Murphy's Multiverse

Author: Nicole

  • ‘Aquaman and the Lost City’ Writer to Pen ‘The Conjuring 4’

    ‘Aquaman and the Lost City’ Writer to Pen ‘The Conjuring 4’

    A fourth Conjuring movie is officially in the works. The news was announced by The Hollywood Reporter on Friday with the outlet revealing David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick has signed on to pen the screenplay. James Wan and Peter Safran will return to produce the fourth film. The duo is also producing The Nun 2, which is now in production, a sequel to The Nun and a spinoff from the Conjuring franchise.

    This will be a return to the franchise for Johnson-McGoldrick who previously penned the screenplays for both The Conjuring 2 and The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It. The latter film proved to be a huge success, having opened at number one last year and went on to earn $206 million at the worldwide box office. Like the other Conjuring movies, the films are based on the real-life case files of paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren. Details regarding the case being explored in The Conjuring 4 are currently unknown.

    Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga, who have starred in all three Conjuring films to date, are expected to return for The Conjuring 4. However, as it stands, no deals are in place for their return.

    Johnson-McGoldrick has penned a lot of big-budget films for Warner Bros. Along with working on The Conjuring franchise previously, he has also penned titles like Aquaman and its sequel Aquaman and the Lost City. He’s also been brought on to pen the sequel to The Flash, which doesn’t even hit theaters until June 2023.

    As of now, The Conjuring 4 does not have a release date.

    Source: THR.

  • Halia Abdel-Meguid to Write & Produce ‘Death Note’ Series for Netflix

    Halia Abdel-Meguid to Write & Produce ‘Death Note’ Series for Netflix

    Following a poorly received movie adaptation, Netflix is moving ahead with a live-action Death Note series. It was announced on Thursday that Halia Abdel-Meguid had signed on to write and executive producer a Death Note live-action series for the streamer. News that Netflix was looking to revisit Death Note first broke in July as part of the development slate for Upside Down, the production banner for the Duffer brothers (Stranger Things) as part of the duo’s overall deal at Netflix.

    Death Note centers on a character named Light Yagami who is a bright student who finds his life changes drastically after discovering the Death Note, a notebook dropped by a rogue Shinigami death god. Light finds that if he writes a name in the Death Note, that person soon dies, so he opts to use the Death Note to rid the world of evil. Unfortunately, though, he soon becomes intoxicated by the power as law enforcement seeks to stop him.

    Abdel-Meguid is said to be a longtime fan of the manga and anime series, she’s also said to speak fluent Japanese – having lived in Toyko for some time. Death Note will serve as a reunion between Abdel-Meguid and the Duffer brothers as she worked with them as a writing consultant on their adaptation of Stephen King and Peter Straub‘s novel The Talisman. Along with penning Death Note, Abdel-Meguid is also attached to another noteworthy project with Hulu’s The Devil in the White City.

    This will mark Netflix’s second attempt at adapting Death Note. The streamer released a film adaptation in 2017 from director Adam Wingard that starred Nat Wolff, LaKeith Stanfield, and Margaret Qualley. That project was poorly received, however, and this television series is not expected to be connected to that film.

    Source: Deadline.

  • ‘Goosebumps:’ Rachael Harris Joins Disney+ Series

    ‘Goosebumps:’ Rachael Harris Joins Disney+ Series

    Disney’s live-action Goosebumps series has added Rachael Harris to its cast. The news comes courtesy of Variety, with the outlet stating she’ll play a character named Nora. The character is described as “Jeff’s (Will Price) mother and an unassuming waitress at a local café that dabbles in sorcery.”

    The live-action series is said to follow a group of five high schoolers who accidentally unleash supernatural forces upon their town. In order to save the town, they’ll all need to work together, learning much about their own parents’ teenage secrets in the process. This will mark the second time the Goosebumps books have been adapted for television, as there was a series that aired 74 episodes between 1996 and 1998. Unlike that series, which took an anthology approach, though, the Disney+ series will focus on five of the most popular Goosebumps books.

    Harris is perhaps best known for her stints on shows such as Lucifer, Friends, Frasier, and Curb Your Enthusiasm. She has also appeared in New Girl, Modern Family, and The Office. On the film side, she’s starred in films such as Diary of a Wimpy Kid and The Hangover.

    Harris joins Price, as well as the previously announced Ana Yi Puig as the smart and shy Isabella, Miles McKenna as the class clown James, Justin Long as teacher Nathan Bratt, Zack Morris as football player Isaiah and Isa Briones as the bookworm Jane. Nick Stoller and Rob Letterman will act as the executive producers and are the co-creators of the Disney+ series adaptation. Neal H. Moritz, who was a producer on the 2015 and 2018 films, is also attached as an executive producer.

    Source: Variety.

  • Prime Video’s ‘Harlem’ Adds 7 to Cast

    Prime Video’s ‘Harlem’ Adds 7 to Cast

    The second season of Prime Video’s Harlem has added a slew of new cast members. Deadline has announced that Rachel True (The Craft), Courtnee Carter (Charmed), and Luke Forbes (S.W.A.T) are set to recur. While Rick Fox (Greenleaf), Sherri Shepherd (Sherri), Countess Vaughn (The Parkers), and Lil Rel Howery (Vacation Friends) are all set to guest star.

    True will portray Aimee, an “earthy, ethereal” owner of a plant shop in Harlem who strikes up an unlikely friendship with Tye. While Carter is set to play Zoe, a character described as a “confident player who has a reputation for leaving a trail of broken hearts.” As for Forbes, he will portray the “handsome and professional” Michael who just so happens to be one of New York’s top real estate agents.

    Fox will play Quinn’s father, Phil, who is described as “an affluent man.” Shepherd plays Sonya, Angie’s “boisterous, loving mother” who also happens to be her biggest fan and cheerleader. While the talented Vaughn will play herself in a light-hearted moment with Angie. Finally, Howery will play Freddie, Angie’s step-brother who is described as high-spirited and supportive.

    The first season of Harlem focuses on a group of women in Harlem, New York: Camille (Meagan Good), Tye (Jerrie Johnson), Quinn (Grace Byers) and Angie (Shoniqua Shandai). Having gone through their twenties together, the group finds themselves trying to navigate their thirties while living in Harlem and dealing with the bumps life has to offer along the way.

    Harlem hails from Girls Trip‘s Tracy Oliver. The entire first season can currently be watched on Prime Video.

    Source: Deadline.

  • ‘Joker: Folie à Deux’ Adds Harry Lawtey

    ‘Joker: Folie à Deux’ Adds Harry Lawtey

    With production expected to kick off in December, Joker: Folie à Deux has added yet another actor to its ensemble. Deadline has announced that Harry Lawtey is the latest to join the sequel’s cast. While details regarding his role are sparse, the outlet reports that Lawtey’s role will be a “big” one.

    Joker: Folie à Deux is expected to be set in Arkham and will feature musical elements. While not confirmed, it’s expected the sequel will take cues from the Mad Love comics storyline. The first film, Joker, was a surprise hit at the box office upon its release in 2019. It went on to surpass $1 billion at the worldwide box office and earned both leading man Joaquin Phoenix and composer Hildur Guðnadóttir Oscars.

    Lawtey currently stars in HBO’s Industry, which recently wrapped up its second season. He can next be seen in the adaptation of Louis Bayard‘s novel The Pale Blue Eye, where he’ll star alongside Christian Bale. He’s also set to star in the ITV series, You & Me.

    Joker: Folie à Deux will star Joaquin Phoenix, who returns as the titular character, and Lady Gaga, who is presumed to be playing Harley Quinn. Also starring in the film are Brendan Gleeson, Catherine Keener and Zazie Beetz. The film is being directed by Todd Phillips from a screenplay he penned with Scott Silver; it’s set to hit theaters on October 4, 2024.

    Source: Deadline.

  • ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’ Tracking for $175 Million Domestic Opening

    ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’ Tracking for $175 Million Domestic Opening

    With less than a month until Black Panther: Wakanda Forever hits theaters, the Marvel Studios sequel is hitting tracking in a big way. The Hollywood Reporter has revealed the sequel to 2018’s Black Panther is on track for a $175 million opening stateside. That number is pretty in line with the projection provided by Box Office Pro earlier in the month – $180 million to $200 million.

    That number is slightly lower than Black Panther‘s $202 million domestic debut in 2018. However, that was pre-pandemic, and the box office has struggled to regain that traction since. Thankfully, superhero films – and a few other blockbusters – have been least impacted by COVID-19, with films like The Batman and Spider-Man: No Way Home still managing to perform well at the box office. As the release of Wakanda Forever nears, it’s entirely possible estimates for the movie will continue to grow.

    The first movie starred the excellent Chadwick Boseman as T’Challa and quickly went on to become a cultural phenomenon after being the first Marvel Studios film to feature a predominantly Black cast. The journey to Wakanda Forever has been a difficult one following the unexpected death of Boseman. Director Ryan Coogler, who co-wrote the sequel with Joe Robert Cole, managed to craft a sequel that both honors Boseman’s legacy as T’Challa, while also pushing the franchise forward.

    Wakanda Forever is set to hit theaters on Nov. 11th. Tickets are on sale now.

    Source: THR.

  • ‘Black Adam’ Now Eyeing $60 Million Opening

    ‘Black Adam’ Now Eyeing $60 Million Opening

    Earlier in the month, tracking for Black Adam had the Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson-led flick looking at a $70 million opening, with the potential to go even higher. Now, following less-than-stellar reviews, it looks like those estimates have dwindled a bit. Box office experts currently have Black Adam on track for a $60 million domestic opening.

    In the Pandemic-era, that’s not necessarily a bad number. However, Black Adam is said to have cost $195 million to produce. With such a hefty price tag, Black Adam will need to legs at the box office and hope that word of mouth among audiences is better. While that is still higher than 2021’s The Suicide Squad, which opened to $26 million while simultaneously debuting on HBO Max, it’s far behind The Batman‘s $134 million opening. That film, of course, featured one of DC’s most famous characters, the Caped Crusader. Black Adam does not have that same advantage, though.

    Black Adam will easily defeat Universal’s Ticket to Paradise starring Julia Roberts and George Clooney, which is expected to open with $15 million from 3,500 cinemas. It should also easily overtake the poorly reviewed Halloween Ends, which opened with $41 million last weekend. As is often the case with estimates, though, it’s entirely possible Black Adam could open lower than expected. Worldwide, the movie is only expected to clear $135 million worldwide. With a 55% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, it’s possible word of mouth hurts the film, but it’s also a superhero film, so that should help push it forward some.

    Source: Variety.

  • Lupita Nyong’o Comments on the Marvel Movie Debate

    Lupita Nyong’o Comments on the Marvel Movie Debate

    Marvel Studios has been the top player in the superhero genre for quite some time now, and with more titles still yet to come, the studio has become the subject of some big debates among creatives. In the past, we’ve seen creatives such as Martin Scorsese, Bong Joon-ho, Ridley Scott, Francis Ford Coppola, Jodie Foster, and Alejandro G. Iñárritu speak out against Marvel movies – and often superhero films in general. They seem to feel that these projects are hurting smaller projects, are not true cinema, or are simply for children.

    During a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter to promote Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, actress Lupita Nyong’o was asked to weigh in on this debate. Especially as, not only was Black Panther nominated for Best Picture, but Nyong’o has moved between franchise films and indie films throughout the years. As it puts it, it all boils down to what one deems art and what one deems to be its purpose.

    “It becomes a philosophical question about what is art and what is its purpose. I believe that art plays a role in moving the people that experience it, and a lot of people are moved by Marvel. Is you being moved by this thing less important than me being moved by Picasso?”

    Using sugar as a metaphor, the actress continues to explain why she feels options are not necessarily a bad thing. And that, just because something is a small character-driven film, it doesn’t mean it lacks an emotional pull.

    “I think to be culturally prosperous, to be artistically prosperous as a people, is to have options. In Kenya, sugar was sugar, it was brown or it was white. You come to the States, and a whole section in the supermarket is dedicated to sugars. So many different sugars. That is a symbol of prosperity, when you have options. So I personally love a good Marvel movie, but it doesn’t take me away from really wanting the little character-driven film. I believe in the fight for those things to be kept alive because the one thing we always want, the ultimate privilege, is choice.”

    While superhero films and television shows have been a mainstay for a while now, they’re not merely just mindless titles for children. As Nyong’o explains, there’s nothing wrong with giving people a choice.

    Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, a film meant to honor the late Chadwick Boseman, will hit theaters on Nov. 11th. Tickets are on sale now.

    Source: THR.

  • Nyong’o on Why She’s Glad T’Challa Wasn’t Recast

    Nyong’o on Why She’s Glad T’Challa Wasn’t Recast

    Following the incredible success of Black Panther, many were curious when a sequel to the blockbuster film would follow. Fans were eager for more of Chadwick Boseman as T’Challa, as well as more of the Dora Milaje and Letitia Wright’s Shuri. What no one knew, though, was that Boseman was terminally ill. His untimely passing was a shock to nearly everyone, including the cast and crew of Black Panther, and in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Lupita Nyong’o discussed what it was like to lose him.

    As the actress noted, Marvel Studios and the rest of the cast and crew from Black Panther didn’t know how – or if they could – revisit the franchise without their leading man. As Nyong’o explains, director and co-writer Ryan Coogler had already drafted a screenplay for the sequel before Boseman’s passing. That film would’ve heavily focused on T’Challa and it was expected to “delve deeply into his psyche and situation.” Many fans had expected Marvel Studios to recast the role, but out of respect, the studio opted not to. The sequel was later reworked, instead turning Wakanda Forever into a film meant to honor T’Challa and Boseman without recasting the role – a decision the actress wholeheartedly agrees with.

    “That is not the death of the Black Panther, that’s the whole point. It’s laying to rest [T’Challa] and allowing for real life to inform the story of the movies. I know that there are all sorts of reasons why people want him to be recast, but I don’t have the patience. I don’t have the presence of mind, or I don’t have the objectivity to argue with that. I don’t. I’m very biased.”

    While moving ahead with the sequel was emotionally difficult for all involved, Nyong’o said that Coogler had successfully crafted something to honor Boseman, while still carrying the story forward.

    “Ryan wrote something that so honored the truth of what every one of us was feeling, those of us who knew Chadwick. He created something that could honor that and carry the story forward. By the end, I was weeping.”

    Fans will get the chance to help honor Boseman’s legacy when Wakanda Forever hits theaters on Nov. 11th.

    Source: THR.

  • REVIEW: ‘The School For Good & Evil’

    REVIEW: ‘The School For Good & Evil’

    Netflix’s The School For Good and Evil is based on the bestselling series of novels by author Soman Chainani and illustrator Iacopo Bruno. It tells the story of two young girls – Sophia and Agatha – who soon find their less-than-stellar lives changed forever once they’re transported to the School of Good and Evil. It’s a simple plot, one that isn’t exactly brand new, and yet, it was given the movie treatment by Netflix with some huge stars attached. It should’ve been incredibly exciting, right? Sadly, that wasn’t necessarily the case.

    The School For Good and Evil stars Sophia Anne Caruso as Sophie and Sofia Wylie as Agatha/Auggie. The young girls are the best of friends, having formed a bond after the death of Sophie’s mother when they were both younger. They’re both outcasts in their small town of Gavaldon; Sophie is teased because of her love of fairy tales while Auggie is deemed a witch by the folks in her town. After one bad day too many, Sophie seeks to escape to The School of Good and Evil, a school she’s heard about where she believes she’ll have a chance at the life she’s longed for. But Auggie isn’t willing to let her leave, not wanting to be left behind in Gavaldon where she’ll be tormented daily with no one to confide in without Sophie. This leads to both girls being pulled to the School of Good and Evil, but with surprising results.

    The movie isn’t entirely bad. In fact, most of the film is rather delightful, but it is quite messy. From so-so CGI work to off-putting music choices, The School For Good and Evil often feels rushed. With a cast that includes the likes of Charlize Theron, Kerry Washington and Laurence Fishburne, it’s hard not to enjoy the absurdity of it all. Theron and Washington are a delight and deserve far more screentime than they are allotted. Theron chews the scenery as the headmistress of the School of Evil, while Washington charms as the headmistress of the School of Good. And in the very limited time she’s on screen, Michelle Yeoh as Professor Anemone is fantastic. Perhaps the best surprise, though, is how great Fishburne is as the School Master. He’s charming, mysterious and can sometimes be conniving. With a stellar adult cast, it’s a shame that the younger cast is so inconsistent. Wylie’s Agatha carries the movie, and Caruso’s performance often wavers. The emotional moments the duo share, though, are great and help to sell the story of friendship at the film’s core.

    While The School For Good and Evil often feels like a poor Disney Channel Original Movie, it does pack a hell of an emotional punch. The movie is ultimately about the complexities of humanity – people are not merely good or bad, and the movie explores this with ease. All in all, The School For Good & Evil can often be uneven, but it’s still an enjoyable watch in the end. For young tweens struggling to understand themselves, The School For Good & Evil offers a positive message of friendship and learning to love ourselves. So, despite the bad, there’s plenty of good in The School For Good and Evil… but the good doesn’t come without the bad.