Murphy's Multiverse

Author: Joseph Aberl

  • Meryl Streep Joins ‘Only Murders in the Building’ Season 3

    Meryl Streep Joins ‘Only Murders in the Building’ Season 3

    Only Murders in the Building has become one of Hulu’s newest hits and has slowly started to grow its already impressive cast throughout the last few seasons. The series is led by Steve Martin, Martin Short, and Selena Gomez in the leading roles. Yet, the series made a big splash when Ant-Man himself, Paul Rudd, joined for the series’ third season. Selena Gomez jokingly shared a video on TikTok to highlight the cast on set including Rudd joining in for the fun. Yet, there was one major new addition that might have everyone quite excited.

    At the end of the video, the one and only Meryl Streep appears and jokes around with the others from the Hulu Original. While it’s not said outright, her addition being highlighted by the official Twitter account and her being there on set confirms that Streep will have a role of some kind in the next season.

    It’s definitely a clever way to reveal her involvement, especially with the popularity of the series with younger audiences. Generation Z is the main focus on TikTok and it seems quite fitting that they’re using this cheeky way to get some fans hyped up for the legacy actress joining the franchise. Only Murders in the Building features a fun concept that allows almost any actor or actress join, and it’ll be exciting to see who Streep might end up playing. Guess we’ll have to wait a bit until we find out.

    Source: Twitter

  • New Leak Reveals Battle Pass for Rocksteady’s ‘Suicide Squad’

    New Leak Reveals Battle Pass for Rocksteady’s ‘Suicide Squad’

    Marvel’s Avengers has left a bitter taste with players, as its release was quite messy and there were some concerns about the general trend of superhero properties exploring Games-as-a-Service offerings. Even Gotham Knights seemed to struggle with its multiplayer focus and the attempt at expanding the franchise with its long-term multiplayer offerings. Now, the next superhero release from Rocksteady is seemingly heading down a similar rocky road.

    An image leaked for the upcoming game Suicide Squad Kills the Justice League has revealed a rather curious aspect of the game. The image shared by @Mr_Rebs that was seemingly making the rounds on 4Chan reveals that the game will have a Battle Pass. It’s also our first look at a very simple UI structure for a game promising a colorful exploration of the DC Universe.

    For those that might not be too familiar with the concept, it’s a type of functionality that recently created a controversy surrounding the release of Overwatch 2. Instead of letting players use the in-universe currency to unlock skins, you have to pay to have access to a list that only unlocks depending on how well you play.

    There’s no word if this game was meant to be a GaaS game, as the wording has been avoided quite a bit. But the inclusion of a Game Pass opens that discussion once again, especially if this means we’ll get more content or characters in the future. There is a “Game Mode” inclusion which hints at some multiplayer offerings but there’s still so little we know about the project. The leaked image has been confirmed and we’re left with a few questions until an official statement follows from Rocksteady.

    Source: Twitter

  • RUMOR: Netflix’s Live-Action ‘Avatar: The Last Airbender’ Eyeing a Summer Release

    RUMOR: Netflix’s Live-Action ‘Avatar: The Last Airbender’ Eyeing a Summer Release

    Rumors are a staple of the entertainment industry, especially in the variety of how much or even how little can make the rounds in regard to future releases. Marvel and DC have commonly become the main focus for many rumors due to just how much is involved with these massive and ambitious projects, but it seems that a new project has potentially become the focus of a new rumor.

    Netflix has been hoping to establish its new Stranger Things with a variety of projects. Wednesday may have already helped fill the void alongside all the cancelations of projects that could’ve grown to that status. Still, they’ve put a lot of money into bringing two iconic franchises to live-action, One Piece, and Avatar: The Last Airbender. Surprisingly, the latter started production long before the manga adaptation, yet we’ve seen nothing so far.

    While we’re still waiting for any sign of life on the project, leaker @MyTimeToShineH has taken to Twitter and shared a rather curious bit of information. They have hinted that the series is eyeing a summer release on Netflix. Of course, there’s no actual release date and who knows how far along the series is that it can hit that time window.

    There’s also the question of what that might mean for One Piece, as they’d release two of their biggest projects init he same year. They’ll likely want to space them out to avoid any overlap so that they can dominate viewership for as long as possible. If that series was able to showcase some set photos earlier and also relies on a few less special effects work due to no elemental bending being involved, perhaps that series will see an earlier release.

    It’s still a rumor for now, but it’s at least something and gives us a potential time window to keep an eye out for. Avatar: The Last Airbender is an ambitious adaptation, especially with the reputation the initial adaptation had from M. Night Shyamalan. Plus, the lack of any promotion does leave some questions on if we’ll see another one-month promotion for a series they hope to take the world by storm. If we get a trailer or tease in the next few months, the summer release seems more realistic.

    Source: Twitter

  • First Look at ‘Mighty Morphin Power Rangers’ 30th Anniversary Special

    First Look at ‘Mighty Morphin Power Rangers’ 30th Anniversary Special

    It’s crazy to think that the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers were released 30 years ago. The franchise has been a chlidhood memory many cherish. Recently, the franchise has seen a big boom in popularity once again, especially with the Boom! Studios comic series. They have revisited some familiar characters from the original franchise while also introducing a really interesting multiversal twist on what makes a Power Rangers storyline.

    Netflix has been hard at work on its own cinematic universe inspired by the original series, but it seems they also have something quite special in mind. As revealed on Twitter, Netflix will premiere a 30th-anniversary special on April 19th titled Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Once & Always. It’ll see the return of some of the show’s original stars including Barbara Goodson, who voiced Rita Repulsa, David Yost, Walter E. Jones, and who knows who else might appear.

    That is not all, as the official Power Rangers account, which shared its own unique anniversary logo, also offered a trailer teasing the new anniversary and some new footage they’ve filmed.

    Who knows if they have more planned for this year, and perhaps we’ll finally get some news on the Netflix series that’ll be showrun by Jenny Klein. Dino Fury even broke the two-season tradition for the anniversary, as it returns for an additional season before whatever the future has in store for the franchise. Here’s looking forward to what else might be on its way. Still, there’s also that feeling of sadness after the tragic passing of Jason David Frank, but his spirit lives on with the franchise.

    Source: Twitter

  • RUMOR: Marvel Studios’ ‘Ghost Rider’ May Release This Year

    RUMOR: Marvel Studios’ ‘Ghost Rider’ May Release This Year

    There are many characters that people want to see join the Marvel Cinematic Universe. We’ve already had a smorgasbord of new additions throughout the last few years, especially in the ambitious Multiverse Saga. Yet, that hasn’t stopped other rumors making the rounds on who else might have their future. Werewolf by Night, especially, introduced a more horror-centric corner of the MCU opening up many more potentially getting their own chance at a similar adaptation through a Special Presentation.

    Given the horror theme, the most popular choice was Ghost Rider, who has long been rumored to potentially appear in his own project. No matter which version they may adapt, there’s been quite a few rumors making the rounds that they may be developing a project. Gabriel Luna, who previously played the character in the Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. series also was quite excited to potentially return to the role given his Hulu spinoff series was canceled.

    Now, a new rumor is making the rounds from Geeks Worldwide’s KC Walsh about the long-rumored project. While he does not have any details on what exactly we can expect from it, he does point to the fact that it’s currently set to release this year in 2023. If they stick to a similar production schedule like Werewolf by Night, they would have to start production in the coming months but it would be possible if they are aiming for a Halloween special. If that is true, we might get more rumors soon, and likely have to wait a bit before we find out more.

    Source: Twitter

  • ‘One Piece’ Showrunner Teases Mihawk as His “Favorite Character” in the Netflix Adaptation

    ‘One Piece’ Showrunner Teases Mihawk as His “Favorite Character” in the Netflix Adaptation

    One Piece‘s live-action adaptation will offer a new take on the iconic manga from Eiichiro Oda. We were lucky to follow the production with various set photos that teased larger-than-life production. They are using real boats to showcase some iconic iconography from the original series, and we’re still anxiously awaiting a first look at the costumes of the various actors.

    While joining the One Piece community discussing the last year, showrunner Matt Owens got the opportunity to offer some minor tidbits on what to expect. In it, he revealed that his new favorite character from the live-action adaptation is Mihawk, played by Steven Ward.

    I will say that my favorite character in the live-action is Mihawk. I will say that.

    Matt Owens

    Of course, he doesn’t really give away any details or why he’s enjoyed the character but YouTuber Rogersbase did add a bit, as he had the opportunity to visit the set some time ago.

    I will say, I understand why Matt be saying that. I will also say that I think there is a story arc that when we get to it, people are going to be very impressed with how that story arc turns out, and looks in live-action.

    Rogersbase

    The YouTuber highlights that “he has complete faith now” after having had a chance to see the set from the arc that he is teasing. Of course, this led to many speculating what exactly he is referencing, but it seems like there’s a lot to be excited bout in how they bring this project to life. Owens did tease that we’ll get an update “very soon“ so we’ll have to wait a bit longer to see what the project has to offer.

    Source: YouTube

  • Live-Action ‘One Piece’ Showrunner Believes the Netflix Series can Become “an Entry Point” for New Fans

    Live-Action ‘One Piece’ Showrunner Believes the Netflix Series can Become “an Entry Point” for New Fans

    There’s always a heated discussion online about the relevance of remaking something in live-action. Some believe that these projects should remain in their original format, but there’s also an opportunity for these adaptations to draw in a completely new audience. That is something that showrunner Matt Owens seemingly believes with his adaptation of One Piece for Netflix and Tomorrow Studios.

    While being asked about the upcoming live-action adaptation, Owens got an opportunity to highlight what he and his co-showrunner Steve Maeda hope to accomplish with this show, and that is to establish this “as an entry point.” A series like One Piece consists of 1,000+ chapters and just as many anime episodes. So, it’s not an easy show to just jump into, but that is something Netflix’s One Piece can offer.

    We want to be able to use this as an entry point. We’ve all had experiences trying to get people into this who aren’t that are like: “How many chapters is it? How many episodes is the anime?” So, to be able to offer this as a new and different entry point. See, now you can jump in. Now, you can see what we were talking about.

    Matt Owens

    It’s an ambitious goal and also reflects how much care is going into this project from everyone involved. They highlight that the cast, crew, and anyone working on the project loves or fell in love with the series, ensuring they want to bring it fully to life. There’s always a challenge with adapting an animated project into live-action, but the team gives a lot of hope.

    There’s also the fact that some people simply don’t care for animation. Hollywood still struggles to highlight that animation is an art form and not just something for children. Guillermo del Toro highlighted this fact once again during his speech after winning for Pinocchio. Yet, some might not be interested to jump into an animated project or read a manga. So, the live-action project may give them that entry window to give it a chance after all.

    Source: YouTube

  • Netflix ‘One Piece’s Showrunner Teases an Update “Very Soon”

    Netflix ‘One Piece’s Showrunner Teases an Update “Very Soon”

    One Piece is among Netflix’s biggest and most ambitious releases for 2023 (if it does) but with no real update for quite some time, there’s a lot of hope that it’s only the calm before the storm. Showrunners Matt Owens and Steve Maeda are still hard at work bringing an iconic world created by mangaka Eiichiro Oda to life and also trying to avoid the usual pitfalls of anime or manga adaptations.

    There is, however, one major difference with the creative team this time around, as they are quite proactive in the fan bases for this franchise. Owens has recently participated in the Reverie, an ongoing meeting between One Piece content creators, where he offered a tiny but hopeful glimpse into what’s heading our way with this ambitious project. While he couldn’t give away any details or drop any reveals, he has given hope that an update is just around the corner.

    During the live cast, he revealed that “you’ll have something new to see very soon.” The wording seemingly implies that we’re not only getting an update on casting, but perhaps we’ll actually get more from the set or even the cast in their iconic costumes. Of course, there could be the potential of a teaser trailer of some kind, but it may also be too early to say given that strongly depends on when the series may release on Netflix. Either way, it’s a great way to hint that we won’t have to wait too much longer until we get an update on where the series currently stands.

    Source: YouTube

  • Netflix’s ‘One Piece’ isn’t “Shying Away From” the Manga’s Fantastical World

    Netflix’s ‘One Piece’ isn’t “Shying Away From” the Manga’s Fantastical World

    Things have calmed down quite a bit on the shore of the One Piece live-action series since production wrapped up some months ago. Tomorrow Studios and Netflix are working on what may be one of their most ambitious adaptations yet, as the original series by Eiichiro Oda is quite a bit different from the more grounded stories of Death Note and even Cowboy Bebop. The world includes a wide variety of creatures, cultures, and environments that are out of this world.

    There’s always some worry with live-action translations that cartoony elements may not make it into these adaptations. While visual effects have come a long way, there are still some limitations or even creatives who might be shy about fully embracing that wacky concept. Luckily, showrunner Matt Owens revealed that this series is definitely going to “look like the One Piece world” during his participation in the yearly One Piece community-driven live-cast known as the Reverie.

    The world is going to look like the One Piece world, that is what it is. Are characters going to have razor-sharp teeth when they get mad? No, we won’t have that but elements that make the One Piece world what it is, we’re not shying away from it.

    Matt Owens

    For long-time fans, this is a releasing statement to hear, especially with just how creative some of the islands become that we see in the series are. It also makes sense that we won’t be seeing the usual anime tropes for the various reaction shots, but it’s great to know that once we hit the Grand Line, there’s going to be a lot of chaos awaiting this new take on the Straw Hat pirates.

    Source: YouTube

  • REVIEW: ‘Velma’ is Too Cynical and Meta for its Own Good

    REVIEW: ‘Velma’ is Too Cynical and Meta for its Own Good

    Scooby-Doo is back with an animated series that explores Mystery Inc. before they united to take on mysteries across the United States. Yet, this time around, the series will not include the iconic cartoon dog and also takes some cues from popular R-rated series. Velma is trying to be the most unique take of a classic franchise, but somehow loses its way in trying way too hard and also overcompensates with its meta-humor.

    There’s one thing worth praising about Velma and that is the animation. The character designs are surprisingly detailed and the hallucination sequences are actually quite impressive visually. Once they add some shading, the animation suddenly pushes the series to shine beyond just being Scooby-Doo meets Family Guy. There are also some surprisingly creative shot composition that make this series visually stand out from others.

    Yet, not even some of its most visually stunning moments can’t cover the series’ general issue of just trying too hard. The series opens with a sequence of supposedly 15-year-olds naked in the showers talking about clichéd plotlines. Theere’s no subtlety in this series that seems quite desperate on showcasing that it’s subverting expectations by repeating some we’ve seen with other shows.

    Many compare it to Harley Quinn, but that series has the advantage of feeling like a DC Comics adaptation first and a meta-commentary second. In the case of Velma, it feels like the series was written to subvert the storylines and expectations of these characters before looking at its characters. There’s an overarching mystery but it feels like the series is more interested in making fun of TV storylines rather than telling an actual story.

    We have a murder mystery at its core, but it seems more like an afterthought. There’s no real hint at who might actually be the murderer. So, you as a viewer have no incentive to get invested and just wait for the reveal. Plus, we have a mystery built around her mother going missing that also doesn’t really feel relevant. Velma’s big character struggle is she feels guilt over her mother leaving in the form of hallucinations when she solves “mysteries.”

    Yet, it also changes the rules of when and how they appear; something pointed out in the series. Telling the audience that a clichéd plotline is the way it is while still doing it takes away from the experience. It falls flat as a joke and the subversion isn’t as poignant as it may have seemed at first. The running gag built around Glenn Howerton‘s take on Fred Jones goes on for too long and overstays its welcome; once again taking away any commentary it was trying to make. It’s stumbling something that Be Cool, Scooby-Doo managed better back in 2015.

    Mindy Kaling gives a decent performance as Velma Dinkley, who is constantly sarcastic and not a very likable character most of the time. Her dynamic with Constanze Wu‘s Daphne is the most interesting part of the show, but they also try so hard to subvert expectations that they end up repeating old cliches, such as with Norville’s attempts to woo him. The fact they are desperately trying to avoid the character’s well-established name showcases how it takes away elements we’ve come to love without honoring them along the way.

    The diverse cast is great and could’ve been used for great effect to further explore these characters. Making good use of their backgrounds to establish what they have in common and how they differ to create a strong bond for the future members of Mystery Inc. It’s not even original in this attempt, as even the film SCOOB! that released in 2020 when Gina Rodriguez voiced the character, which added elements to the character from her new cultural background.

    Meta humor can be funny, but if used reasonably. The risk of using this kind of humor is that it comes at the cost of an interesting story arc or an abundance of cynicism. Most of the cast is extremely one-note and besides the before-mentioned duo, there’s not much development here. They took very specific character traits from the original and blew them up in a way that loses what made these characters so memorable.

    Subsequently, the humor doesn’t truly land because most of it is trying to be clever. Norville making a comment he doesn’t like drugs isn’t funny, because the whole running gag was never alluded to in the first place. Hell, the original live-action Scooby-Doo movie made a better joke around that jokey assumption back in 2002. That same film was built around the idea of subverting the clichés that developed around the series. So, the show’s core premise isn’t as original as it’s trying to be.

    It tried too hard to be clever while doing a schtick we’ve come to expect once “meta-humor” is alluded to even for a second. Outside of its animation, the series sadly falls flat even if it could’ve been so much more. There’s nothing wrong with a more adult take on Scooby-Doo and it could’ve worked with this cast of characters. Yet, the show’s cynical take on subversion is overshadowing any of that potential leaving us with an uninteresting mystery to watch.