Murphy's Multiverse

Author: meghanlhall

  • Super No More: ‘Like ‘Black Adam’, ‘Wakanda Forever’ Won’t Hit Theaters in China

    Super No More: ‘Like ‘Black Adam’, ‘Wakanda Forever’ Won’t Hit Theaters in China

    Guard your pockets, Hollywood. China likes to hit where it hurts.

    It’s no secret that China is heavy on the control of the content that its citizens can access. Superhero movies are no different. The move to restrict these movies from hitting theatres costs studios tens of millions.

    Despite allowing the first Black Panther movie to be distributed, the latest installment is denied without much insight into the decision. Several in the industry suspect that Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is facing backlash due to the depiction of the character Aneka, played by Michaela Cole and fellow Dora bodyguard Ayo, played by Florence Kasumba, in a gay relationship. Other movies like Thor: Love and Thunder and Pixar’s Lightyear have met the same fate.

    While Black Panther: Wakanda Forever likely survives without that revenue, Black Adam needed a serious boost. The film has earned $321 million globally, but production costs were a whopping $200 million. In addition, there is suspicion that this film is facing a battle because of the inclusion of Pierce Brosnan. Brosnan posted a photo two years ago with the Dalai Lama, a public figure viewed in Beijing as a “dangerous separatist.” In years past, the Chinese box office for superhero films worked out to be a significant portion of the global take. With

    It’s your move, Disney and Warner Brothers.

  • Bang the Table: Week Five

    Bang the Table: Week Five

    Player Of The Week:

    If you don’t have this man on your fantasy team, please go get him. Tyler Higbee is on a tear right now. He leads all tight ends in catches and is fourth in yards. The guy even plays special teams and sealed the win against Arizona. Momma, there goes that man!

    He’s becoming a really nice safety valve for Matthew Stafford in an offense that has not looked like the Super Bowl caliber it was. My hope is that Higbee finally finds the end zone against the Dallas Cowboys.

    Team of The Week:

    Ravens Flock, what is going on with your team? I am running out of words to describe the play I’ve seen. The defense ranks 30th in the league in yards allowed and 28th in yards per play. This is nasty work!

    Where is the vaunted Ravens defense that only allowed 10 points per game once upon a time? The defense that ran hard to the ball? A defense that took a quarterback’s lunch money before he even realized it was gone? I’m banging the table for the Ravens to find some sort of life against their division rival Bengals at home, with a very leaky offensive line.

  • Bang The Table: Week Three

    Bang The Table: Week Three

    Player Of The Week:

    Quarterback Trey Lance, of the 49ers, needs some love. Lance fractured his fibula and suffered damage to the tendon in his ankle in last week’s win against Seattle. He’s now out for the season. You absolutely feel for the guy. This is his team and he’s now not there to lead it. I’m banging the table for Lance to heal and come back stronger. He showed promise and needs the space to continue developing.

    Team Of The Week:

    This week, I’m asking the Indianapolis Colts to wake up. I’m banging the table LOUDLY. (Actually, I’ve knocked the table over.) The football we’ve seen in the first two weeks is egregious. Outside of one quarter in the Texans game, the Colts look like a very unserious football team. Injuries, poor scheming, and slow starts have unraveled the team. Not to mention, the offensive line and wide receivers are a liability. With the Chiefs in town this week, will the team show up? I’m putting the responsibility on Head Coach Frank Reich and General Manager Chris Ballard to find a way.

  • The Morning After Huddle: September 7, 2022

    The Morning After Huddle: September 7, 2022

    Welcome to your mid-week edition of The Morning After Huddle! Vikings, Lions, Packers, and Bears? Oh my.

    Here’s what you need to know:

    • First, the Chicago Bears have plans for expansion. The team is considering building a domed stadium and entertainment complex roughly 30 miles outside of Chicago. Proposal plans show the property would include things such as restaurants, office space, a hotel, fitness center, and more. The hope is also that this would be the place of future College Football playoff games, College Basketball Final Fours, and yes, Super Bowls.
    • Second, it’s never too late to go back go school. Buccaneers Head Coach Todd Bowles is now the holder of a youth and community development degree from Mount St. Mary’s University. Thirty-seven years after leaving college for the NFL, Bowles is fulfilling his personal commitments to his mother, his family, and community. Things came full circle as he included his coaching strategies and philosophies into his assignments, including barriers and struggles of developing a team and individuals for good.
    • Finally, your Key Signings and Trades Roundup:

    As always, the Morning After Huddle is dedicated to bringing you all the latest updates. We’re back tomorrow, as the season kicks off, with more news you want to know!

  • The Morning After Huddle: September 6, 2022

    The Morning After Huddle: September 6, 2022

    Welcome to Week One of the 2022 NFL Season and to the Tuesday edition of The Morning After Huddle! There was secrecy. There was intrigue. At long last, the Steelers have a starting quarteback.

    Here’s what you need to know:

    • First, the Pittsburgh Steelers will roll with veteran Mitch Trubisky as the starting quarterback for Week One. Trubisky is also a captain along with T.J. Watt, Najee Harris, Cameron Heyward and Miles Killebrew. Perhaps even more intriguing is that rookie quarterback and first round draft pick Kenny Pickett is third on the depth chart, behind Mason Rudolph. According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, despite the fact that Pickett was coming on in camp, nothing changes with Trubisky being the starter.
    • Moving along, Ryan Kerrigan is returning to the Washington Commanders after ten seasons with the team. Kerrigan is joining the staff as an Assistant Defensive Line Coach. Commanders writer Pete Haileys says Kerrigan will prioritize the lack of pass rush on Washington’s Defensive line.
    • Finally, below is your Key Signings and Trades Roundup from the last few days:

    Enjoy the week because football is back and that means we’ll be here with even more NFL news you want to know!

  • The Morning After Huddle: September 3, 2022

    The Morning After Huddle: September 3, 2022

    Welcome to your weekend edition of the Morning After Huddle! We’ve reached the time of year when people often say that “football is life.” However, the reality is life is often bigger than football.

    Here’s what you need to know:

    • Starting strong, The Houston Texans franchise continues to answer the call of fundamentally understanding just how critical community impact can be. The Texans are teaming up with Nike to provide uniforms and equipment to the Uvalde High School football team. Additionally, the team is providing transportation, food, and access to NRG Stadium suites for Uvalde players and coaches to their home opener against the Indianapolis Colts. Roland Ramirez, Director of Player Care and Sports Medicine, is from Uvalde, Texas and attended Robb Elementary School, the site of a deadly mass shooting earlier this year where nineteen students and two teachers passed away and seventeen others were wounded. The Texans will also wear a decal on their helmets this season in honor of those lost.
    • Next, Cardinals Safety Jalen Thompson is getting a new deal. Thompson is signing a contract extension to remain with the team through the 2025 season. The deal is worth up to $40 million with $24.5 million guaranteed and a signing bonus of $10 million. Thompson is a fifth-round pick from the supplemental draft in 2019 and played in 91 percent of the defensive snaps from last season.
    • Finally, your Key Signings and Traded Roundup can be found in the league’s full slate of moves from Friday.

    That is it for today’s edition. We’re back Tuesday with more news you’ll want to know ahead of Week One!

  • The Morning After Huddle: September 2, 2022

    The Morning After Huddle: September 2, 2022

    Happy Football Friday and welcome to another edition of The Morning After Huddle!

    Here’s what you need to know:

    • First, Titans Running Back Derrick Henry is a very happy man this morning. Henry is now the highest-paid running back in the NFL. The Titans reworked his contract to give him a $2 million raise for the 2022 season for a total of $14 million. Henry will be a free agent once this deal expires and this gives the Titans the ability to create a new deal in the off-season.
    • Moving along, new Saints and Former Jets Safety Marcus Maye is in trouble with the law. Maye is facing charges of aggravated assault related to a road rage incident. Police say that Maye is the driver in an incident that involves pointing a firearm at another vehicle that was occupied by juvenile females. Maye’s lawyer denies the claims. Maye is still facing discipline for a 2021 arrest related to driving under the influence and leaving the scene. More to come with this story.
    • Next, Cardinals cornerback Antonio Hamilton is heading to the non-football injury list. Hamilton is revealing news of a kitchen accident over the weekend. He shared photos via his social media showing what appears to be second-degree burns after a ”freak accident”.” The burns are the result of spilling cooking oil. Hamilton is now set to miss at least the first four games of the season as he recovers.
    • Finally, your Key Signings and Trades Roundup:

    As always, thanks choosing The Morning After Huddle for your NFL news. We’ll see you Saturday for more news you need to know!

  • The Morning After Huddle: September 1, 2022

    The Morning After Huddle: September 1, 2022

    Welcome to your Thursday edition of the Morning After Huddle! Broncos Country, let’s ride!

    Here’s what you need to know:

    • First up, prepare for more cheesy dad-level jokes and puns because Broncos Quarterback Russell Wilson is here to stay. The new Quarterback is landing himself a sweet extension contract of $245 million with $165 fully guaranteed. This new deal is five months of hard work in the making. This makes Wilson the second highest paid Quarterback in the NFL (in terms of new money) with $49 million. Oh, Mr. Wilson!
    • Moving right along, Commanders Running Back Brian Robinson is starting the year on the reserve/non football injury list. Per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, this relieves pressure on Robinson to rush back to the field. Robinson was recently involved in a shooting in a carjacking attempt, suffering wounds to his lower extremities.
    • Last, but not least, your Key Signings and Trades Roundup:
      • SIGNINGS:
        • Former Raiders Running Back Kenyan Drake is signing with the Ravens
        • Veteran Running Back Sony Michel is signing with the Chargers
      • TRADES:
        • Eagles Wide Receiver Jalen Reagor is heading to the Vikings in exchange for a 2023 seventh-round pick and conditional fourth-round pick in 2024
      • Full Slate of League Moves from Wednesday

    Hold on to your helmets, teammates! (Not your opponents’ helmets. I’m looking at you, Aaron Donald!) We’re back tomorrow with more news you want to know!

  • The Morning After Huddle: August 31, 2022

    The Morning After Huddle: August 31, 2022

    Welcome to your Wednesday edition of the Morning After Huddle! Did you catch your breath yet? It’s been a wild few days in the NFL.

    Here’s what you need to know:

    • After all the drama, the San Francisco 49ers are keeping Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo. The team does not have a trade partner for the Quarterback. This is leading the team to keep him and restructure his salary. Jimmy has a new deal with a base of $6 and a max value of $15.45 million. This is far from the ideal situation. The 49ers likely help themselves by restructuring his contract. Perhaps a trade partner becomes available.
    • Next up, Jon Gruden is back and he apparently, has something to say. Gruden claims that, despite the mountain of evidence saying otherwise, he is not the man portrayed in his emails. Gruden says he is a ”good person” who attends church. He goes on to say he has made some mistakes and is hopeful he gets another chance. Here’s the thing: you can be all of things and still be honest about the prejudiced and blatantly racist things said. If this was said via email, imagine the things said behind closed doors. When someone shows you who they are, believe them.
    • Finally, your Key Signings and Trades Roundup:
      • TRADE:
        • The New Orleans Saints are sending Safety Chauncey Gardner-Johnson to the Eagles for a pick in 2023 and 2024
        • The Raiders are sending Cornerback Trayvon Mullen to the Cardinals for a conditional seventh-round pick
      • Full Slate of League Moves from Tuesday

    Thanks for checking in with us, teammates. We’ll see you tomorrow for more news and insights you want to know with the Morning After Huddle.

  • The Morning After Huddle: August 29, 2022

    The Morning After Huddle: August 29, 2022

    Welcome to your Monday edition of The Morning After Huddle. This weekend was incredibly tough for the NFL.

    Here’s what you need to know:

    • First up, it is with an extremely heavy heart that we share Jason Jenkins, Senior Vice President of Communications and Community Affairs for the Miami Dolphins, has passed away at 47. According to multiple reports, Jenkins died unexpectedly over the weekend. A fixture in the community, he joined the Dolphins organization in 2009 after spending time with the 49ers. He leaves behind a wife and three children.
    • Next, the heavy news continues with the Washington Commanders. Running Back Brian Robinson is recovering this morning after being shot several times in the lower extremities during a robbery attempt. Commanders Head Coach Ron Rivera says Robinson is in good spirits after visiting him in the hospital. Sending best wishes to Robinson and a fruitful career. The Running Back is a third-round pick from this year’s NFL Draft.
    • Finally, your Key Signings and Trades Roundup:

    Thanks for choosing the Huddle for all things NFL. We’re back tomorrow with more news you want to know.