Murphy's Multiverse

Author: Nicole

  • ‘Eternals’ Crosses $100 Million at the Domestic Box Office

    ‘Eternals’ Crosses $100 Million at the Domestic Box Office

    In its second weekend, Marvel Studios’ Eternals managed to successfully cross $100 million at the domestic box office. While the film felt the expected second-weekend drop, falling 61-percent, Eternals retained the top spot with $27.5 million for a 10-day domestic total of $118.4 million.

    For comparison’s sake, the 61-percent dip is less than both Marvel Studios’ Black Widow and Sony’s Venom: Let There be Carnage. However, it’s higher than that of Marvel Studios’ Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. With muddled reviews, however, the film wasn’t expected to have quite as much holdover as Shang-Chi.

    While it still has no China release, the film is doing quite well overseas for Marvel Studios. The film pulled in another $75 million at the international box office with Korea bringing in another $22 million and the UK pulling in $143 million. As of now, Eternals is sitting at $281.4 million worldwide, with the film looking to cross the $300 million worldwide mark sometime this week.

    Giving Eternals a run for its money this weekend was Clifford the Big Red Dog. The film, which took in $22 million, was released both in theaters and on Paramount+. Despite the hybrid release, Clifford surpassed expectations and earned one of the best starts of the pandemic era for a family film. The hybrid release of Clifford was one Paramount also used for Paw Patrol, which proved to be a huge hit for the studio.

    While Clifford came in second place, Dune stayed in the top three after earning $5.5 million. The film has amassed $93.1 million at the domestic box office thus far and looks on track to cross $100 million this week.

    Eternals is playing exclusively in theaters, while Dune is in theaters and available on HBO Max.

    Source: THR

  • REVIEW: ‘Bloody Hel’ by Clay McCormack, Russ Badgett

    REVIEW: ‘Bloody Hel’ by Clay McCormack, Russ Badgett

    Bloody Hel is a book with two of three main elements of a great comic: stellar artwork and a strong ending. Where it appears to be lacking is the writing. There’s a story there, one that can be fantastic if it had the right care and effort. Unfortunately, somewhere along the lines, Bloody Hel becomes unsure of what it wants to be.

    Bloody Hel is a comic that never quite takes flight. It fumbles at takeoff, trying to move between two different stories that eventually intersect. When they come together, Bloody Hel captures the “shattering apocalyptic throwdown” it promises. Epic battles. Stellar artwork. There are plenty of reasons to give Bloody Hel a chance. Especially those who enjoy Norse mythology.

    While not exactly a Thor story, Bloody Hel does a great job handling its presentation of Gods and Ragnarok. The scenes in which characters are forced to make decisions that’ll save them at the cost of hurting others are powerful. In those moments, the characters manage to feel like realized characters. They become more than images on a page.

    The best part of the book, of course, is the artwork. While sticking to two colors – various greens and yellows – the story still manages to pop. The artwork captures the uncertainty and fear promised in the words, while the dialogue is clean, yet loud. Unfortunately, though, the fault lines are evident even with the fantastic artwork.

    That, of course, isn’t to say Bloody Hel isn’t a good read. While it does lose itself midway through, the ending is strong and successfully readies readers for more tales from this world.

  • ‘Venom: Let There be Carnage’ Becomes 2nd Film to Cross $200 Million This Year

    ‘Venom: Let There be Carnage’ Becomes 2nd Film to Cross $200 Million This Year

    As the world continues to deal with the coronavirus, movie theaters are still struggling to bring in audiences. When it comes to comic book movies pre-pandemic, it wasn’t hard to imagine a film surpassing $300 million domestically. Now, though, most are lucky to cross the $100 million mark.

    In 2021, only two films have crossed $200 million domestically. The first is Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, which achieved the feat in October, a month into its release. The second is Venom: Let There be Carnage, which officially achieved the feat as of today, a little over a month into its release. Shang-Chi, now available on Disney+, looks to end its theatrical run with $224.4 million domestically. While Venom is now at $202.4 million as of its 7th outing.

    It remains to be seen how far Venom: Let There be Carnage will go. As it stands, the film has a fair share of competition in Marvel Studios’ Eternals, which is in its second weekend. That film pulled in another $28 million, helping it cross $100 million domestically as of today. Eternals, of course, should continue to pull in viewers until Spider-Man: No Way Home hits theaters next month. That film, of course, is more than likely to give Sony a second $200 million+ release this year.

    Venom: Let There be Carnage is still playing in theaters.

    Source: Deadline

  • BOOK REVIEW: ‘Agents of S.L.A.M.’ is a Delightfully Fun Read

    BOOK REVIEW: ‘Agents of S.L.A.M.’ is a Delightfully Fun Read

    Agents of S.L.A.M. is an upcoming graphic novel being released by Oni Press. It’s from creators Dave Scheidt and Scoot McMahon, who previously worked together on Wrapped Up, and tells the story of a wrestling organization with a huge secret. These are not just wrestlers. They are responsible for protecting the Earth from an extraterrestrial threat. 

    The story features Katie, a young girl who happens to also be a vlogger who loves wrestling. More specifically, she’s a huge fan of the Agents of S.L.A.M. and the wrestler Bruno. After being invited to tour the secret S.L.A.M. headquarters, Katie finds herself thrown into a world she never would have imagined capable of existing. Even worse? As the day goes on, she learns that sometimes we build our heroes up too high, making it all the easier for them to prove us wrong.

    What follows next is a story full of action, heart and hilarity. As someone who is not particularly a fan of wrestling, I admittedly was not sure I’d like Agents of S.L.A.M. Yet, by the end, I was glad I gave it a shot. This is a middle-grade title, technically, but it feels like a book that readers of all ages will come to adore.

    This crew of wrestlers is delightful and so diverse. From a grandmother who pilots the jet, to a female who leads the crew and a young girl who proves herself more than worthy of being a hero, it’s hard not to enjoy the fiascos of this crew. They are a disaster but in the best way possible.

    It’s an absurd story. Wrestlers that work for the president and go to space? It should be utterly ridiculous. Yet, what unfolds is a story of a makeshift family that is hilariously entertaining. If you’re looking for something you can enjoy with your children, Agents of S.L.A.M. is a title you should check out come April.

    Agents of S.L.A.M. releases in April 2022.

  • Chloé Zhao is Not Directing a ‘Star Wars’ Movie

    Chloé Zhao is Not Directing a ‘Star Wars’ Movie

    Three days ago, reports surfaced online suggesting Eternals director Chloé Zhao was directing the untitled Star Wars movie being produced by Kevin Feige. Zhao, of course, has been very vocal about her love of the franchise and eagerness to direct a Star Wars film. Unfortunately, it appears the initial report is not true.

    As part of its weekly Heat Vision newsletter, The Hollywood Reporter went on record stating Zhao is not attached to a Star Wars film – Feige’s or otherwise. Feige, of course, has been working on the unspecified Star Wars film since it was announced in 2019. As a massive Star Wars fan himself, fans have been eagerly awaiting news of the project. We know that Michael Waldron, who wrote both Loki and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness for Marvel Studios, penned the script. Waldron, of course, joined the project back in January.

    With a writer on board, it seems likely a director will join the project relatively soon. Of course, things can and do often change in Hollywood. (Case in point: Patty Jenkins‘ Rogue Squadron being delayed indefinitely.)

    As of now, Feige’s Star Wars film does not have a release date.

    Source: THR

  • Jon M. Chu to Direct ‘Oh The Places You’ll Go!’ For Warner Bros. Animation

    Jon M. Chu to Direct ‘Oh The Places You’ll Go!’ For Warner Bros. Animation

    Crazy Rich Asians director Jon M. Chu will direct an adaption of the Dr. Seuss classic, Oh The Places You’ll Go! The news comes courtesy of Deadline, who reports the project is for Warner Bros. Animation. Unfortunately, those eager to see the animated flick will have to wait quite a few years. As it stands, Chu’s Oh The Places You’ll Go! will not hit theaters until 2027.

    The project has been in development since 2018 when Warner Bros. started working with the Dr. Seuss Estate. J.J. Abrams‘ Bad Robot Productions joins the animated project with Abrams serving as an executive producer along with Hannah Minghella, Bad Robot’s Head of Motion Pictures. While Chu got the job, he was not necessarily the easiest choice for Bad Robot and Warner Bros. as he’s never directed an animated feature.

    However, it’s said that Chu has expressed his interest in tackling an animated film to Warner Bros. previously. The director was part of creative pods the studio created for branded material like Dr. Seuss and Hanna Barbara in the past. The studio ultimately decided to circle back to Chu because of his ability to direct with heart and humanity.

    Oh, The Places You’ll Go! debuts in 2027.

    Source: Deadline

  • EXCLUSIVE: Character Breakdowns & Start Date for Netflix’s ‘XO Kitty’

    EXCLUSIVE: Character Breakdowns & Start Date for Netflix’s ‘XO Kitty’

    Last month, Netflix officially ordered XO Kitty, a spinoff from the To All the Boys… films, to series. While the books are based on the bestselling series by author Jenny Han, XO Kitty appears to be an original series that came about because of the movies and their popularity. Han is the TV series creator and co-wrote the pilot script with fellow author, Siobhan Vivian.

    XO Kitty stars Anna Cathcart, who reprises her role as Kitty Song Covey from the hit Netflix films. While little is known regarding XO Kitty, we here at Murphy’s Multiverse can confirm production will kick off in March of 2022 and go through May 2022 in South Korea. We can also confirm that the series is looking to fill six main roles.

    First up is the role of Dae. The character is a 17-year-old Korean male who speaks fluent English and Korean. He does, however, have a slight accent when speaking English. Dae is Kitty’s long-distance boyfriend and is described as being cute and smart.

    Next up is Jina Han. The character is described as a Korean female in her mid-40s. She is the matriarch of the Han family, and reputation means everything to her. Han is devoted to her husband, a CEO, and makes sure not to overindulge. She is the Principal of the International Korean high school. The role is a series regular role with the character appearing in seven out of ten episodes.

    The series is also looking to cast the roles of Min Ho, Q, Alex Park and Professor Lee. Min Ho is described as a 17-year-old Korean male or Korean expat. He’s handsome, confident and a millionaire playboy. He is afraid of commitment and can appear standoffish. This is a series regular role, with the production seeking an actor 18-year-old or older for the role.

    Next up is Q, a 17-year-old male from Afraid or the Middle East. The character identifies as Queer and is fluent in English, although he has an accent. He’s sociable, tall, muscular and athletic with a winning smile. Physically an alpha, but extroverted in every other sense. This is for a series regular role. The production is seeking an actor 18-year-old or older for the role who can authentically portray LGBTQ+.

    Alex Park is a Korean-American male expat in his late 20s. He is handsome and the brand-new chemistry teacher at the International Korean high school. Park serves as the dorm advisor and quickly gains a reputation as a cool, mellow teacher. He serves as a mentor figure to Kitty. While he’s a beloved teacher, Park has ulterior motives for taking the job at the school. Series regular role to appear in seven out of ten episodes.

    Finally, there’s Professor Lee who is a Korean male or Korean expat. He speaks both Korean and English and is in his early 40s or 50s. He’s a stuffy, by-the-book literature teacher who insists students abide by the rules. He’s a perennial bachelor who has lived on the campus for the last twenty years. Series regular role to appear in seven out of ten episodes.

    XO Kitty focuses on teen matchmaker Kitty Song Covey who thinks she knows everything there is to know about love. But when she moves halfway across the world (Korea) to reunite with her long-distance boyfriend, she’ll soon realize that relationships are a lot more complicated when it’s your own heart on the line. Han, the author of the To All the Boys… books, will serve as co-showrunner alongside Sascha Rothchild.

    As of now, XO Kitty does not yet have a release date on Netflix.

  • Zoya Akhtar Will Direct ‘The Archies’ Indian Adaption for Netflix

    Zoya Akhtar Will Direct ‘The Archies’ Indian Adaption for Netflix

    The Archies are coming to life thanks to director Zoya Akhtar.

    Per Variety, Akhtar will direct a live-action musical take on The Archies that takes place in 1960s India. The project will be produced by Akhtar and Reema Kagti for Tiger Baby and Sharad Devarajan for Graphic India. Plans for ‘Archie in Bollywood’ adaptions were first announced in 2018. This will mark the first of those projects to come to fruition.

    For Akhtar, the chance to adapt The Archies is exciting. “I am super excited to have the chance to bring ‘The Archies’ to life. It was a large part of my childhood and teenage years,” she explained. “The characters are iconic and globally loved, which is also why I am a little nervous. I have to make sure the film stokes the nostalgia of a generation that grew up on the comic and yet resonates with the young adults today.”

    The Archies will mark the first international comic to be translated for Indian screens. As it stands, the project is still in the early stages and a release date has not yet been unveiled. The live-action film will reimagine classic characters like Archie, Betty, Veronica, Reggie, Moose and Jughead with an Indian cast, while still featuring elements of the comics.

    “We are supremely excited to partner with the great team at Graphic India to bring Archie and his friends to Bollywood,” Jon Goldwater, Archie Comics CEO, said in a statement to Variety. “Archie’s lasting and growing presence in India made this move the logical next step as our stellar library of characters continues to expand into other media. It’s a major moment for Archie and its fans around the world.”

    Source: Variety.

  • ‘Wheel of Time’ and its Long Journey to the Small Screen

    ‘Wheel of Time’ and its Long Journey to the Small Screen

    The Wheel of Time is a beloved fantasy series by author Robert Jordan. Yet, despite its continued popularity, the series has had a long road to being adapted. In 2000, the series was initially optioned by NBC, however, a project never came to fruition. Then four years later, Jordan sold the rights to the series to Red Eagle Entertainment. The sale included film, television, video game and comic rights. At the time of the sale, Red Eagle Entertainment assured fans it had plans to bring Jordan’s magical world to audiences worldwide.

    Like with the NBC deal, though, things seemed to stall under Red Eagle Entertainment. In 2007, the author wrote a blog post showing his frustration at the lack of movement on a live-action film. Unfortunately, Jordan died about a month later. It wasn’t until 2008 that movement on a Wheel of Time film began to take place, with Universal optioning the title. No movie would come, though. Instead, as a surprise to everyone, Red Eagle Entertainment would go on to produce a ‘pilot’ for a Wheel of Time series. Unfortunately, it was an act merely to retain the rights. The pilot episode aired on FXX, technically fulfilling the contract to keep hold of the rights. However, FXX later admitted it was paid to air the supposed ‘pilot.’

    Fast forward to 2016, the series looked to finally be happening, but as fans of the series know: nothing is ever set in stone. Just when they found themselves excited over the prospect of an adaption, something always got in the way. Luckily, this no longer was the case. The series would officially be ordered by Sony Television a year later, before moving to Amazon Studios in 2018.

    In 2019, the first cast member for Wheel of Time was announced when actress Rosamund Pike joined the series. Since then, Amazon Studios has taken the time and effort to give the property the attention it rightfully deserves. While some details have been changed, the core of Wheel of Time has been captured finally on film for Jordan’s fans to revel in when the series later this month.

    It was a long road to get here, but the Wheel of Time is finally coming.

  • Season 2 of ‘Squid Game’ Confirmed by Hwang Dong-hyuk

    Season 2 of ‘Squid Game’ Confirmed by Hwang Dong-hyuk

    Since its debut in September, Squid Game has proven to be a massive success for Netflix.

    By the end of October, The Korean drama amassed an astounding 3 billion minutes viewed in a week’s span. With just under two months since its release, Squid Game has earned the honor of best title performance of 2021 in the U.S. rankings. Not bad for a series that only premiered in September. The drama continues to dominate Netflix’s Top 10, too, where it has remained since its debut. Yet, a second season has remained in question… until now.

    AP Entertainment recently had a chance to speak with Hwang Dong-hyuk, the creator, writer and director behind the Netflix smash hit. While an official announcement has yet to come, Dong-hyuk promises there are more Gi-hun adventures on the way. “I will say there will indeed be a second season,” he says. “It’s in my head right now. I’m in the planning process currently.”

    Unfortunately, those hoping for a quick return will find themselves disappointed. “I do think it’s too early to say when and how that’s going to happen.”

    The first season of Squid Game is now streaming on Netflix.