Murphy's Multiverse

Author: Mary Maerz

  • What We Want to See In the ‘Thor: Love and Thunder’ Trailer

    What We Want to See In the ‘Thor: Love and Thunder’ Trailer

    The Thor: Love and Thunder teaser trailer dropped just weeks ago, and now Marvel Studios is gearing up to release the official trailer for the fourth Thor film this upcoming Monday. While the teaser trailer certainly gave viewers their first look at several things, including Chris Hemsworth’s cross-fit Thor, the guest-starring Guardians of the Galaxy, Tessa Thompson’s King Valkyrie, as well as Natalie Portman’s Mighty Thor… it ended up leaving plenty to be desired. 

    Some are confused about the tone of the Taika Waititi-directed follow up to Thor: Ragnarok, but the teaser trailer also left out major elements of Love and Thunder, including any hint at the plot. Of course, the official trailer will not give away the entire film, but there are without a doubt certain things that fans are hoping to see most in the Love and Thunder trailer on Monday.

    First and foremost, the thing everyone wants to get their first glimpse at is Christian Bale’s Gorr the God Butcher. As the antagonist of the film, getting a good look at him will surely help viewers get a stronger sense of what to expect. More importantly, who wouldn’t be excited to see how the filmmakers ended up designing and creating the Academy Award-winner’s look for the role? Assuming it took any inspiration from the comics, it should be quite the gnarly look for Bale. Past the appearance, it would be great if the trailer gave the villain a little time to be, well, villainous. As a butcher of gods, the guy is set to be fairly frightening, so hopefully the trailer will build him up ahead of Love and Thunder’s July release.

    As the trailer and promotional images have made it clear, the Thor movie is about two Thors—Hemsworth’s and Portman’s Mighty Thor. Jane Foster was present as the biggest tease of the teaser trailer, so her presence could be confusing or mysterious to those less familiar with the character from the comics. Even the comics aficionado is pretty much in the dark with respect to how Jane ended up with a pieced-together Mjolnir given where the character left off in Thor: The Dark World almost a decade ago. It would be great if the trailer made her return a bit more understandable and also give her the proper foundation as one of the most important players of the film. Seeing her interact with Thor after all this time could also be quite entertaining.

    Considering Waititi has described the upcoming film as a full-blown love story, the trailer could certainly spare to share a bit of the “love” in Love and Thunder. The writer-director also teased that the romantic pairings may not be what viewers expect. The trailer does not need to and will not give away any surprises meant to be revealed in the actual film, but giving away a smidge of the “love story” could also give shape to the film and help set the tone.

    Any additional information on King Valkyrie’s role as leader of New Asgard would be fun. We have seen brief shots of her at what looks like some global political council or conference, so an update on how New Asgard has integrated into Earth’s society would be interesting and set up Valkyrie’s role a bit more.

    Lastly, of course, where is Miek? We need some Miek.

    Thor: Love and Thunder hits theaters on July 8, 2022. You can catch the official trailer on May 23, 2022 during Game 4 of the NBA Eastern Conference Finals.

  • ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’ Damage Control Actor Will Appear in ‘Ms. Marvel’

    ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’ Damage Control Actor Will Appear in ‘Ms. Marvel’

    In an intricately intertwined universe like the MCU, small connections and crossovers are constantly building to larger things. The official fact sheet for Disney+’s Ms. Marvel has revealed one of these potential connections.

    Listed in the cast is actor Arian Moayed. MCU fans would recognize Moayed as Department of Damage Control Agent P. Clearly, who interrogates Peter Parker early on in Spider-Man: No Way Home. While Moayed had only a minor role, the fact that he will make his way to Jersey City in Ms. Marvel could suggest a growing presence of Damage Control in the MCU.

    The Department of Damage control first made its MCU appearance in Spider-Man: Homecoming as a joint venture between Stark Industries and the federal government in response to the damage left behind after Avengers battles.

    While Moayed’s character is not officially confirmed to be Agent Cleary, it only makes sense that the character could act as sort of a figure head for the slowly-growing presence of Damage Control, similarly to how Clark Greg’s Phil Coulson teased S.H.I.E.L.D. across several films. The Department is even set to appear in August’s She-Hulk.

    The full scope of Damage Control’s presence in the MCU going forward is not yet known, but superheroes and the destruction they inevitably leave in their wake has certainly been on people’s minds following films like Captain America: Civil War and Spider-Man: Far From Home. As Kamala Khan aka Ms. Marvel rises as a superhero, she may find herself in a climate much more hostile to Earth’s Mightiest Heroes than those who came before her had to deal with.

    Ms. Marvel premieres exclusively on Disney+ on June 8.

    Source: Disney

  • ‘Ms. Marvel’ Almost Featured Too Many Iron Man References

    ‘Ms. Marvel’ Almost Featured Too Many Iron Man References

    As the next installment to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, all eyes are on the Disney+ series Ms. Marvel. Iman Vellani stars as Kamala Khan, whose admiration of Captain Marvel leads her to don the Ms. Marvel mantle after she discovers she has mysterious abilities. Khan is primed to be a major heroic force for the future of the MCU, so it will be interesting to watch the growth of a superhero who came of age admiring them herself.

    Vellani herself is a well-known MCU superfan, and apparently, Iron Man is her go-to comfort film. Considering the 2008 film began the MCU, her love of it is fitting for both her and Kamala Khan. The actress explained:

    The first thing I did when I got cast was watch Iron Man again. It’s like my comfort movie. Any big milestone we would hit in the show, whether it was filming the scene where Kamala gets her costume or her powers, I would watch Iron Man. “It was my reminder that this character exists in the same universe as Tony Stark, which was just the coolest thing in the world for me.

    Iman Vellani

    It turns out that that love made its way into Ms. Marvel in the form of references to the late Tony Stark and Iron Man easter eggs. In a world full of Stark fans and those grateful for his sacrifice to defeat Thanos, it makes perfect sense. Apparently, though, there got to be too many references for Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige to agree to. According to the actress, Feige stepped in to limit the number of references to Iron Man eventually:

    I’m a huge, huge Iron Man fan. I know Kamala is more Captain Marvel, but I was very much asking for more Iron Man references in there. Like, ‘I think she needs an Iron Man action figure, more Iron Man.’ There was a point where we got to too much Iron Man, that was the note from Kevin!

    Iman Vellani

    Even though Tony Stark is dead and gone, fans still can’t get enough of him. But Feige had plenty of reasons to limit the easter eggs, including to possibly avoid the possibility that some viewers would accuse Marvel Studios of making a younger hero an Iron Man mini-me, like the “Iron Boy Jr.” nickname for Tom Holland’s Spider-Man.

    Ms. Marvel first premieres on Disney+ on June 8, 2022.

    Source: SFX Magazine via The Direct

  • The Daredevil In Disguise: How Matt Murdock and She-Hulk Will Meet In Court

    The Daredevil In Disguise: How Matt Murdock and She-Hulk Will Meet In Court

    Now that the teaser trailer for She-Hulk: Attorney at Law has dropped, fans have plenty to be excited about for the upcoming Marvel Studios series. Tatiana Maslany’s Jennifer Walter and titular She-Hulk will be joined by other major MCU characters who are confirmed to make appearances in the series, including Mark Ruffalo’s Bruce Banner, Tim Roth’s Abomination, and Benedict Wong’s Wong. And while the series has the potential to feature numerous cameos, there is one that viewers are surely most excited for—Charlie Cox’s Matt Murdock and Daredevil will be featured at some point in She-Hulk.

    While he has yet to be officially announced, there is one place that will surely bring She-Hulk and Daredevil together in She-Hulk: the courtroom. The 9-episode comedy series is set to spend a lot of time focused on Jen Walters’ legal practice, as the subtitle, “Attorney at Law,” makes clear. The teaser trailer introduced Walters’ firm, Goodman, Lieber, Kurtzberg & Holliway, where she is the face of the firm’s superhuman law division. Matt Murdock, of course, is also a lawyer, but he doesn’t specifically focus on super-powered individuals as Jen does. Throughout the character’s history, he has practiced many kinds of law. But for the most part, Matt works as a criminal defense lawyer and sometimes takes on civil rights cases.

    There seems to be little doubt that the two could meet as two attorneys, but what kind of case would bring them together? Sure, the optimist might argue that the two will work as a team to bring about justice. But the legal battlefield is much trickier than that, and what constitutes “justice” often just depends on the side that you are on. And given their shared history in the comics, all bets are on She-Hulk and Daredevil on opposing sides. In Charles Soule’s 2014 She-Hulk run, the two actually took a wrongful death suit against Captain America to court, with Matt representing the victim and Jen representing old Steve Rogers.

    ‘She-Hulk’ (2014)

    We know whatever case it is will be a civil case—not a criminal one—considering that neither of our heroes works for the government. Obviously, superheroes or superhumans will be involved in any case that Jen is working on, though that does not necessarily mean that non-superhero parties can’t have a significant role in the case. Assuming Matt takes on his traditional role as a defense attorney, Jen will be representing someone who is suing Matt’s client. An easy list of possible cases looks pretty simple. It could be that (a) a superhero sues a supervillain or vice versa, or (b) a civilian sues a superhero/villain or vice versa. But we can probably narrow it down further.

    Matt Murdock does have a history in the comics of taking on superhero clients, but there is a strong chance that will not be the case in She-Hulk. Matt is known for looking out for the “little guy” or those who have the justice system stacked against them. So, it seems likely that Matt could be defending an ordinary civilian against a lawsuit by a more powerful superhuman represented by Jen and her firm. But what would a superhero need to sue someone over? The answer to that is pretty much endless, but since we know that She-Hulk is a comedy, it probably will not be anything too serious. In other words, the Sokovia Accords, the only KNOWN laws that apply to superheroes in the MCU, are probably off the table. The possibilities include emotional distress, defamation, unconstitutional imprisonment (that prison in the teaser trailer looks pretty intense), negligence, or fraud. While not likely to happen in a Disney+ series, Spider-Man has successfully sued J. Jonah Jameson and the Daily Bugle for Libel in She-Hulk comics. If it’s comedic and light-hearted, it doesn’t even need to be complicated. It could be as simple as a superhero suing the guy who makes their suit over the quality of said suit.

    So, who could be Jen’s superclient? As mentioned, She-Hulk could have a crazy amount of cameos, so it is hard to say. There are rumors of Wong trying to sue another wizard, but presumably, the series will showcase several superpeople looking for legal advice or going to court. The teaser trailer also indicated that Jen will work with Emil Blonsky/Abomination to some extent as well. The sheer amount of possibilities makes this a difficult guess, but it would probably have the most impact if the superhuman involved is someone we know in the MCU.

    Lastly, of course, which lawyer will win? In the comics case over Captain America that the two took to court, She-Hulk was the ultimate winner, though Cap pretty much set up that outcome. Still, considering it is She-Hulk’s series, that is another strong reason why we should predict her to triumph over Matt Murdock in court.

    She-Hulk: Attorney at Law starts streaming exclusively on Disney+ on August 17, 2022.

  • Why ‘She-Hulk’ Might Be the Most Cameo-Heavy MCU Project

    Why ‘She-Hulk’ Might Be the Most Cameo-Heavy MCU Project

    The first teaser trailer for the long-awaited Disney+ She-Hulk: Attorney at Law series has finally been released, giving fans their first glimpses at Tatiana Maslany’s Jennifer Walter and titular She-Hulk. But that certainly was not all—several other major MCU characters are confirmed to make appearances in the series, including Mark Ruffalo’s Bruce Banner, Tim Roth’s Abomination, and Benedict Wong’s Wong. Charlie Cox’s Matt Murdock/Daredevil will also return to the MCU in the show. Beyond that, several new characters from across Marvel comics are set to join the series and we compiled a list of other rumors in the series.

    Considering Marvel Studios has so far only released a teaser for She-Hulk, the list of character appearances is already off the charts. Fans have always clamored for connections between projects in the MCU and for the return of certain characters in new projects. Opinions on whether cameos add to or detract from any given project will never be unanimous, but the question has become increasingly tense among fans in the wake of Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.

    Regardless of your experience with the rampant cameo rumors that came before Multiverse of Madness, it is fair to say that many fans were expecting far more exciting characters to show up in Doctor Strange’s solo sequel. While the multiverse aspect gave the film an arguably easy way to include countless cameos, She-Hulk may very likely be the MCU’s strongest magnet for cameo madness in a very different way.

    ‘She-Hulk’ (2014)

    The series’ subtitle says it all: “Attorney at Law.” While there may not be a multiverse in the Disney+ outing, there certainly is a black hole for an unpredictable amount and type of characters in the superhero-ridden MCU—lawsuits and courtrooms. The only laws that Marvel Studios has really discussed so far are the Sokovia Accords, which were first introduced in Captain America: Civil War and confirmed to still apply in WandaVision. But there is absolutely no chance that that one set of international laws is the only thing superpeople have to deal with. Property damage, wrongful death of civilians inadvertently killed during a major battle, theft, zoning law violations, assault, creating murderbots—you name it, an Avenger has done it. The thing is, we just have not seen anyone come after our heroes for regular laws. That’s where She-Hulk comes in.

    The teaser trailer confirmed that Jennifer Walters has the same type of law practice that she does in the comics and will focus on superhuman law. She-Hulk comics runs that inspired the live-action series, like those by Dan Slott and Charles Soule, make it clear that superhumans of all varieties get sued a lot. But it can be a bit trickier to handle legally when a superperson runs afoul of laws designed for normal people. For example, Hercules was sued for damages after injuring a supervillain, Howard the Duck argued his film contract promised him a film trilogy, and Valkyrie learned she needed a license to operate a flying horse. And those were all on the same two pages in She-Hulk #9 (2004).

    ‘She-Hulk’ (2004)

    The point is there is a neverending revolving door when it comes to who or what gets sued or summoned to court. And there is certainly a neverending invitation for these cases to be quite weird. Jen Walter’s legal practice is the perfect avenue for bringing in wild cameos from across the Marvel universe in each episode for elements of surprise, humor, mysteries, tricky legal storylines, fan service, or whatever the She-Hulk creators decide. While its role as a series rather than a feature film almost certainly means that it may not have the budget or capacity to bring in the type of A-List cameos some expected in Multiverse of Madness, it has all the room in the world to be incredibly creative and bring plenty of “madness” to the MCU. Plus, we already know of several major characters that will show up, so who’s to say the series cannot pull off even more?

    Get excited for She-Hulk: Attorney at Law, which premieres exclusively on Disney+ on August 17, 2022.

  • ‘Deadpool 3’: New Image Teases “Update” and Ryan Reynolds Easter Eggs

    ‘Deadpool 3’: New Image Teases “Update” and Ryan Reynolds Easter Eggs

    Fans of one of Marvel’s most charismatic characters are eagerly awaiting the eventual return of Deadpool to the big screen. It has been four years since Deadpool 2 was released, and Deadpool 3 still has no release date. Disney’s acquisition of 21st Century Fox certainly changed the game for the franchise, but Ryan Reynold’s Deadpool is still set to make his highly-anticipated return in the Marvel Cinematic Universe this time around.

    So far, we know that Free Guy‘s Shawn Levy will direct the Deadpool threequel, and Deadpool’s original writers are returning to help pen the script. Little else is known about the film, but the official Deadpool Movie Twitter account recently teased a “Deadpool 3 update.” The image features actor Rob Delaney’s character Peter in a room full of Ryan Reynolds-related easter eggs. The post states: “We’ve nailed down brand integrations. Story, character, and script next!” See the full post below:

    The easter eggs certainly highlight Reynolds’ many business ventures. Peter is shown wearing a Mint Mobile jacket, a bottle of Aviation Gin is shown on the table, Maximum Effort, MNTN software, and a poster referencing the football club Wrexham AFC, which Reynolds co-owns. While there is not much to go on in terms of actual updates about Deadpool 3, it could potentially be a sign that more information is coming soon.

    Source: Twitter

  • ‘Loki’s Sasha Lane Says It Is Possible Hunter C-20 Could Return for Season 2

    ‘Loki’s Sasha Lane Says It Is Possible Hunter C-20 Could Return for Season 2

    The highly-anticipated Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness has finally been released and has given fans a taste of the MCU’s vast multiverse. In the midst of all the madness, it is easy to forget where the multiverse began. The Season 1 finale of Loki showed the infinite branches of reality cracking open after the death of Jonathan Majors’ He Who Remains.

    Loki created far more than the multiverse, though, as it also introduced the Time Variance Authority to the mythos. The season finale threw a wrench in viewers’ ability to predict Season 2 because Tom Hiddleston’s Loki found himself in a very different TVA at the end. Anything seems to be possible. Recently, actress Sasha Lane told Collider that her character Hunter C-20 could possibly return in Loki Season 2, even though Hunter C-20 appeared to meet her end in the first season.

    I remember telling the producer, because they’re like, ‘Oh, we’ll see,’ and I was like, ’If I happen to make it back, can I just be hiding behind a little rock somewhere? Just squatted behind a rock just like, ‘Hey! Missed you guys. It’s been a while.’ I’m desperately hoping to be hiding behind a rock somewhere because you don’t know where I went! You don’t know. So, to me, I’m not dead, so I’m just trying to project it out there that there’s a rock that I’m sitting behind just, ‘Is anybody gonna stop by soon?’

    Sasha Lane

    While bringing characters back from the dead has always been an option in these stories, there are plenty of other avenues for Hunter C-20 to return. For example, Owen Wilson’s Mobius did not know who Loki was at the end of the season finale, implying that he could be a different Variant of the Mobius we met initially. So, with all the complications of the multiverse, there is no reason a Hunter C-20 Variant could not exist. Still, it could be the case that the character never died in the first place, as Gugu Mbatha-Raw’s Ravonna Renslayer’s actions were shady enough that there is room for interpretation as to what exactly happened to the TVA hunter.

    Fans will be able to see what Loki Season 2 has in store eventually. It does not have a confirmed release date, but Hiddleston said production on the season should be starting soon.

    Source: Collider

  • SFX Cover Offers Best Look Yet at ‘Ms. Marvel’s’ Costume

    SFX Cover Offers Best Look Yet at ‘Ms. Marvel’s’ Costume

    With the conclusion of Moon Knight and the release of Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, Marvel Studios’ next project is officially the Disney+ series Ms. Marvel. Starring Imani Vellani as lead character Kamala Khan, the show is set to introduce to live-action one of the most beloved characters in more recent Marvel comics.

    The titular Ms. Marvel gains mysterious powers and takes on a version of the Brie Larson’s Captain Marvel mantle as she is inspired by the elder Marvel to become a superhero herself. While the series is making major changes to Khan’s powers, previous images and promo art have made it clear that the young superhero’s look will be incredibly comics accurate. Now, the cover of next month’s SFX has been shared, and it offers a full look at Ms. Marvel’s suit. Check it out below:

    The image should get fans of Ms. Marvel comics excited for the series, as the costume itself is arguably one of the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s most comics-accurate adaptations to date. Vellani has been praised by all of those working on the show, including Kevin Feige, for being the perfect casting choice for Kamala. While the debate on her power changes will never end, fans hopefully will find more comfort in their opinions once they actually have a chance to watch Ms. Marvel.

    Ms. Marvel premieres June 8, 2022, exclusively on Disney+.

    Source: SFX via Twitter

  • ‘Multiverse of Madness’ Writer Explains Why the Film Did Not Introduce Mutants to the MCU

    ‘Multiverse of Madness’ Writer Explains Why the Film Did Not Introduce Mutants to the MCU

    As Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness rounds out its first week in theaters, fans are finally able to share and compare their thoughts on Marvel Studios’ 28th feature film. In the buildup to the movie, Multiverse of Madness gained a reputation for being quite secretive. Many had theories that a wide variety of Marvel characters would cameo via the infinite possibilities of the multiverse—for the most part, they did not.

    One rumor in particular follows Elizabeth Olsen’s Wanda Maximoff wherever she goes: mutants. Now that Disney owns the film rights to X-Men characters, fans are eager for mutants and their stories to debut in the MCU. Though not currently, throughout much of her comics history Wanda was a mutant and the daughter of famed villain and antihero Magneto. Coupled with the fact that Patrick Stewart’s Professor X made his appearance in the Doctor Strange sequel’s trailer, many thought or hoped this film would be where mutants are introduced in the MCU. Some fan theories even pointed to the House of M storyline as inspiration for Multiverse of Madness.

    In an interview with Entertainment Tonight, the sequel’s writer Michael Waldron explained how the film’s creators discussed House of M and other mutant-centric stories but ultimately did not feel that Multiverse of Madness was the place to introduce them. He stated:

    Yeah, we talked about House of M, and there’s plenty of examples of Wanda doing bad things throughout the comics in an effort to get her kids back. But ultimately this story didn’t need mutants to be powerful, I guess was our feeling. And, you know, wherever that lies on the timeline for the MCU, it didn’t feel like this was the right place to introduce it — because then it suddenly would have just been about mutants. And this is really a story about Wanda and her grief and her descent into darkness in this movie.

    Michael Waldron

    While audiences have to wait longer to meet the MCU’s version of X-Men or related characters, an introduction to mutants in Multiverse of Madness surely would have either been rushed or taken over Doctor Strange’s second solo film. In any event, fans can keep speculating on the countless possible ways that these characters could be introduced by Marvel Studios in live-action.

    Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is now playing in theaters worldwide.

    Source: Entertainment Tonight

  • Stephanie Beatriz Joins Anthony Mackie in ‘Twisted Metal’

    Stephanie Beatriz Joins Anthony Mackie in ‘Twisted Metal’

    Peacock has been busy developing a new series based on the popular PlayStation gaming series Twisted Metal. Anthony Mackie is set to spearhead the project from the writing team behind Cobra Kai and Deadpool. We previously reported that the project was looking to cast series regular characters Quiet and Agent Stone.

    Twisted Metal has now found its Quiet in Brooklyn Nine-Nine actress Stephanie Beatriz. The character is described as a car thief who acts purely on instinct. She comes from a community that forced her into silence. But when she becomes clouded by her need for revenge, Quiet forms an unlikely, antagonistic bond with Mackie’s John Doe. Quiet appears to be an original character for the live-action series. While Beatriz may be most known for her role as Rosa Diaz in the comedy Brooklyn Nine-Nine, her recent credits also include Disney’s animated hit Encanto and Warner Bros.’ In the Heights.

    Will Arnett and Marc Forman are also involved as executive producers for Twisted Metal via Electric Avenue production company, and the series is described as a half-hour comedy. The Sony Pictures Television-produced series is based on an original take on the property by Deadpool’s Rhett Reese and Zombieland’s Paul Wernick. Michael Jonathan Smith, who on Netflix’s Cobra Kai, serves as showrunner, writer, and executive producer. PlayStation Productions and Universal Television are also attached to the co-production. Kitao Sakurai, whose credits includeThe Eric Andre Show and Bad Trip will executive produce and direct multiple episodes of the series.

    Source: The Hollywood Reporter