers. These sales numbers could bode well for the game once more content is released, as console players can jump in with future additions. Still, it depends on Crystal Dynamics, who have been rather back-and-forth on when we can expect updates.

    Source: Steam Charts, SuperData

  • Key Takeaways from ‘Marvel’s Avengers’ First Q&A

    Key Takeaways from ‘Marvel’s Avengers’ First Q&A

    Marvel’s Avengers has kicked into gear with some much-needed interaction with the community. It was something that many were asking for, as we ran out of things to do in the game. We got a live-stream with the developers and a rather detailed State of the Game blog entry. It gave us some insight into what happened behind-the-scenes and what the current focus is. This week we were surprised by the announcement of a Q&A. Anyone could drop their question so that the development team would discuss current issues. Not everyone was going to make it in, but they confirmed more are on the way. Here is a quick rundown of the biggest takeaways from Scott Amos‘ first Q&A.

    • Campaign replay has already entered the first testing phase. The biggest challenge is adjusting the individual character’s levels so that they work within the story.
    • They are hard at work trying to fix some of the lingering issues. As such, they are not going to roll out any seasonal content or events for now. Yet, Amos has highlighted that they have thought of it, and they will be adding new pieces of content in the future, such as gear, locations, enemies, villains, and more.

    • The current Tachyon missions will lead to the upcoming AIM Cloning Labs. As such, these two will be the set-up for Kate’s new operation. It will contain brand new cutscenes, adapted locations, and new missions. They do highlight that she will have some unique environments that will act as baby steps.
    • Existing Avengers will receive brand new skill trees, so we will see them evolve. They also teased unique story missions for the characters that continue where we left off.
    • New mechanics are already in development. They teased that the Tachyon rifts are just a simple version of what is coming.
    • Cross-platform is top-of-mind, but they are finalizing cross-generation play with the transition to the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X.

    • They did tackle a question on the current lack of content. It is sadly an issue that they don’t want to give any exact dates. The dev team is trying to avoid rushing the content out. Amos did have the poor wording of “release this calendar year” which doesn’t give us a feeling if Kate will be available in November after all.
    • They teased larger expansions, which will offer new level design, warzones, and biomes. It seems very likely this will be the Black Panther addition.
    • They are working on how they can communicate the road map without setting specific dates. They want to avoid the issue of it getting released prematurely.

    So, I do believe the Q&A did a decent job. They tackled some of the most frequently asked questions and offered some minor glimpses into what is coming. The biggest issue is the Kate timeline. She was going to be released this month but was then “slightly” postponed. Now, they are expanding the deadline until the end of the year. I doubt it’ll be that long, but the wording just wasn’t great to give people hope on an upcoming content drop. Right now, people want content as soon as possible, but we don’t have a feeling for how long the wait will be.

    Also, they didn’t talk much about the AIM Cloning Lab, so we have no idea when that drops. My best guess was next weekend, but it’s hard to say at this point. It is a Q&A to show that they are actively giving feedback to the community, but we do need some kind of plan. I hope that the November War Table video is released earlier than later, as this will be the thing to keep people playing once the holiday gaming markets get filled. I am still excited about how the game will grow, but I do believe we need a clearer picture, as many like to joke, soon.

     

    You can check out the complete Q&A right here:

    Source: YouTube

  • RUMOR: First Details on ‘Black Adam’s Doctor Fate Revealed

    RUMOR: First Details on ‘Black Adam’s Doctor Fate Revealed

    Black Adam has been quite busy with pre-production, as it is starting to unite the various members of the Justice Society of America. There is one addition that was teased during the DC FanDome panel, the mysterious Doctor Fate. There have been many to hold the title and iconic golden helmet. As the film will focus on the JSA, we all assumed it would be the incarnation of Kent Nelson. He was the one to open the tomb of Nabu the Wise, who would mentor him as a sorcerer. He also is the one to bestow him the iconic helmet, amulet, and cloak, which would become iconic aspects of the character. There was no official word on who we can expect, but Illuminerdi might have some info to shed some light on the character’s future.

    It seems that the team behind Black Adam is looking for someone in their 30s to play the character. His description states that he is a “kind academic” who “becomes a terrifying force of nature, who sounds and acts differently.” This description fits the dual nature of Doctor Fate, as the mystical helmet was also known to have a mind of its own. He will retain his abilities of telepathy and telekinesis. He will also be able to slow time and alter reality. They are using Sam Rockwell as a reference, but, as Illuminerdi also points out, he is outside of the age range they were aiming for.

    Doctor Fate will have his debut on the silver screen, but he was adapted into live-action in the past. Our first real live-action incarnation was on Smallville. We briefly saw his helmet in Constantine. Doctor Fate was also a member of the JSA in Stargirl. Yet, we haven’t gotten a chance to see his abilities in action, as he is quite a beast within the DC Universe. Hopefully, we will get some casting news in the coming months, as the film starts gearing up for production.

    Source: Illuminerdi

  • ‘Marvel’s Avengers’ Spider-Man DLC Eyeing January Release

    ‘Marvel’s Avengers’ Spider-Man DLC Eyeing January Release

    There was a lot of drama this year when it was announced that Spider-Man would be an exclusive character for Crystal Dynamics’ Marvel’s Avengers game. As the character’s latest single-player game was a PlayStation exclusive, Sony jumped at the chance to keep that brand consistency. Of course, we have no idea how exactly this would work with consistent updates promised for all systems. We have no idea when he would be released with some rumors pointing him to being a March addition. Well, an eagle-eyed reader of the PlayStation magazine noticed a little detail during their Spider-Man: Miles Morales coverage. u/icematt12 noticed that a small section on the Avengers game states that Spidey will release in January.

    Avengers PS5 paragraph in latest UK PlayStation Magazine
    byu/icematt12 inPlayAvengers

    This is actually a huge reveal, as we were uncertain when he would release. Also, this is from the official PlayStation Magazine, so there is some validity to it. So far, the only confirmed characters are next month’s Kate Bishop, Hawkeye, and Black Panther. The latest State of the Game hinted at a War Table coming next month that will give us a clearer picture. Keep in mind that anything can also change, as CD is currently facing delays due to the first month being quite rocky.

    So, for now, take this as a potential release window and no official confirmation until the developers actually give us a date. Still, it is helpful to get a feeling for when we can expect him, and early 2021 is a good estimate for now. Our best guess is to wait for next month’s War Table video to give us some insight into what Crystal Dynamics is working on and when we can expect it. Hopefully, things will be much clearer for the coming months.

    Source: Reddit