Murphy's Multiverse

Author: João RP

  • The TVA: A Perfect Addition to the MCU

    The TVA: A Perfect Addition to the MCU

    After WandaVision and The Falcon and The Winter Soldier dealt with the post-Endgame reality of the MCU, Loki has been exploring the consequences of the path chosen to get there. Ever since 2019 that the discussion of what time travel rules within the MCU both validate and negate has never really gone away, but what was made exceedingly clear is that any changes made while in the past would create alternate realities. What this entailed, and the number of diverging timelines the Avengers created out of their time heist, has been another discussion in and of itself. It’s been hard to come up with a unifying theory that managed to explain all loose ends and define what constituted a major change to the timeline because, for all we know, a seemingly small detail as Clint Barton retrieving a baseball mint from this home in the past could trigger World War III in the future. But, two years on, Loki has seemingly managed to put all those doubts to rest by introducing us to the TVA.

    It could have gone one of three ways. If the choice were to be to simply introduce a type of randomness regarding timeline interference that allowed for anything to happen, at any time, for no reason at all, you would obviously open up a lot of narrative possibilities. But by doing so, the emotional impact would be lessened as dumb luck would be the reason for anything, everything, to happen. On the other hand, by clearly defining said rules as being something woven into the fabric of how the universe works, just as physics or chemistry are in ours, it would ground the timeline interference concept but, at the same time, it would leave little room for that extra pinch of intrigue. Reality would become predictable as the universe would not change its modus operandis, it would not pick sides according to the situation, it would not trick you in order to come out on top.

    So what Marvel Studios did was probably make the best decision they could have made when focusing on future drama within the MCU. With the TVA, an organization with apparently very strict rules in terms of what it does and does not allow to occur on each timeline, but still run by someone with its own agenda, Marvel Studios has managed to give itself the necessary leeway both moving forward and in explaining past narrative choices. They can easily delete or keep individual timelines when that helps with the story they want to tell, diminishing the number of loose ends that could have come and bite them in the ass later on. These decisions can either be pretty strict by following the will, code, and interests of whoever is in charge of the TVA and/or its tech, or, at the same time, can become pretty random and unexpected if that power is spread around through multiple factions down the line.

    As we approach Loki‘s season finale, The Man in the Castle is about to be revealed. With him, his agenda and his own endgame, the future of the MCU will probably enter a new phase in terms of what is and what is not allowed to continue existing.

  • Set Video Offers First Look at Amazon’s ‘PAPER GIRLS’

    Set Video Offers First Look at Amazon’s ‘PAPER GIRLS’

    Amazon has been hard at work expanding its comic adaptations. Next on their list is Brian K. Vaughan and Cliff Chiang‘s Paper Girls. Production seems to be well underway for Amazon’s Paper Girls adaptation. Someone living in the neighborhood where they are filming, which will act as Stony Stream (Hoffman Estates in Illinois), got a glimpse of the cast and crew.  They are currently filming some sequences with the girls on their bikes, which may be familiar to comic readers. This seems like something we will see in the early episodes, as the girls are going through their usual paper routes before their adventure through time and space begins.

     

     

    https://twitter.com/kajemacc/status/1403449344515248135?s=20

    We can clearly see their newspaper delivery bags, and even KJ’s (played by Fina Strazza) field hockey stick strapped to her back. Mac Coyle, Erin Tieng, and Tiffany Quilkin will be played by Sofia Rosinsky, Riley Lai Nelet, and Camryn Jones respectively. Principal photography will continue through the 24th in Illinois, with the show perhaps eyeing a late 2021/early 2022 release date through Amazon’s streaming service, even if an official announcement hasn’t been made as of yet. The series is based on the Brian K. Vaughan and Cliff Chiang comic. It was published by Image Comics from 2015 to 2019 and went on to win the Eisner for Best New Series in 2016. Vaughan, Chiang, as well as colorist Matt Wilson, gained individual praise for their work on the series.

    Source: Twitter

  • Closer Look at FX’s ‘Y: THE LAST MAN’s Yorick Brown Released

    Closer Look at FX’s ‘Y: THE LAST MAN’s Yorick Brown Released

    Just a few days after getting an official premiere date for the Y: The Last Man adaptation, we now got our first look at the series lead, Yorick Brown. It was shared by series producer Eliza Clark to showcase a somewhat iconic shot taken straight from the comics. He is even holding his Ampersand’s, his pet monkey, carrier. When we find Yorick donning this look, at the beginning of the series, he’s on his way to Washington DC, looking for his mother, Representative Brown. He keeps his identity hidden since being the last representative of the male gender would be something that would draw a lot of attention to himself. A plan that, as most plans in post-apocalyptic times go, doesn’t really hold up for long.

    Yorick’s true identity is rapidly revealed, in what proves as the catalyst for his globe-trotting adventures, looking for a cure that would guarantee a future for the human race. Moved by his own self-interest of traveling to Australia, to meet up with this girlfriend who was there conducting research when the plague hit, instead of going in search of a Boston geneticist who could study him and possibly discover the reasons behind his survival, Yorick must navigate a world where he is no longer seen as a person, but a means to an end.

     

     

    Warcraft’s Ben Schnetzer is playing the titular character of Yorick with Diane Lane portraying his mother, Congresswoman Jennifer Brown, a member of the U.S. House of Representatives. The mainly female cast will also feature Ashley Romans, Diana Bang, as well as Dredd‘s Olivia Thirlby. It will premiere on September 13th, 2021, on FX.

  • ‘SWEET TOOTH’’s Jim Mickley set to direct upcoming ‘GOD COUNTRY’ adaptation

    ‘SWEET TOOTH’’s Jim Mickley set to direct upcoming ‘GOD COUNTRY’ adaptation

    Coming off the extremely well-received Netflix adaptation of Sweet Tooth, Jim Mickle has been tapped to direct yet another comic adaptation: Donny Cates’ breakthrough indie hit God Country for Legendary Entertainment. Mickle, who directed four of the eight Sweet Tooth episodes out now, is moving back to directing feature films, with his last one being 2019’s In the Shadow of the Moon. Donny Cates will be writing the script, adapting his original work, with Lee Kramer, Jon Kramer, and Mickle producing. 

    Cates has since gone on to write for Marvel (Thanos, Silver Surfer, Doctor Strange, Guardians of the Galaxy, Venom, Thor) and has recently gone back to creator-owned comics to write a (sort of) sequel to some of his past independent hits, God Country included, in the Crossover series.

    God Country was initially published by Image Comics back in 2017 to rave reviews. It tells the story of Emmet Quinlan, and an old man dealing with dementia who, to his son and grandaughter’s disbelief, manages to fight off supernatural creatures when wielding Valofax, an enchanted sword that grants him otherworldly powers. Set in Texas, Cates’ home state, God Country comes off as a wonderful tale of just how much someone is willing to take in order to both keep and create the memories that can make life truly special. There is still no additional information regarding cast and release dates for the project but we will make sure to keep you posted.

     

    Source: Hollywood Reporter

  • Tom Hiddleston Teases That ‘Loki’ Will Explore the Meaning of His Iconic Horns

    Tom Hiddleston Teases That ‘Loki’ Will Explore the Meaning of His Iconic Horns

    Having portrayed Loki Laufeyson since 2011’s Thor, there are few individuals with better knowledge of the cinematic version of the character than Tom Hiddleston. Whereas production teams, writers, and directors have often come and gone throughout the history of the Thor franchise, Hiddleston has been there since the start. Because of this, it’s only natural that when developing a Loki-centered series, he would be a great source of information for the current production team. It was even the focus of the latest featurette where they revealed that they were called the Loki Lectures.

     

     

    Besides the obvious issues like his character’s dramatic arc, Hiddleston told us that even Loki’s fight choreography and costumes have been the subject of a few conversations while developing the show. The production wanted to understand how Loki has evolved thus far to take the proper steps forward with the character. An interesting subject of discussion, one that by being mentioned in such specifics might hint at it being focused on in the show, was Loki’s headpiece. Hiddleston had this to say:

    People wanted to know about the horns. I do remember that. There was a question of when does Loki wear the horns? Why does he wear them? Is it a ceremonial thing or are they somehow an extension of some emotional intention? Is he particularly malevolent at those times? It was kind of interesting to be asked these questions from outside, I guess, from outside this experience. All will become clear in time.

     

     

    Throughout Loki’s history, the mentioned headpiece is an Asgardian symbol for the sorcery he wields. So, it would be fair to think that it does indeed serve a sort of ceremonial element, conferring to his figure some extra authority and power. With images released by Marvel Studios of Loki wearing a smaller headpiece on the show, we might probably see him work to regain the status he once held, making his way into a bigger headpiece as he reacquires his title of God of Mischief by the end of the series.

  • RUMOR: Bossk to Appear in ‘The Book of Boba Fett’

    RUMOR: Bossk to Appear in ‘The Book of Boba Fett’

    It’s no surprise that once Lucasfilm starts developing a Boba Fett show, some bounty hunters from a galaxy far, far away are due for an appearance. And few would gather as much interest as the return of Bossk to live-action Star Wars. It seems we are indeed getting the Trandoshan back in the upcoming Disney+ limited series The Book of Boba Fett, according to a report by LRM. Bossk was first introduced in The Empire Strikes Back as Darth Vader gathered a few bounty hunters to track, find and capture Han Solo, Chewbacca, and the Millennium Falcon. He has since made many appearances in both comic books, videogames, and even The Clone Wars. In live-action, he only got a brief mention in Solo: A Star Wars Story.

    Now, after reintroducing Boba Fett in the second season of The Mandalorian, the deep dive into the world of the galaxy’s scum and villainy in the spin-off seems like a perfect place to bring Bossk back. Following the current massive comic crossover event that the Star Wars side of Marvel comics has been developing, The War of The Bounty Hunters, Lucasfilm appears to be doubling down on amplifying characters outside of the usual Empire or Resistance pairing. The Book of Boba Fett is due to premiere later this year, only on Disney+, with Temuera Morrison returning as Boba Fett and Ming-Na Wen reprising her Fennec Shand role. Plot details still remain under wraps and here’s hoping we get a trailer in the near future to give us a glimpse into what direction this series is heading.

    Source: LRM

  • ‘CHERNOBYL’’s Robert Emms joins the cast of ‘ANDOR’

    ‘CHERNOBYL’’s Robert Emms joins the cast of ‘ANDOR’

    Lucasfilm’s Andor has cast Robert Emms, who we’ve previously seen in shows like the astonishing Chernobyl and His Dark Materials. With the Rogue One spin-off currently filming, there are a few names still being added to the cast, as it eyes a 2022 Disney+ release date. There are no details regarding the character Emms will be playing but considering where we’re expected to find Diego Luna’s Cassian Andor, EmmsBritish background might hint at some sort of role within the Empire. Even if Lucasfilm has been shifting away from reserving such accents for villainous roles in the Star Wars universe.

    Moving through a world of military espionage deep within the heart of the fight between the Rebellion and the newly formed Empire, Andor will (obviously) be set before Rogue One, as we’re expected to learn more about Cassian’s background, something only hinted at in Rogue One. Heavyweights Ewan McGregor and Rosario Dawson, playing Obi-Wan Kenobi and Ahsoka Tano respectively, are expected to make an appearance. As for Alan Tudyk, who voiced the former Empire droid K-2SO, an integral part of the aforementioned Rogue One, will, unfortunately, not be showing up. 

     

    Source: Deadline

  • FX’s ‘Y: THE LAST MAN’ to Release in September

    FX’s ‘Y: THE LAST MAN’ to Release in September

    After what seems like an eternity, the Y: The Last Man adaptation finally has a set premiere date over at FX. It will officially premiere on September 13th. What could very well turn out to be one of the biggest hit series of 2021 is based on the comic series of the same name penned by Eisner Award-winning Brian K. Vaughan and Pia Guerra. It was published through Vertigo and ran from 2002 until 2008, spanning over 60 issues. Its storyline focuses on the aftermath of a cataclysmic event that ends up killing every single mammal on planet earth with a Y chromosome. In layman’s terms, only females survived.

    Enter Yorick Brown, who mysteriously manages to survive with no idea of how that came to be. With his pet monkey by his side, he becomes involved in a world of governmental espionage, international intrigue, with the backdrop of humanity possibly being on the verge of extinction for simply not being able to reproduce. We’re led in a globetrotting adventure, across multiple continents as Yorick, the Last Man, fights not only for his own future but also for his race.

    Warcraft‘s Ben Schnetzer is playing Yorick, with Diane Lane portraying his mother, Congresswoman Jennifer Brown, a member of the U.S. House of Representatives. The mainly female cast will also feature Ashley Romans, Diana Bang, as well as Dredd‘s Olivia Thirlby, and it will premiere on September 13th, 2021, on FX.

    Source: Deadline

  • Merle Dandridge to Reprises ‘The Last of Us’ Role in Upcoming HBO Series

    Merle Dandridge to Reprises ‘The Last of Us’ Role in Upcoming HBO Series

    HBO’s The Last of Us adaptation has found its Marlene in Merle Dandridge. A prominent character in the first installment of the game back in 2013, Marlene is the leader of the Fireflies, a revolutionary militia group developed after a fungus outbreak that swept the planet. Initially thought of to be one of the good guys, who would help both Joel (Pedro Pascal) and Ellie (Bella Ramsey) develop a cure for the disease, she turns into the final antagonist of the first game.

    After several casting choices that seem to deviate from the profiles that the characters in the game series brought us, bringing Dandrige on board feels interesting. It would seem that even with all the changes to the source material such an adaptation usually entails, Marlene is someone that the production team, which was also heavily involved in developing the game series, feels should be brought to life on the small screen with little to no differences to its video game counterpart.

     

     

    HBO’s The Last of Us doesn’t yet have a release date but with several key casting choices already made, we should maybe get updates on the production’s timeline in the coming weeks. It’ll be interesting to see how much the adaptation changes from the original games, as they might take some unique directions with the franchise. There is also the question of how much of the story will take place within the series’ run time, as they may split up the original game through multiple seasons. They could even explore the time between the 2014 game and its sequel to flesh out the characters. Hopefully, we’ll find out more in the coming weeks.

    Source: THR

  • Theorizing MARVEL STUDIOS’ Interconnected Storylines

    Theorizing MARVEL STUDIOS’ Interconnected Storylines

    It’s been a little over three months since Marvel Studios properly kicked off its Phase 4. Both WandaVision and The Falcon and the Winter Soldier are now behind us, two shows that gave us but a glimpse of what is in store in the coming years in terms of the interconnectivity between the different IPs that make up the MCU. This is something Kevin Feige himself made extremely clear this past December, during the Disney Investor Day 2020:

    The Cinematic Universe weaves storylines of heroes and villains across twenty-three feature films to date, and with Disney+ we’re able to extend this way of storytelling to a new format, creating series that are connected to our theatrical releases making the MCU more immersive than ever.

    As for WandaVision, it managed to bring together characters from properties that seemed somewhat foreign to its titular characters (bringing them in from Thor, Captain Marvel, and Ant-Man). The Falcon and The Winter Soldier did almost the exact opposite. It grabbed most of its main characters from the same feature (Captain America: Civil War) and continued their arcs in a way that seems to hint at them diverging into several other (new) IPs. The common ground between both approaches seems quite simple: when the story asks for it, characters will come and go from whatever property that needs them to. With this in mind, and with the number of projects Marvel Studios has already announced, it’s hard to not try and envision some of the paths the stories these characters might take us on.

    The existing connective tissue between properties is stronger with some than with others, even though Marvel Studios will always end up surprising us one way or another. But most of the more realistic theorizing (if there even is such a thing), taking into account the information that has already come out regarding casts, plots, and so on, seems to hint at a clear/not clear separation between what are the military-powered, skill-driven heroes and the more mystic and cosmic side of the MCU. So being, we’ll now focus on the first of these two groups.

    The Falcon and the Winter Soldier seems to be at the heart of the stories we might end up exploring on this side of the spectrum. With Karli Morgenthau being one of the few main characters to have (apparently) died, all the others are now ready to move on, each doing their own thing. With Sam Wilson as Captain America, he seems like a given to star in the upcoming fourth installment of the Captain America series. As for Bucky Barnes, with a Nomad series apparently in development, Barnes seems like a perfect fit. As for James “War Machine” Rhodes, he might now become the direct link to Iron Man’s legacy Riri Williams comes into contact with in Ironheart, before both move into Armor Wars, where they could be met by Sharon Carter in her newfound MCU role. Black Widow will introduce us to Yelena Belova who can seamlessly move on to Hawkeye (even if just to attend a memorial service), where Echo will be show up before staring in her own show.

    Shifting our attention to the other side of the diagram, we find several connections between shows that have already been confirmed. Monica Rambeau will be back in the franchise where she was first introduced, where she will be met by Kamala Khan who will have already been introduced in the Ms. Marvel series. Both might be met in The Marvels by Talos, who will also have a role to play in the upcoming Secret Invasion alongside Nick Fury. As to Wanda Maximoff, now the Scarlet Witch, she is certain to continue her story in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness which may become the epicenter of every upcoming property dealing with the Multiverse. Loki and Spider-Man: Far From Home seem like projects that are likely to have strong connections to the second Doctor Strange feature for obvious plot reasons, at the same time as they connect through other storylines to yet another set of properties. With the information coming out of Loki that Gugu Mbatha-Raw will be playing Judge Renslayer (meaning that almost certainly that makes her Ravonna Renslayer) it becomes highly likely that Kang will make an appearance, ahead of his already highlighted presence in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, played by the brilliant Jonathan Majors.

    These stories alone are certain to keep Marvel gaining momentum for years to come, but what seems to be the endgame here? Establishing new properties where characters from all over manage to meet for the first time, bringing together story threads from all sides of the MCU, certainly seems like a possibility. Projects that haven’t been announced as that might somewhat spoil the plots leading up to them. It should be no coincidence that a number of upcoming projects will seamlessly allow for the introduction of Young Avengers members, much like WandaVision and The Falcon and the Winter Soldier managed to do with Tommy and Billy Maximoff, and Eli Bradley, respectively. Kate Bishop is already confirmed to be debuting in Hawkeye, and the rest of the team will probably soon follow, with Teddy perhaps being introduced in Secret Invasion, America Chavez in Doctor Strange 2, and Cassie Lang returning, as Stature, in Quantumania. Therefore, a Young Avengers series/movie should definitively be in the works bringing together their individual storylines. Another team being put together, even though a much different one, should be the focus of the Thunderbolts. With Baron Zemo and Abomination brought back, Taskmaster (the mantle) surviving Black Widow, and with Ghost still alive after Ant-Man and the Wasp, there is no reason for it not to be in the cards. Another feature that could serve as a continuation to John Walker’s story, maybe even bringing Yelena into the mix, and perhaps managing to dig up an Osborn to lead them, is The Dark Avengers. Marvel Studios knows that they can’t top the Avengers team they built up until Avengers: Endgame, so this focus on alternate teams, some of dubious character, would certainly be welcomed as a great change of pace. 

    There are a few projects that have already been announced that played no part in this theory. For all I know they might end up becoming the most crucial chapters of the MCU going forward. The Fantastic Four, due to their relevance, or the Eternals, due to their scope, certainly have that ability. But for now, this is it. Maybe in a couple of months, the script will be flipped and a new article will be in the works.