Murphy's Multiverse

Author: Joseph Aberl

  • James McAvoy Shares His One Criticism of Fox’s ‘X-Men’

    James McAvoy Shares His One Criticism of Fox’s ‘X-Men’

    20th Century Fox’s era with the X-Men license has been quite unique, as the franchise kicked off the modern superhero craze and also went through its own soft-reboot phase when X-Men: First Class took over. Technically, the project was a prequel to the original, it still added unique elements that were not referenced in the original trilogy. It was a way to get a new group of actors to take on some iconic roles.

    James McAvoy famously took on the role of Charles Xavier with Michael Fassbender offering his talent to the role of Magneto. In a recent interview with GQ, McAvoy opened up on the one aspect that he would criticized of the original run as the films moved away further and further from the main dynamic introduced in First Class.

    My biggest criticism of what we did throughout the four movies was that after the first movie, we didn’t take advantage of the relationship between [Xavier and Michael Fassbender’s Magneto], which really formed the backbone of the first film. So it was like, why did we just eject that massive weapon.

    James McAvoy

    When Bryan Singer returned with X-Men: Days of Future Past, the franchise built a stronger focus back to Wolverine that acted as a connective tissue between the past and future. Apocalypse did continue the storyline surrounding Magneto but kept him and Xavier far apart from each other for most of the film before we returned to another attempt at the Dark Phoenix storyline. Perhaps a new generation could further explore this dynamic.

    Source: GQ

  • Legendary Finds New Partner in Sony, ‘Dune’ and MonsterVerse Remain with Warner Bros.

    Legendary Finds New Partner in Sony, ‘Dune’ and MonsterVerse Remain with Warner Bros.

    Hollywood is going through a massive change once again, as another surprise development has shown its hands. Long-time Warner bros. collaborator, Legendary Entertainment has seemingly moved on and has a new partner in Sony Pictures. As such, the production company will distribute and market their films globally with Legendary East still handling China. It also means all home entertainment and TV distributions will be handled by their new partner.

    This deal also marks an interesting development for their streaming ventures. Sony, unlike Warner Bros. and Disney, has no internal streaming service and simply works with those that exist in the market. As such, Legendary will continue to partner with streaming services for various productions, such as Enola Holmes that has found its home on Netflix. Sony Pictures Motion Picture Group’s Josh Greenstein and Sanford Panitch had the following to say on the deal:

    ’s a rare opportunity to partner in this mutually beneficial way with true pros, who are completely aligned in our theatrical commitment and vision for this business. The creative brilliance and power of Legendary is huge and we look forward to bringing their work to theaters across the world.

    If you’re wondering what this means for the upcoming releases of Dune and the Monsterverse franchise, they are still with Warner Bros. Dune: Part Two is still set to release in November next year with WBD. Though, it’s unclear what this might mean for future entries moving forward, especially when former WarnerMedia head Jason Kilar released their films on HBO Max alongside its theatrical release. While Dune and Godzilla vs. Kong still were some of Warner Bros. most successful releases since the pandemic started, it left a bitter taste. Either way, Warner Bros. Discovery’s current development also may have led to this decision and Legendary is moving on.

    Source: The Hollywood Reporter

  • James McAvoy Opens Up on Possible Return in ‘Avengers: Secret Wars’

    James McAvoy Opens Up on Possible Return in ‘Avengers: Secret Wars’

    The moment the announcement dropped that Avengers: Secret Wars was on the horizon, many were excited on who may make an appearance. Anyone is possible in the wide multiverse that the Marvel Cinematic Universe has opened, especially after seeing former Spider-Men Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield once again reprise their iconic roles in Spider-Man: No Way Home.

    Naturally, it also opened up a recurring question for anyone that got a chance to interview a Marvel legacy actor, such as what GQ did when they got a chance to sit down with former Professor X, James McAvoy. The actor had already been asked many times if he might appear in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness

    I’m very quick to say, ‘No, I’m done.’ Or ‘I’m not that bothered about coming back.’ Because you move forward. I’ve definitely not got the call. And if I did I would definitely not be telling you.

    James McAvoy

    The last part of the statement is quite funny, especially with how McAvoy has always been rather direct in his response, especially when the Doctor Strange rumors were making the rounds. Of course, it does seem quite early for them to cast anyone for Secret Wars, as the script has yet to be finalized. So, they may not reach out until they know who exactly they want to include, especially with an Avengers film that’ll likely include a wide amount of characters. So, not trying to bind anyone too early, especially if production might get postponed (you never know). It might still be some time until we get a firm grasp of what their plans are for this film.

    Source: GQ

  • ‘Darby and the Dead’ Actress Teases “Refreshing” Take on Modern High School

    ‘Darby and the Dead’ Actress Teases “Refreshing” Take on Modern High School

    While high school settings have been popular in films for as long as anyone can remember, it has always been interesting in comparing how things have changed over the years. Darby and the Dead is the latest addition to the genre and while the main focus will be on the story focusing on a girl that can talk with a deceased popular girl, it’s also about exploring what it’s like to be in modern high school.

    In the official press conference, actress Nicole Maines shared how they tried to explore this “high school environment” of today while still “breathing new life” into how the usual popular kids are seen.

    I feel like what brings this movie into the realm of being the Clueless or the Mean Girls or the next Heathers is it very, like Genneya said, accurately depicts what the high school environment is today. And I think that is breathing new life into what we think of as the popular girls or the popular kids.

    Nicole Maines

    She also goes on to talk about how this film focuses on having the top dogs of this high school come from “marginalized communities” which further reflects modern high schools and adds something refreshing.

    And I think that what this film does spectacularly, and what is groundbreaking about it is that it showcases diverse and marginalized communities, particularly women, thriving and existing at the top of the food chain, which we never get to do. And now we’re seeing them as top dogs, and it’s really refreshing to see. And it was really refreshing and exciting to get to be a part of that. And to get to be the top dog for a second. It was a little fun.

    Nicole Maines

    There’s always the challenge of making something familiar feel fresh and new, especially as the world around us continues to change and diversify. So, it does seem like it was a core focus in this project especially while still exploring that anyone can be on any part of the food chain of high school.

  • From Egypt to Japan: Exploring ‘God of War’s Future Beyond ‘Ragnarok’

    From Egypt to Japan: Exploring ‘God of War’s Future Beyond ‘Ragnarok’

    The Norse saga of the long-running franchise God of War has come to an end with God of War: Ragnarok. Kratos and his son Atreus have faced down the Norse gods, taken down Odin and seemingly freed a land under his iron fist. Yet, the second entry in this revival hasn’t truly answered every question that was left open from the events in this new duology of games. We still don’t know who blew the horn in 2018’s entry, what exactly the mask was all about or even if there’s more to that bizarre tear that rippled through reality. Kratos’ vision leaves us wondering if his story is truly over, or it’s just only begun. Luckily, there are some hints on what could be in store for players.

    God of War‘s return was originally conceived quite a bit differently. Cory Barlog, who directed the first entry that released in 2018, actually wasn’t sure which direction to go with the new entry. It seems he wanted to explore different pantheons but couldn’t decide between Norse mythology or Egypt. Interesting enough, the fact that Kratos would have a son that uses a bow and arrow was the one concept that carried over. While we now know which direction he went, it’s still interesting that concept art exists of that original concept. We even have a tease during the exploration of Tyr’s treasure room in that same game.

    Speaking of, a mural of Tyr’s travels in that same area also includes various symbols of Greek, Norse, and Egyptian mythology. What stands out is that there’s also a fourth in the form of a Japanese Shinto symbol that opens up the question if perhaps the team at Santa Monica Studio wanted to keep the door open to explore different pantheons depending on where the story leads them. While Egypt would seem like the more natural fit given just how close the original game almost turned into that story, there’s still a lot to explore moving forwared.

    Still, the question remains on how exactly these pantheons will be explored. Kratos’ journey leads him through Ragnarok and saying goodbye to his son as he ventured out on his own adventure. So, it would seem easy to assume that whatever Atreus’ search leads to may be the cause of him wandering through other pantheons. We get to play as him throughout the game at different occasions, though it would be weird not to play the character that the entire franchise has been about throughout six console games and two portable spinoffs. It simply wouldn’t be the same without Kratos. While the final scene of the story could work as a way to cap off his journey, it also could be a guide for his own personal path moving forward.

    A tweet by director Cory Barlog may have hinted that whatever story we’re set to explore will not fully move away from the Norse setting. One of the big moments during Ragnarok was when Jormungandr was hit by Thor and transported back in time to eventually grow into the version we meet in the first of the Norse saga entries. Yet, Barlog seems to imply thatthere’s actually more story to tell and we could find out what exactly was the true cause for Thor suddenly hitting someone through time and space. Perhaps it is something connected to Mjolnir?

    https://twitter.com/corybarlog/status/1593335257905844225

    Either way, it does seem like we’re not fully done with the Norse setting. Perhaps the eventual sequel still starts off in the setting that Kratos has called home and leads to an unexpected discovery. Whatever that crack in reality was, it could also act as a gateway that ends up dragging Kratos into a different place and forces him to face a new pantheon. We’ve seen word spread about what Kratos has done in Greece. So, any of the remaining gods out there would be worried that a man that took down two would eventually desire to reach out and do the same elsewhere. Wouldn’t it seem fitting that gods end up becoming their own demise by getting involved with those they should’ve just left alone?

    Director Eric Williams, who took over from Barlog who took on a producing role for God of War: Ragnarok, has also hinted that there are active hints in the game about where they’ll go next. After you finished the main story, you can actually discover a prison from asgard that housed the real God of War Tyr, who ends up taking some personal time to travel the Nine Realms. The quest to find him sadly doesn’t really yield any benefits in Ragnarok, but Williams has pointed out that his actions may be our biggest clue to what’s to come.

    The biggest hint might be the fact that you can find Tyr in Vanaheim doing something akin to Tai chi. We know that he’s traveled to other places on Midgard (if these pantheons even exist in the exact same realm, something the series is very vague on) and could become the bridge in the next story. Instead of a full-on invasion, perhaps someone is seeking Tyr’s help and he resides in Kratos to join him due to his own experiences from a different home. It would create an interesting dynamic and also help further explore a new dynamic between to Gods of War.

    Of course, Santa Monica Studio isn’t bound to producing a singular franchise but Williams seems quite open to dedicating his career to doing just that, as revealed in a quote with the LA Times.

    I remember talking to someone from another game company, where they were trying to get me to leave. The said, ‘Do you just want to be known as the “God of War” guy for the rest of your life?’ That was your big pitch to dissuade me? Because yes, I kind of do

    Eric Williams

    There hasn’t been an official announcement for a sequel, but any franchise that decides to use the wording “saga” is definitely not going to wrap it up anytime soon; the Marvel Cinematic Universe made sure of that very sentiment. If they are working on other unannounced projects, perhaps we’ll get a Spider-Man: Miles Morales type spinoff focused on Atreus as he seeks out the missing giants that now reside in other realms. Perhaps his actions in that game could lead to Kratos having to seek him out, setting up the next mainline sequel. For now, we can only speculate and it looks like we’ll have to wait quite a bit until we get any real news on a sequel.

    Source: Destructoid, LA Times, YouTube

  • [SPOILER] Was Always Part of ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’s Script

    [SPOILER] Was Always Part of ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’s Script

    In case you haven’t had a chance to see Black Panther: Wakanda Forever yet, here’s a spoiler warning for one of the biggest moments in the film.

    Watching Black Panther: Wakanda Forever has been quite an emotional experience, as you can feel that this film acts as a way for the cast and crew to digest the tragic passing of Chadwick Boseman. At the end of the film, not only does Shuri finally find a way to digest her grief but also uses it as a way to move on as Wakanda’s new Black Panther. Yet, that wasn’t the only big moment when the credit rolled and we were introduced to Nakia and T’Challa’s son, Prince T’Challa.

    This moment felt like something that pays tribute to their late friend while also building up the feeling that T’Challa lives on in the Marvel Cinematic Universe; perhaps just not in the direct recasting way that some usually expect. Still, it was a powerful moment that definitely will stick with many after the final credits have rolled. Surprisingly, it does seem like this wasn’t something added after Boseman‘s passing but has been part of the script but the way he was revealed has changed according to film’s co-writer, Joe Robert Cole.

    T’Challa had a child in a previous iteration of the script prior to Chad’s passing. Him having a child was always in the DNA of what we wanted to do. We just weren’t sure, after he passed, about the best way to incorporate him. So there were various iterations of his son being in our new story. And we finally landed on the reveal at the end. There was a point where I think when Ramonda [Angela Bassett] goes to Haiti, we had talked about potentially having him be revealed there. So we knew we wanted him to be a part of the movie in some way, and landed, I think, on the best possible version.

    Joe Robert Cole

    It’s really interesting to find out that he’s always been part of the film’s script but there never was a clear point when they wanted to introduce him. The fact that they kept him for th ened was the most fitting, especially with how emotional it makes the reveal once we see for the first time. It was especially fitting that he carries on his father’s name which may be something they added later on potentially. Still, T’Challa lives on in more ways than one.

    Source: Rolling Stone

  • Shuri Wasn’t Always the Next Black Panther in ‘Wakanda Forever’

    Shuri Wasn’t Always the Next Black Panther in ‘Wakanda Forever’

    Black Panther: Wakanda Forever made a big deal out of who would take over the mantle moving forward, as director Ryan Coogler and co-writer Joe Robert Cole decided to honor their friend Chadwick Boseman by having his character T’Challa face a similar fate. The film has become a way for many to cope with the events that happened and the film became a beautiful tribute to grief and having memories of loved ones live on in our minds.

    Of course, there’s the challenge of finding who would carry on the mantle, and the film would eventually settle on Letitia Wright‘s Shuri. It makes sense given that she’s the next one in line for the throne, and is the only one that can recreate the herb that gives the mantle its powers. Still, it seems that according to Cole, they have played around with some others taking on the mantle, such s Winston Duke‘s M’Baku.

    We would kick around the ideas, and try to extrapolate where the story goes and what’s the most impactful choice — what’s the best journey? And where do you go after the film in terms of those characters. M’Baku certainly was someone that got kicked around a little bit. I think you’re correct because in the comics, Shuri is Black Panther and there’s a natural organicness, I guess is the best way to say it, to her becoming Panther. But you kick the tires on all sorts of ideas. And you just want to make the best decision and do what’s best for the story.

    Joe Robert Cole

    He does highlight that they also have considered passing the mantle to Lupita N‘yongo‘s character Nakia but settled on the more fitting decision to have the Black Panther remain in the family. They went through quite a few ideas early on, but the film also keeps the door open for someone else that can take it on in the future. And who knows what the future has in store, as we’re still in the Multiverse Saga that might feature some others wearing the mantle.

    Source: Rolling Stone

  • ‘Mean Girls’, ‘Bring it On’ and More Inspired ‘Darby and the Dead’s Characters

    ‘Mean Girls’, ‘Bring it On’ and More Inspired ‘Darby and the Dead’s Characters

    Darby and the Dead is a new high school comedy that adds a new spin. As the name implies, it’s not just about a young teenager surviving high school, but her former bully suddenly dies and she’s stuck trying to help her pass on to the next life. It’s a creative premise and looks to be a promising new take on the classic film type.

    During the official press conference for the Hulu Original, actresses Kylie Lyia Page, Nicole Maines, and Auli’i Cravalho got a chance to tease the inspirations of how they brought their characters to life in the Hulu Original. Page highlighted the rather obvious Mean Girls, but also Bring It IOn as inspirations on trying to bring their “popular girl” personas to life in the film.

    I think Mean Girls is definitely one. I mean, just that’s easy, you know, we’re a group of four girls. You know, we’re at the top of the food chain. We’re cheerleaders, so a little bit of Bring It On in there. And Clueless for sure.

    Kylie Lyia Page

    Maines also went on to highlight that it wasn’t only the way they approached the dynamic in their friend’s group, but also that it heavily inspired their wardrobe. So, they had quite a few references to keep an eye out for in what the characters wear throughout the film’s runtime.

    Even our wardrobe tried to give nods to different films that we loved, and yeah, ‘cause we wanted to just make a, like, a fresh take on the classics that we grew up with.

    Nicole Maines

    There are many iconic films that explored this familiar setting too many, and they do hint that while it’s inspired by classics, the film is mainly a more modern take to represent how high school looks for students living it currently. Here’s just hoping that no poor soul can see the dead while trying to live through the

  • Marvel Studios Can’t Produce a ‘Black Panther’ Spinoff Focused on Namor

    Marvel Studios Can’t Produce a ‘Black Panther’ Spinoff Focused on Namor

    There’s been a lot of hype around Tenoch Huerta‘s incredible performance as Namor, the leader of Talocan and antagonist in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. Many have hoped that this performance would kick off interest from Marvel Studios to get this character his own solo project, but sadly it seems that rights are still an issue for some of the Marvel characters.

    According to The Wrap, the rights are still not fully with Marvel Studios and are something from the pre-Disney era. When Marvel Comics was about to go bankrupt, they sold the rights to their characters to studios that would work on films. That’s how Sony and Fox originally got access to the pantheon of popular characters long before Marvel Studios was even a thought.

    Black Panther: Wakanda Forever producer Nate Moore has confirmed to The Wrap that the character can definitely return in a future project, but Disney is not able to produce a standalone project based around the character. It seems the rights are still with Universal, who also holds the rights to Hulk and was the reason that character never got a sequel since the Edward Norton film back in 2008.

    Sadly, this means we shouldn’t expect any further exploration of Talocan in a solo outing in cinemas or even Disney+. Perhaps they’ll find a way to bring the characters back as part of another project where he isn’t the main character but still has a major role. Of course, there’s also the chance that Disney sees the potential and is open to repurchasing the rights to the character; though that may be more difficult with a potentially higher price given his newly found popularity.

    Source: The Wrap

  • Netflix’s ‘One Piece’ Will Feature Plenty of Easter Eggs

    Netflix’s ‘One Piece’ Will Feature Plenty of Easter Eggs

    The upcoming One Piece adaptation heading to Netflix will explore the East Blue saga, the early days of Monkey D. Luffy setting out to sea to become the pirate king. When the manga first was released in 1997, the world wasn’t quite set in stone when Eiichiro Oda started working on a manga that would end up running for over 25 years. So, a lot has happened and evolved ever since.

    In a new video, showrunner Matt Owens got a chance to tease a bit of what’s to come with the franchise while also reflecting on previous attempts at adaptation. While highlighting they won’t force any new additions that fundamentally change the characters, he did end the video highlighting his favorite part: Easter eggs.

    This is my favorite part of my job. Pay attention because the Easter eggs! Look at everything we know about the One Piece world now versus when the East Blue was being done. Watch for Easter Eggs! Pay attention to any wanted poster, newspaper, or a bit of dialogue. Pause things, screenshot!

    Matt Owens

    As he points out, we know a lot more now about where the franchise would head and it opens up many avenues to include small references to future events or characters. The inclusion of wanted posters while highlighting the Easter eggs means that we’re going to have to keep a very close eye on what this series might be hiding. Here’s hoping that we don’t have to wait too long until we get the first glimpse.

    Source: YouTube