Murphy's Multiverse

Author: John Sabato

  • Oscar-Nominated Director Emerald Fennel Set to Write ‘Zatanna’

    Oscar-Nominated Director Emerald Fennel Set to Write ‘Zatanna’

    Around this time last year, it was announced that J.J. Abrams and his production company, Bad Robot, would be taking the reigns of the Justice League Dark characters for WB. We haven’t heard too much officially on these projects but we do know that the first project in the works is set to feature the popular occult detective, John Constantine, with casting for the new character already underway. Just last week we got our first confirmation and the next character set to join Abrams’ Dark Universe, the one and only mistress of magic, Zatanna.

    It was unclear what exactly the project would be considering Constantine would be getting a show, but we now know the project is indeed a film set to be written by Oscar-nominated director Emerald Fennel, who is currently in the running for Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Adapted Screenplay for her work on Promising Young Woman. The project is also currently set to be released theatrically but has no set release date, and currently has no talent attached aside from Fennel.

    Why Zatanna Needs To Be The Next DC Extended Universe Star - CINEMABLEND

    This will be the first time Zatanna has appeared in live-action since her time on Smallville, in which she was played by Serinda Swan and only appeared for a few episodes. With the project still currently on the hunt for a director, it’s possible Fennel herself could take up the reigns to bring the character to life once more and would have no complaints here. It’ll be interesting to see if the actor who is eventually cast as Constantine reprises the role for this film as he and Zatanna were both trained by Zatanna’s father, Zatara.

    SOURCE: Variety 

  • Denis O’Hare Joins The Cast of ‘AHS: Double Feature’

    Denis O’Hare Joins The Cast of ‘AHS: Double Feature’

    Fans are eager to get their first official look at the upcoming season of American Horror Story. As per tradition, the latest season takes on a new theme to switch things up. This year, the show hit a wall when the pandemic messed with its production plans. It caused things to change and dates to shift back. The series creator, Ryan Murphy, revealed the upcoming theme was indeed a double feature. As such, the season would see two storylines with two different casts. We are still waiting for the casting announcements for the second part of the season. Murphy recently took to Instagram to confirm the return of a fan favorite amongst AHS fans, one that’s awaited for a while now.

     

    Recent rumors began to swirl that AHS alum and fan-favorite Denis O’Hare would be returning for the upcoming season, as he began sharing a lot of the material surrounding the new theme. On the above rumor post about the actor, Murphy confirmed that O’Hare will indeed return for this upcoming season. Considering that Denis was not apart of the initial cast reveal for this season, it’s easy to assume that he’s the first addition to the second cast for the other storyline we’ll be seeing this season.

     

     

    American Horror Story: Double Feature currently has no set release date. The cast for this season continues to feature more and more alum such as Sarah Paulson, Evan Peters, Lily Rabe, Adina Porter, Frances Conroy, Billie Lourd, Finn Wittrock, and now Denis O’Hare.

    Source: Instagram

     

     

  • ‘Aquaman 2’ Casting Three Supporting Roles

    ‘Aquaman 2’ Casting Three Supporting Roles

    DC is are hard at work on the sequel to 2018’s Aquaman. The smash-hit offered a closer look at the underwater civilization of Atlantis. The ending of that film gave us a brief glimpse of the sequel’s direction, as a battle-damaged Black Manta is picked up by Stephen Shin. It looks like recent casting news by GWW might be hinting at a different direction. It seems he might be facing a much more vicious foe after all.

    They are currently looking to cast the character named “Kore.” They are specific about the character having a British accent and being in the age range of 40 to 50 years-of-age. GWW believes that the character may be the Fisher King, who is the leader of N.E.M.O. and an ally of Black Jack. He is also described as “domineering and cunning” that would match this description, but we could also see the leader of the Deluge, Corum Rath, make an appearance. He is an Atlantean eco-terrorist that wants to wage war with the surface world.

     

     

    The character with the codename “Maren” description hints at a mixed-race female in her 30s or 40s. She is also described as “intelligent and formidable,” which would make her a perfect fit to play Dolphin. She was involved with the fight against Corum Rath and the Deluge. She has been a fan favorite ever since. GWW believes it might end up being Black Jack, Siren, or Bres.

     

     

    The third breakdown is for a character dubbed “Rey.” DC is looking for a mixed-race female in her mid-late 20s. She is “tough and authoratiative.” I think could it could be Aquagirl, either Tula or Lorena Marquez. The description would fit Tula, as she is an Atlantean military officer. However, Lorena would be a better match for the role’s description. They may combine these characters into one.

    Aquaman 2 will premiere on December 16th, 2022. James Wan set to return and helm the project. Jason Momoa will reprise his role alongside Amber Heard, and Willem Dafoe will return as Mera and Vulko in the upcoming film.

    Source: GWW

  • How ‘The Flash’ Could Introduce Val-Zod as Superman

    How ‘The Flash’ Could Introduce Val-Zod as Superman

    When it comes to live-action shared universes, DC has had a rough time getting the ball rolling. Whether you love the adaptions or not, their attempt at a cinematic universe has been a wild ride. Each film has felt as if it was a massive departure from the previous, as each one tackled different tones and themes. In the past few years, the restructuring of the universe has been immeasurable. They lost their caped crusader and possibly their Superman. Even with Henry Cavill campaigning for his return, there have been talks of a rebooted Superman franchise within the DCEU, specifically with a Black Superman, Val-Zod, taking the reigns.

    The character is a recent addition to the DC Multiverse. Val-Zod got introduced in 2014’s Earth 2 #19 by Tom Taylor, Nicola Scott, and Robson Rocha. The character is, of course, one of the last known surviving Kryptonians in his universe. He joined Kal-El and Kara on their way to Earth, but his pod would continue to travel much longer before it eventually reached the new home planet. Vals time in space would lead him to become agoraphobic, so he spent his time on Earth refusing to step outside. Val would be found by the Wonders of The World, Earth-2’s Justice League, who would help him overcome his fears and eventually have him join up with the team and take up the mantle of Superman.

     

     

    At this point, I began to see ties for what’s to come in the future of the DC Universe, and of course, it all leads to the eventual solo outing of the Scarlet Speedster. His upcoming solo film will explore the multiverse, as it takes some inspiration from Flashpoint. So far, we know that Michael Keaton returns as Batman and Sasha Calle joined as Supergirl. Now, we believed that these films would introduce the version of Gotham from 1989’s Batman, where Barry would meet the present-day versions of those heroes. While that would be quite the blast from the past, I feel, as if the creatives may be taking a different approach. When Barry first broke the dimensional barriers, he ended up on Earth-2. There he met Jay Garrick, the golden age Flash in Flash #123. So, why wouldn’t they take a similar approach?

    So, how does Val-Zod ft into this story? Well, perhaps they are retconning Keaton‘s Batman to be from Earth-2. Barry tries to undo what he has unleashed, similar to Flashpoint, as this version of the Caped Crusader tries to help his new-found friend. This film would act as the introduction to Val-Zod, Earth-2’s version of the Man of Tomorrow. In the comics, Lois Lane’s version of Red Tornado helped him overcome his fears and leave his home. Flash could easily take her place in the story as they uncover the most powerful being in the universe cowering in his apartment. Barry’s insecurities make him the perfect ally to support Val-Zod. When we meet Barry, he isn’t even the Flash, yet he’s just a guy wrapped up in space gear using his speed to help out now and then. The two could help each other come into their own and accept their destiny. By the end of the film. they both proudly wear the emblems of the heroes that came before them.

  • ‘American Horror Story’ Season 10 Theme Revealed

    ‘American Horror Story’ Season 10 Theme Revealed

    The upcoming season of American Horror Story was probably their toughest yet as it was met with continuous delays during the pandemic. One of the toughest things AHS faced was losing its set date to begin filming as it was crucial to the upcoming theme of the season. What made this start date so crucial was how “weather dependent” this season was. This was confirmed by series creator Ryan Murphy who mentioned that he considered shelving the idea for a later season.

    After waiting for months, the upcoming theme for this season was finally revealed to be “Double Feature.” For those who may not know or are still new to the series, each season takes on a different theme but still uses some of the different actors. While previous themes such as “Freak Show”, “Roanoke” and “Coven” were clear indicators of what to expect, this theme doesn’t clearly define anything. The only clue given is that it’s “One by the seas…One by the land”, possibly a dual themed season with two smaller story arcs.

    https://twitter.com/MrRPMurphy/status/1373046632065814529?s=20

    Since this hit the web, Ryan Murphy has gone on to clarify that season 10 will indeed be made up of two storylines, both with a different cast. The second cast for the upcoming season has yet to be announced but Murphy says an announcement should be soon regarding that. He mentions that it will be “Two Seasons in one calendar year” but it’s unclear what the episode run of each storyline will be.

    American Horror Story: Double Feature currently has no set release date. This season’s cast features some highly anticipated returns such as Evan Peters, Sarah Paulson, Lily Rabe, Billie Lourde, Finn Wittrock, Adina Porter, Angelica Ross, and newcomer Macauly Culkin.

    SOURCE: Twitter, The Wrap

  • Shane Paul McGhie, Maddie Phillips, and Aimee Carrero Join ‘The Boys’ Spinoff

    Shane Paul McGhie, Maddie Phillips, and Aimee Carrero Join ‘The Boys’ Spinoff

    The Boy’s is one of the most popular shows right now. Even when a season isn’t currently running, it’s still a hot topic online. The series has spawned an immense following and has garnered a two-season run with another on the way. Also, its wild success has warranted a spinoff, a show that’ll follow young heroes as they attend a Vought-owned university that trains the best brightest of upcoming superheroes. The series got fast-tracked by Amazon. It already cast Jaz Sinclair and Lizzie Broadway in leading roles.

    The series is moving forward quite quickly as it has recently added three more to its ever-expanding cast. The recent casting additions include Shane Paul Mcghie, Maddie Phillips, and Aimee Carrero. The series doesn’t include which characters the three will take on, but previous castings did disclose who the previous two actresses would be playing. Mcghie could be playing Andre. Phillips could very well be Britney, but Carrero doesn’t seem to fit any of the roles previously rumored for the series.

    The Boy’s spinoff currently has not set a release date. We are also still waiting for an official title, which may confirm if the series is an adaptation of the G-Men, who is an X-Men spoof in the original comic run. they were a group of the upcoming third season of The Boy’s is currently in production and will see the return of everyone’s favorite superhero-hating renegades, as well as the supes, make the whole thing possible.

    Source: Deadline

  • ‘Naomi’ Adds Kaci Walfall, Cranston Johnson Alexander Wraith, and More

    ‘Naomi’ Adds Kaci Walfall, Cranston Johnson Alexander Wraith, and More

    DC is moving full steam ahead with its live-action adaptions. The CW has been their main hub, which led to the creation of the Arrowverse back in 2012. Many of the original series has already ended or are finishing up their run. Still, it wasn’t the end as they’ve been slowly announcing developments on new properties. One of them being Naomi. The series got announced a few months back, and the brilliant mind of Ava Duvernay is working on the project. For those who don’t know, Duvernay is no stranger to the DC Universe. She’s currently developing on a New Gods film, directing and co-writing alongside comic book writer, Tom King.

    The series has already begun casting its leads, moving along quite fast since its announcement. Naomi has found its titular character in Kaci Walfall, the 16-year-old actress. She will take on the role of the superpowered teen from an alternate version of Earth. The series will focus on uncovering her past. The series has also cast Alexander Wraith as Dee, Cranston Johnson as Zumbado, and Camila Moreno as Lourdes.

    The character breakdowns provide a slightly different story than what we’ve seen before. For those who don’t know, Zumbado is the big bad and is on the hunt for Naomi. He has chased her after her parents sent her to another dimension to protect her from Zumbado. Here, Zumbado has already made his way to Earth and is running a used car lot. Naomi steers clear of him as she’s heard of his “troubled past.” Another slight change is in the character of Dee, as he’s now running a tattoo parlor instead of a mechanic shop. It’ll be interesting to see if Dee’s origins are changed, considering the comics he’s a Thanagarian war refugee who came to Earth after abandoning the Raan/Thanagar War. He tries to live a happy life with his wife, who doesn’t make it.

    Source: Hollywood Reporter

  • Gavin James and Neil Widner Writing an ‘Hourman’ Film for DC and Warner Bros.

    Gavin James and Neil Widner Writing an ‘Hourman’ Film for DC and Warner Bros.

    The Justice Society of America is probably one of the oldest superhero teams in comic book history. Their history dates back to the 1940s, predating the Justice League and the Avengers by decades. They first rose to popularity during World War Two, where they came together to aid in the fight against the rising Nazi threat. The team has faced spouts of popularity here and there ever since. Recently the JSA has rushed back into the spotlight since their reappearance on Stargirl. DC Comics even brought them back into mainline continuity in the comics. On top of it all, they will even make their big-screen debut in the upcoming film, Black Adam. It seems one member of the team will be getting just a bit more love than the rest.

    DC and WB are currently developing a solo film featuring a founding member of the JSA, Hourman. The project hired Gavin James and Neil Widner to write. They are also teaming with the Chernin group, who’ve previously developed the latest Planet of The Apes trilogy. More details regarding the project are currently under wraps, and it is currently unclear what iteration of the character the film will follow.

    Seeing as how Stargirl is currently using the son of the original Hourman, and WB has tried to develop a project with Rex Tyler before, it seems like his Hourman is the most likely candidate for this film. It’ll also be interesting to see how the film connects to the larger DC Universe, especially considering the JSA’s imminent arrival in Black Adam, with a roster featuring Hawkman, Doctor Fate, Cyclone, and Atom Smasher.

    Source: Deadline

  • Mindy Kaling Joins Disney+ ‘Monsters at Work’ as it Eyes July Release Date

    Mindy Kaling Joins Disney+ ‘Monsters at Work’ as it Eyes July Release Date

    Disney+ has been a resounding success, constantly adding new content from within Disney’s umbrella of ownership and offering new life to franchises of the past. One company that’s found a home at Disney+ is Pixar, a staple in the animation world. Many new and original projects got announced during the streaming service’s debut presentation. One of which was an original animated series, Monsters at Work. The series would see the return of Mike and Sully. The monster duo from Pixar’s 2001 film, Monsters, Inc., will return to their daily lives in the titular company.

    The series takes place after the original film. It will follow the newcomer, Tylor Tuskmon, as he lands a job at Monsters, Inc. fresh out of college. Tuskmon had always dreamed of being a Scarer, but, upon arrival, discovers that the company has since shifted to collecting children’s laughter. The change came from when Mike and Sully discovered that it’s ten times more powerful. After a long wait, we finally get our first look at the new monster designs:

    We got our first looks at the characters in the upcoming series via the Disney+ Twitter account. The series will officially premiere on July 2nd. The voice cast features the return of John Goodman and Billy Crystal as Sully and Mike. It will also see Bonnie Hunt reprise her role as Ms. Flint. The series added multiple newcomers with Mindy Kaling joining the cast as Val Little, Alanna Ubach as Cutter, Lucas Neff voicing Duncan, Henry Winkler voicing Fritz, and Ben Feldman voicing Tylor.

    Source: D23, Twitter

     

  • HBO Max Releasing a ‘Zack Snyder’s Justice League’ Making Of-Documentary

    HBO Max Releasing a ‘Zack Snyder’s Justice League’ Making Of-Documentary

    The countdown has begun. Zack Snyder’s Justice League finally releases on HBO Max in just a few days. The film has been through the trenches, and so has everyone behind the project. When the film was first released, it was critically panned and felt far removed from Snyder‘s original vision. The upcoming release will finally give him a chance to bring the version to life that he had to leave behind as he reunited his team for another rodeo.

    Now fans will be able to follow that very journey leading up to this monumental release. The film’s Director of Photography and Cameraman, Simon Firsht, whose previous projects include Wonder Woman, Justice League, and Star Wars: Rise of Skywalker, confirmed that a 30-minute documentary will release alongside the film on HBO Max. It will offer a closer look at the events from behind-the-scenes, as this milestone of a director’s cut is finally released.

     

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CMbo3VCh5SA/?igshid=1lf8mtpvnhal7

     

    Zack Snyder’s Justice League releases March 18th exclusively on HBO Max and will see the return of Ben Affleck, Henry Cavill, Gal Gadot, Ray Fisher, Jason Momoa, Ezra Miller, Jared Leto, Cirian Hinds, Ray Porter, and so many more stars who were cut from the theatrical cut of the film. The 4-hour epic will offer people the opportunity to revisit the Knightmare timeline,w which was set-up in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. It will complete the trilogy that started with Man of Steel back in 2013, which would redefine our understanding of the DC Extended Universe on the silver screen. We cannot wait to see Zack Snyder share his experience on finally realizing his original vision.

    Source: Instagram