Murphy's Multiverse

Author: Joseph Aberl

  • Disney+’s ‘Percy Jackson’ Finds its Hades and Hephaestus

    Disney+’s ‘Percy Jackson’ Finds its Hades and Hephaestus

    Disney has been all-in with their Disney+ expansion and while most of it was dominated by two brands, they aren’t slowing down in trying to establish their own new major franchises. Among the many projects they currently have, Percy Jackson and the Olympians is one that has some of the biggest potential in adapting the iconic young adult novels.

    The project had quite the casting already with Walker Scobell cast as Percy joined by Aryan Simhadri‘s Grover and Leah Sava Jeffries as Annabeth. The project went on to add Jessica Parker Kennedy, Olivea Morton, Jason Mantzoukas, Lin-Manuel Miranda, and many more to its cast. Now, it has found two more major additions that’ll surely have book fans excited.

    Variety has revealed that they have cast Jay Duplass as the Disney+ shows’ version of Hades, who is described as “an outcast from his family and a misunderstood genius. He holds a grudge for past wrongs and plays his cards close to the chest.” Timothy Omundson will take on the role of Hephaestus, who is the god of blacksmiths, who was disabled when thrown off Mount Olympus but has a legendary strength.

    The casting is definitely exciting and it does seem like Disney is all-in with the project. We’ll see if they’ll already get working on a second season or wait it out until viewership numbers are in, but the cast is already quite promising and the first look from D23 hinted at an adaptation that’ll surely stand out from the original films.

    Source: Variety

  • ‘Indiana Jones 5’ Director Shares His Approach to the Film

    ‘Indiana Jones 5’ Director Shares His Approach to the Film

    James Mangold, famous for his work on Logan and Ford V Ferrari, is taking on a daunting task. He’ll be the first new director to helm an entry in the Indiana Jones franchise, which has all been directed by Steven Spielberg, who is still actively a producer on the project. Still, it seems that he wasn’t scared of tackling this story once again and shared in an interview with Empire how he approached the material, especially with an older Harrison Ford in the leading role.

    It became really important to me to figure out how to make this a movie about a hero at sunset. The issues I brought up about Indy’s age were not things I thought were being addressed in the material being developed at the time. There were ‘old’ jokes, but the material itself wasn’t about it. To me, whatever you greatest liability, you should fly straight towards that. If you try to pretend it’s not there, you end up getting slings and arrows the whole way.

    James Mangold

    It’s definitely interesting that he’s avoiding the age topic completely, even if some jokes may have found their way into the script. Still, the topic was even the main focus in the last entry that released back in 2008, especially with the set-up of a new generation taking over that wouldn’t lead to anything. So, we’ll see just how the story will revolve around Indiana Jones and what is even the main mystery, as we still haven’t heard what the title will be for the latest entry in the franchise.

    Source: Empire

  • Harrison Ford Reveals Why He Returned to Play Indiana Jones One Last Time

    Harrison Ford Reveals Why He Returned to Play Indiana Jones One Last Time

    Indiana Jones is finally making a return, and Harrison Ford is still set to take on the role even after all these years. It was 2008 when we last saw him take on the mantle with a few hints at a new generation taking over, but new director James Mangold alongside writers Jez and John-Henry Butterworth managed to convince the actor to return to the role once again.

    In a new interview with Empire, he shares what we can expect from the project and seems quite excited about the adventure he joined, even if it seems like production wasn’t easy on this latest action-adventure production.

    It’s full of adventure, full of laughs, full of real emotion. And it’s complex and it’s sneaky. The shooting of it was tough and long and arduous. But I’m very happy with the film that we have.

    Harrison Ford

    He goes on to highlight that he was always open to potentially returning to the role, and it mostly depended “if a script came along” that was just right to truly return to Doctor Jones.

    I just thought it would be nice to see one where Indiana Jones was at the end of his journey. If a script came along that I felt gave me a way to extend the character.

    Harrison Ford

    It seems that his heart was definitely in it and Mangold managed to tease him with a story that was worth exploring once again. It’s not the first time he took a look at an aging hero in a world that changed, as he did the same with Logan and it’ll be interesting to see if this film manages to hold that same level of weight.

    Source: Empire

  • DC Studios May Unveil Future Plans in a Few Months

    DC Studios May Unveil Future Plans in a Few Months

    Peter Safran and James Gunn have only recently taken on the role of DC Studios’ co-CEOs. Warner Bros. Discovery gave them the daunting task of creating a future timeline for how they envision a united DC Comics-based cinematic universe. CEO David Zaslav wants his Marvel Cinematic Universe and he found the perfect guys for the job. Yet, they only joined three weeks ago and it seemed like we’ll have to wait a while before we get any news.

    A new post by The Wrap’s Umberto Gonzalez on Twitter has seemingly hinted that we could find out about their plans sooner rather than later. He not only teased that a Superman revival starring Henry Cavill is potentially on ice until this long-term plan is finalized but also they may unveil it in the coming months. It’s unclear though if he is referencing a presentation within Warner Bros. or even plans to share it publicly.

    While Marvel Studios knows how to get a crowd riled up with their San Diego Comic-Con showcase, it would be a first for them to fully showcase a roadmap like this. It could be a way to stand out even from the monster that is Marvel Studios, but it would seem unwise to show all your cards if they will have to change either way. Of course, there is a possibility that they simply tease projects that are set to arrive as of 2025 to set the groundwork for what exactly they are planning. For now, we’ll have to wait and see.

    Source: Twitter

  • Warner Bros. ‘Superman’ Revival Plans Potentially Stalled

    Warner Bros. ‘Superman’ Revival Plans Potentially Stalled

    Henry Cavill just recently made his long-awaited return as Superman in the Black adam post-credit sequence. while it was exactly what Dwayne Johnson hyped up during his press tour, there still were many questions if this was a one-off event or if Warner Bros. Discovery has bigger plans moving forward. Naturally, it seemed clear they wanted to have the actor back for more adventures as the Man of Steel, but it seems those plans are currently being stalled going to a new report by The Wrap.

    It seems that the project has lost all momentum moving forward, as they are still looking for a writer and director for a potential Man of Steel sequel, and they still haven’t made a formal deal with Henry Cavill to join the franchise. A big factor seems to be the fact that James Gunn and Peter Safran‘s recent addition as co-CEOs of DC Studios may be delaying things, as they map out the long-range plan for the DC Cinematic Universe.

    There was the assumption that he has joined WB’s plans for the character after exiting The Witcher series after being its main lead for three seasons, but it seems more and more evident that this was mostly due to the way the project was developing. For now, we shouldn’t expect a return anytime soon and it’s unclear if Johnson gets his way of just turning the sequel for Black Adam into a Superman showdown.

    Source: The Wrap

  • RUMOR: New ‘Deadpool 3’ Casting Call Hints at Villain

    RUMOR: New ‘Deadpool 3’ Casting Call Hints at Villain

    Deadpool 3 shot up to everyone’s must-watch list the moment it was revealed that they were including Hugh Jackman in the cast. The actor may have said farewell to the character of Wolverine in Logan, but he finally gets the chance to unite with Ryan Reynolds. It also is fitting given his way of destroying the fourth wall and ongoing jokes about Jackman throughout his first two entries.

    Now, a new casting call courtesy of Daniel Richtmann has been making the rounds, which includes two new additions to the cast. Very little is known about the film outside of the return of Jackman, but it does seem like they are seeking to add a female villain, who’ll face off against both in the upcoming film. Marvel Studios is looking for someone in the age range of 30 to 50 for the role.

    When the first teaser arrived online, there was a short shot of Reynolds in costume on the toilet. What stood out (don’t go there) was that he’s reading a comic that features an iconic X-Men villain in the form of Danger. She was the physical embodiment of the training room known as the Danger Room, which became a massive threat to the mutants. With this casting, that might be another hint at Danger potentially being added to the sequel.

    There’s also a description for a BIPOC male lead they are looking to add. It’s uncertain what role he might have, but perhaps it’ll connect to another rumor for the addition of Owen Wilson’s Mobius to the Deadpool sequel. He might not be the only TVA agent that ends up stuck with an unlikely duo traveling through the multiverse.

    Source: Patreon via Twitter

  • Chris Hemsworth Taking a Break from Thor and Acting

    Chris Hemsworth Taking a Break from Thor and Acting

    Chris Hemsworth had quite a busy year ahead of him. Not only did he film the latest major addition to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Thor: Love and Thunder, but he also went on to face the biggest challenge of his life, death itself, in the Disney+ series Limitless. It seems that doing this project opened up his eyes to wanting to spend more time with his family, as highlighted in an interview with Vanity Fair.

    Doing an episode on death and facing your own mortality made me go, ‘Oh God, I’m not ready to go yet.’ I want to sit and be in this space with a greater sense of stillness and gratitude. And then you start talking about kids and family and going, ‘Oh my God, they’re getting older, they’re growing up and I keep slapping another movie on top of another movie.’ Before you know it, they’re 18 and they’ve moved out of the house, and I missed the window

    Of course, it doesn’t mean he is done with playing the role fo Thor or acting altogether, but it does seem that he simply wants to take some time with his family, especially after realizing he has a rare genetic inheritance that raises his risk of Alzheimer’s. Plus, with all the work he has done, there’s the fear of what he might miss out on.

    It really triggered something in me to want to take some time off. And since we finished the show, I’ve been completing the things I was already contracted to do. Now when I finish this tour this week, I’m going home and I’m going to have a good chunk of time off and just simplify. Be with the kids, be with my wife.

    It’s definitely important that the actor spends time with his family, especially with how busy his schedule has become since he joined the MCU. Just how long he’ll take a break remains to be seen, but it doesn’t seem like he’s truly done with the iconic role but rather wanted to refocus moving forward.

    Source: Vanity Fair

  • ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ Director Shares BTS Image Teasing the Holiday Special

    ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ Director Shares BTS Image Teasing the Holiday Special

    Guardians of the Galaxy are back! They are set to return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe in a big way. We have the third, and likely final, installment of the current roster of characters and a Holiday Special just around the corner. James Gunn is back in the director’s chair before taking on his duties as head of DC Studios and focusing more on another cinematic universe.

    While he has already signed on for the new job, he is still going to be busy preparing and marketing the upcoming Marvel release. As such, he has taken to his personal Twitter account to share a BTS image of him with his brother Sean Gunn as Kraglin and Kevin Bacon, who is making his MCU debut in the upcoming Holiday Special.

    Surprisingly, the trailer for the Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special has been quite revealing, as it gave away the storyline of Drax and Mantis going to Earth to kidnap Star-Lord’s personal hero, Kevin Bacon. For the first time, an actor is set to play themselves in the universe and it’ll be interesting to see how they tackle his character, especially with the wacky interactions that are teased in the trailer.

    It’ll be Marvel Studios’ second holiday special but the first that is specifically marketed as such. Werewolf by Night was technically for the Halloween season and had the fitting atmosphere for it, but it doesn’t hold that title with “Halloween Special” added. So, we’ll see how Gunn combines his usual sense of humor with the holiday spirit.

    Source: Twitter

  • Jason Blum and James Wan in Talks to Merge Production Studios

    Jason Blum and James Wan in Talks to Merge Production Studios

    If there are any names that come to mind in the horror genre business, it’s Jason Blum‘s Blumhouse Studios and James Wan‘s Atomic Monster. Wan has been more on the creative side of the business and made his splash with The Conjuring and Saw franchise. Blumhouse however established itself as a big contender in the small to the medium-sized budget horror scene. With a variety of projects ranging from Halloween Ends, The Black Phone to the first Five Nights at Freddy‘s Adaptation, and even out-there projects like M3GAN. Now, it seems these two powerhouses are set to unite.

    Speaking of the horror film about a strange robot doll, the project seems to be the catalyst as it saw the two producers unite. It does seem like we aren’t merging both projects into one but rather they will act as separate labels that keep their brand identity. They will likely only unite to further push their productions forward and will set Atomic Monster to have a first-look deal with Universal Pictures. It originally had one with Warner Bros. but that expires with Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, very likely a sign of what’s to come for the studio given recent developments.

    It’ll certainly be an interesting deal in the film market and could push new projects forward in interesting ways. If they are indeed acting as separate entities, it might mean we’ll see more co-productions moving forward while they still keep a focus on some of their own projects and franchises. In a market filled with major studios, it’s a smart move to keep that independence while also bolstering their standing. So, it seems horror films are definitely not going out of style anytime soon.

    Source: NY Times, THR

  • ‘Wakanda Forever’ Eyeing Strong $72M+ Second Weekend

    ‘Wakanda Forever’ Eyeing Strong $72M+ Second Weekend

    There’s been a lot of debate on the success of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever at the box office, mostly due to it ending up lower than Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. Many believed this might be the sign that Marvel won’t have a billion hit this year, but the box office is quite fiscal and there are many more elements at play. All eyes are currently on its second weekend to see how the film holds with a $181M opening weekend, especially after the previous two Marvel Studios releases have hit some sharp drops.

    As of now, it seems that predictions have the film opening to $72M with upwards of $80M also a possibility. Any drop between 55% to 60% would be seen as a major win and a great showcase of that A CinemaScore the film scored in comparison to other Marvel titles of the year. The pandemic hasn’t been kind to most releases and with only a few exceptions really catapulting beyond expectations, mostly Top Gun: Maverick, Marvel has been the most dominant sure-fire opening scorer at the box office.

    The film did end up going lower on Monday than even Thor: Love and Thunder as it pulled in $11M but did tick up to $12.6M on Tuesday. Yet, the film also isn’t a summer release like the previous two Marvel films which makes a world of difference when it comes to its performance during the week. Plus, it’s a much longer film than previous entries which also means fewer available screenings per day playing a key factor in its performance. So, it’s still hard to say how the weekend goes but predictions have been difficult even s the pandemic slowed down, as we’re seeing more variation in how films perform. Even with that, it’s likely to reach $400M worldwide in no time.

    The original Black Panther had a very impressive 44.7% decline and it’s unclear to say this film could do the same. It doesn’t have the coveted A+ CinemaScore its previous iteration had and it also had a smaller opening, not too surprising given the challenges this film had to face and the new release slot. It’s only the seventh film to pass $200M domestically and that is definitely a good sign for Marvel Studios, as it pushed Disney passed $3B total gross for the year, beating last year. With little competition until Avatar: The Way of Water in mid-December, the film could have a chance at proving its legs to at least close in on a billion. If predictions are right, it has a decent chance but anything can change once the weekend rolls around.

    Source: Variety, Deadline, The Numbers (Wakanda Forever), The Numbers (Thor)