Murphy's Multiverse

Author: Joseph Aberl

  • David Leitch’s ‘The Fall Guy’ Adds ‘Ted Lasso’ Star

    David Leitch’s ‘The Fall Guy’ Adds ‘Ted Lasso’ Star

    David Leitch has been quite busy making a name for himself with various projects ever since his work on 2014’s John Wick. He went on to tackle Atomic Blonde, and entered the world of blockbusters with Deadpool 2 and Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw before his recent release with Bullet Train. He’s also been quite busy as a second unit director on various productions, which includes Captain Ameria: Civil War, The Wolverine, and many more. Now, he’s already eyeing his next project with The Fall Guy, an adaptation of an iconic 1980s TV series with a new twist.

    In the Hollywood Reporter latest Heat Vision blog, they have revealed that Ted Lasso star, Hannah Waddingham, has now seemingly joined the production. The film has already amassed a stellar cast with Aaron Talyor-Johnson, Stephanie Hsu, Winston Duke, Emily Blunt, and Ryan Gosling as its leading star. Production is already filming in Australia, so if this isn’t the final casting news we might see some more in the coming weeks.

    The upcoming film will establish its own story based on the original, as instead of having a stuntman as a bounty hunter on the side, the film will focus on a mystery of a missing star, which Drew Pearce, played by Gosling, has to find again. Waddingham will take on the role of producer of the movie that is facing production trouble after its main star went missing, who’ll be played by Aaron Taylor-Johnson. The base concept sounds enthralling and could make for a great blockbuster addition to cinemas.

    Source: The Hollywood Reporter

  • Aubrey Plaza Reveals Why She Joined ‘Agatha: Coven of Chaos’

    Aubrey Plaza Reveals Why She Joined ‘Agatha: Coven of Chaos’

    There was quite some surprise when it was revealed that Aubrey Plaza was joining the upcoming Agatha: Coven of Chaos Disney+ series. She’s been a long-time hopeful to become a part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and many assumed she’d take on a much larger role in one of the film projects. Surprisingly, she found the role perfect for her in the WandaVision spinoff, and it seems her reasoning is quite simple: she wants to work with Kathryn Hahn.

    Agatha: Coven of Chaos’—I haven’t talked about it yet. It’s a fun character. I’ll just say, speaking of manifestations…it’s all coming together for me with this part. Kathryn Hahn, she’s a friend of mine; I’ve known her for years. We shared a couple moments onscreen in ‘Parks and Recreation’ 10 years ago, but I’ve never gotten to work with her, really. She’s one of the most incredible actresses that’s working today. She’s a friend of mine. She speaks my language. To be able to get onscreen with her and go toe-to-toe with her is what’s driving me. I think it’s cool that it’s Marvel and all that, but I’m really just interested to work with Kathryn Hahn.

    Aubrey Plaza

    It’s definitely great to see her enthusiasm for reuniting with her Parks and Recreation co-star, and one can’t blame her given just how much fun Hahn has been as one of Marvel Studios’ latest major characters. Her popularity from Marvel Studios’ first venture led to her getting one of the first spinoffs alongside Haweye‘s Echo, which technically was the first Disney+ spinoff to be announced.

    Source: Backstage

  • New Studio Ghibli Tweet Teases Grogu’s Unannounced ‘Star Wars’ Special

    New Studio Ghibli Tweet Teases Grogu’s Unannounced ‘Star Wars’ Special

    When Studio Ghibli shared a rather subtle clue that they are working on a project with Lucasfilm, it led to many questions about what exactly that project might end up being. They haven’t shared an official statement and neither has Disney, but a new tweet has finally surfaced offering more teases of what’s to come. This new image seemingly includes legendary director Hayao Miyazaki in the blurred background with a focus on a familiar face from modern Star Wars adaptations, Grogu.

    Just last week, there was a hint that on the 12th of November we’d get a new special focused on Grogu titled Star Wars Zen – Grogu and Dust Bunnies. The official Italien Disney+ channel accidentally leaked it but there hasn’t been an official announcement or reveal of it up until now. With the below tweet, it does seem like Ghibli is developing that special.

    https://twitter.com/JP_GHIBLI/status/1591083333844205568

    It’s certainly curious that Star Wars is getting a special created by one of the most prolific animation studios in Japan and barely promote it. Yes, the teasers have been quite great to make us wonder what exactly they are working on, but perhaps the release date was falsely included and it might not release for another week or so. Still, if they do shadow drop a Studio Ghibli-focused Grogu special on Disney+ tomorrow, we’ll definitely be excited to check it out.

    Source: Twitter

  • RUMOR: MCU’s ‘Fantastic Four’ Eyeing January 2024 Production Start

    RUMOR: MCU’s ‘Fantastic Four’ Eyeing January 2024 Production Start

    Marvel Studios is pushing forward on its next phase of films yet they are also preparing to start work on the final phase of the Multiverse Saga. Set for November 2024, Marvel Studios is ready to introduce its take on the iconic First Family of Marvel, the Fantastic Four. Initially, Spider-Man director Jon Watts was set to tackle the adaptation but passed on the project for a new Star Wars series. In his place, WandaVision‘s Matt Shakman took over directing duties with Jeff Kaplan and Ian Springer penning the script for their take on the Fantastic Four.

    While not many more details are known, it does seem like a new rumor has found its way online, as well-known scooper Daniel Richtman has seemingly teased that they are already eyeing a production start by January. Well, January 2024 to be exact with a whole year still going. It does also match its upcoming February 14th release date in 2025, as it would give the production plenty of time to film and go through post-production.

    This production rumor could also be our key indicator of when we might expect casting announcements. It does seem likely that we’ll have to wait a bit longer before we find out who will don the roles of Mr. Fantastic, Invisible Woman, The Human Torch, and Thing. Of course, they could already have locked in someone for the role given the long-time commitment but it does seem like they’ll wait it out until we get any official news on that film.

    Source. Patreon via Twitter

  • ‘Wakanda Forever’ Director Teases More M’Baku in ‘Black Panther’ Sequel

    ‘Wakanda Forever’ Director Teases More M’Baku in ‘Black Panther’ Sequel

    Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is more of an ensemble film than the first was, especially with the tragic loss of Chadwick Boseman. As the film centers on paying tribute to the man’s legacy in many ways, the film takes a different approach and will see the impact on the various characters that we’ve met in the first Black Panther film, while also introducing the world to Talokan, the MCU’s interpretation of Atlantis.

    Still, a lot of the promotional material only teased what we can expect from the story and how the various characters work through their own grief. In the official press conference for Wakanda Forever, director Ryan Coogler highlighted that Winston Duke‘s iconic M’Baku will likely have twice as much screentime as he did in the first film.

    You know, and I will say that, you know, Winston’s not here, but M’Baku was in this movie more than he was in the first Black Panther. I think probably, like, a two-to-one ratio. You know, he probably has twice as many scenes as he had in the first one. And so he’s there, you know.

    Ryan Coogler

    M’Baku was a standout in the first film and even made a return in the Avengers film with Duke reprising the role. While he wasn’t close to T’Challa, he did have an important arc with him in the first film, which did open up the possibility to further explore his arc in this film. We saw in the crossover films that they’ve developed a close bond, especially showcasing how far they’ve grown since the power struggle for the throne in the first Black Panther film. So, it’ll be interesting to explore that dynamic that we may have not gotten a chance to see on the silver screen.

  • ‘The Imperfects’ and ‘Partner Track’ Canceled by Netflix

    ‘The Imperfects’ and ‘Partner Track’ Canceled by Netflix

    Well, it seems that the two latest series have gotten the axe from Netflix, as Partner Track and The Imperfects won’t be returning for second seasons. They remained in the Top 10 for around three weeks but have not really pulled in a massive audience worldwide with Partner Track only debuting at #4 and The Imperfects at #3. Without any clear growth in the following weeks, the streaming service wasn’t going to bring back the franchises for more entries.

    The big surprise is Partner Track, as it ended on a big cliffhanger that there were expectations for the show to perform and it was produced with a more modest budget; which Netflix keeps a close eye on to ensure their return on investment. Arden Cho had the leading role in the series but will remain with Netflix to work on other projects alongside series creator Georgia Lee. She’ll return in the upcoming live-action Avatar: The Last Airbender series, which has high expectations set by Netflix to become one of their next big series.

    The Imperfects explored a trio of unlikely powered individuals as they try to find a way to heal their monstrous new abilities. The series starred Rhianna Jagpal, Morgan Taylor Campbell, and rising star Iñaki Godoy in the lead roles. The latter is also set to return for the upcoming live-action One Piece series, which also has high hopes to become a mainstay on the platform given the success of the original manga series.

    Source: Deadline

  • ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’ Pulls in $45M in Advance Ticket Sales

    ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’ Pulls in $45M in Advance Ticket Sales

    All eyes are on Black Panther: Wakanda Forever‘s release later this week, as it’s the final entry of Marvel Studios’ ambitious Phase 4 and rounds out the year for the studio. The studio has faced a bit of a sophomore slump but still remains a constant when it comes to its box office success. Many have wondered if Wakanda Forever would buckle under the weight of the previous entries and the loss of its main star Chadwick Boseman, but it’s currently performing very well.

    According to The Hollywood Reporter, the latest Black Panther film has already pulled in $45M in advance sales just in the United States with quite a few days still to go. It’ll release worldwide on Wednesday with no releases in China or Russia planned currently. At the moment the film is likely to make at least $175M with some hoping to be closer to $200M depending on word-of-mouth from the film. Even Disney CEO Bob Chapek highlighted the pre-sales in the latest earning call.

    Ryan Coogler has delivered another culture-defining film … evidenced by advance ticket sales.

    Bob Chapek

    The film has sold more than Thor: Love and Thunder but is behind Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness, which was perceived as an event film and was quite frontloaded. It may reach $60M+ by Friday which would put it past the first Black Panther which ended up earning $202M in its opening back in 2018. It went on to pull in $1.34M and it’ll be interesting to see how Wakanda Forever manages to perform in comparison once it releases in a few days.

    Source: Hollywood Reporter

  • Disney+ Adds 12.1M Subscribers, ‘Ms. Marvel’ Highlighted as a Contributor

    Disney+ Adds 12.1M Subscribers, ‘Ms. Marvel’ Highlighted as a Contributor

    It’s very clear for a while that streaming is a high-investment game and those costs only continue to grow over time. Netflix still has showcased that this model doesn’t always promise instant wins as expectations on all sides continue to grow to hope to be the one that draws in the biggest crowd. In Disney’s latest earnings call, it was highlighted that Disney’s streaming losses have continued to grow to $1.47 billion even as it added an impressive 12.1M subscribers in the last quarter.

    Overall, Disney is doing well in the streaming market by hitting 235M subscribers overall, as Hulu added one million and ESPN+ another 1.5M. Ms. Marvel, interestingly enough, was highlighted as one of the shows that gave Disney+’s growth a boost, which is interesting considering it had a lower viewing count when compared to others in the franchise. It once again may highlight the importance of Disney diversifying its portfolio to draw in viewers, especially a younger generation.

    The biggest concern lies in how Disney has doubled its year-over-year investment, which will have investors and shareholders uncertain about the potential of this market. CEO Bob Chapek hinted that these costs have now peaked and profitability would start in 2023.

    The rapid growth of Disney+ in just three years since launch is a direct result of our strategic decision to invest heavily in creating incredible content and rolling out the service internationally, and we expect our DTC operating losses to narrow going forward and that Disney+ will still achieve profitability in fiscal 2024, assuming we do not see a meaningful shift in the economic climate. By realigning our costs and realizing the benefits of price increases and our Disney+ ad-supported tier coming December 8, we believe we will be on the path to achieve a profitable streaming business that will drive continued growth and generate shareholder value long into the future.

    Bob Chapek

    There’s a lot of hope in the new ad-tier version of these Disney bundles to make that profitability possible especially as they also have a price increase planned. If they manage to accomplish this task, the world may take another look at the streaming market’s longevity. The Wrap considers it a signal of “streaming fatigue” but that’s difficult to truly say at this point even with minor signs potentially steering it in that direction. At this point, the first promise of profitability is crucial for Disney to prove their investment was truly worth it. Overall Disney has a revenue of $20.1 billion in its quarter with an operating income of $1.6M.

    Source: THR, Twitter, The Wrap

  • ‘Gotham’ Knights Adds Lauren Stamile and Damon Dayoub in Recurring Roles

    ‘Gotham’ Knights Adds Lauren Stamile and Damon Dayoub in Recurring Roles

    There was a time when people thought the CW wasn’t moving forward with Gotham Knights, the story of Bruce Wayne’s adoptive son uniting with the children of Gotham’s iconic villains to take on a new threat after the death of his father. The series is seemingly staying far away from most comic influences and paving its own adaptation but will still include elements from the original.

    While most CW series are getting axed currently, it does seem like they are quite busy working on the series by Batwoman trio Natalie Abrams, Chad Fiveash, and James Stoteraux. The series has now added two recurring roles with Lauren Stamile and Damon Dayoub joining the DC project. They will play the parents of Brody March, Lincoln, and Rebecca March. The series showrunners had the following to say about the casting:

    We are absolutely thrilled to add Lauren and Damon to our already stellar cast. It’s very fitting for their characters in particular to join our world of Gotham. And while fans of the comics may recognize Lincoln’s name, they should expect some twists in the stories to come.

    Lincoln is teased as a “self-made industrialist with designs on becoming Gotham’s next mayor” who has a bit of an obsession with gaining more power. Stamile will be taking on the role of a wife that is trapped in an unhappy marriage but tries to keep up the facade. No further details are given on what to expect from their characters and generally where the series’ overarching narrative might be heading but it’s currently set for a midseason release.

    Source: Deadline

  • BREAKING: Disney Hoping to Develop an ‘Indiana Jones’ Series for Disney+

    BREAKING: Disney Hoping to Develop an ‘Indiana Jones’ Series for Disney+

    Indiana Jones is set to make a big comeback with the upcoming fifth film starring Harrison Ford in the iconic role once again. Yet, it seems that Disney is not interested in leaving it with just that single project. According to a new report by Variety, it seems they are also hoping to develop a Disney+ series based on the iconic archaeologist’s globe-trotting adventures. They don’t have a writer or showrunner in place. So, it’s not a definite project at the moment but definitely something they are looking into.

    There’s also now ord if they are hoping to develop a prequel, many might recall the plans to make an Indiana Jones Jr. series a long time ago, or even if this might act as a spinoff simply set in the same world. Ford has openly stated he’s done playing the character with the upcoming fifth film, which could also hint as it acting as a sort-of reboot with someone else in the title role. Still, we don’t have much to go on as of now.

    Disney’s focus on IP is well-known and it would’ve been quite surprising if they haven’t thought of further developing the Indiana Jones brand in some way. Still, they have only thrown the idea out there and are likely looking for someone to pitch their take on the project. Who knows if this might even see the light until 2026 if no one is currently attached, to begin with? Lucasfilm has also not been very thorough in consistently putting gout projects, which could also play a factor and doesn’t mean we’ll definitely see a series spin out of this initial kick-off.

    Source: Variety