Murphy's Multiverse

Author: Logan Stanley

  • ‘She-Hulk: Attorney at Law’ To Have Amie Doherty as Composer

    ‘She-Hulk: Attorney at Law’ To Have Amie Doherty as Composer

    She-Hulk: Attorney at Law has found its composer.

    Amie Doherty will be the composer for the upcoming Marvel Studios series on Disney+, She-Hulk: Attorney at Law. Some of Doherty’s work includes Spirit Untamed, Undone, Happiest Season, The High Note, Battle at Big Rock, and Here and Now.

    The series will be the studios’ first foray into legal dramas and features Tatiana Maslany as Jennifer Walters, the cousin of Bruce Banner, as she traverses through her life as a single attorney in her 30s — all while she deals with being a green six-foot-seven-inch superpowered being. Mark Ruffalo will guest star as Smart Hulk. Tim Roth also makes his return as the Abomination after a brief appearance in Shang-Chi.

    Jameela Jamil, Josh Segarra, Ginger Gonzaga, Jon Bass and Renée Elise Goldsberry also star in the nine-episode series.

    Jessica Gao served as the head writer on the show. She is also listed as an executive producer on the project alongside Marvel Studios titans Kevin Feige, Louis D’Esposito, Victoria Alonso, and Brad Winderbaum. Also earning an executive producer credit is Kat Coiro who directed episodes of the series along with Anu Valia.

    Additionally, Doherty will be a participant in the film/TV composer panel Musical Anatomy of a Superhero at San Diego Comic-Con later this month. One can hope that she will briefly discuss her role on the series there.

    She-Hulk: Attorney at Law premieres on August 17.

    Source: Film Music Reporter

  • Chris Pratt Praises James Gunn’s Work on ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3’

    Chris Pratt Praises James Gunn’s Work on ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3’

    One of the most surprising successes of the Marvel Cinematic Universe has been the studio’s ability to draw from the far reaches of their intellectual property and turn those characters into household names. Perhaps the best example of this is the Guardians of the Galaxy franchise, which has spawned into one of the most well-known groups in pop culture.

    James Gunn‘s 2014 film has become a staple in the MCU and characters like Star-Lord and Gamora have played huge roles in the building of the universe. To say anticipation is high for the third installment, set to be released on May 5, 2023, is an understatement.

    The ending of the trilogy has been teased by the cast and director as being quite emotional for some time now. Chris Pratt, who plays Star-Lord, was asked by Digital Spy in an interview about his thoughts on the third film while promoting his new Amazon series, The Terminal List.

    Pratt had high praise for Gunn:

    It’s fantastic. [Director] James Gunn just watched a rough assembly the other day. I called him yesterday. We Facetimed, and he’s very, very proud of the work that everyone’s done. He said it’s the best work all of us have ever done. He feels very, very confident. The script was amazing.

    Chris Pratt

    But Pratt didn’t stop there. He went on to make a bold claim about the upcoming film as well:

    And I can say with utter confidence that he’s made a true masterpiece, and I just cannot wait for people to see it. It’s James Gunn. He did all three movies, which is really rare and really special in the world of big box-office trilogies.

    Chris Pratt

    What do you think? Will Vol. 3 be able to outrank the previous films? Leave your thoughts in the comments below.

    Source: Digital Spy

  • Ms. Marvel Co-Creator Sana Amanat: Don’t Change Kamala in the Comics

    Ms. Marvel Co-Creator Sana Amanat: Don’t Change Kamala in the Comics

    One of the most controversial decisions that was made by the creative team behind the Disney+ series Ms. Marvel was the decision to alter Kamala Khan’s power set. In the Marvel comics, Kamala had her latent Inhuman abilities activated after a Terrigen Bomb was dropped on Jersey City. Kamala developed polymorphic powers, allowing her to grow her limbs in any shape or size.

    Considering the Inhumans do not exist in the 616-Marvel Cinematic Universe at the moment, the show decided to change the origins of Kamala’s powers to match up with Carol Danvers. That mystery is still being unraveled with two episodes left, but a cosmic connection to Captain Marvel is being established in Ms. Marvel.

    The MCU Kamala still displays polymorphic powers, but she draws energy from the Noor Dimension and is able to create purple constructs that resemble crystals. While the decision was hotly debated when it was first announced, it seems to be paying off with fans and critics. But Kamala Khan co-creator Sana Amanat doesn’t think that the success of the show on Disney+ should lead to a change to the character in the comics. When asked about the idea in an interview with EW, Amanat had a strong response.

    I hope not! I hope they stick to what they got. I think inherently, there’s a lot of similarities as it is just in terms of the ancestry in the comics. She comes from an alien, you know what I mean?

    Sana Amanat

    While more often than not the comics aren’t too heavily influenced by the event of the MCU, that hasn’t always been the case, with the Guardians of the Galaxy being one noteworthy (and sad) example. It’s good to see someone like Amanat, who has been in both worlds, be able to understand the balance-and the differences-between the two.

    Source: EW

  • ‘Moon Knight’ Star Comments on Representation in MCU

    ‘Moon Knight’ Star Comments on Representation in MCU

    Moon Knight, despite the character’s relatively low-profile presence in the comics, is now firmly entrenched in the Marvel Cinematic Universe following the successful run of the series on Disney+ from March to May. The show was filled with firsts for Marvel Studios, including a deep look into dissociative identity disorder (DID) with Oscar Isaac’s characters Steven Grant, Marc Spector, and Jake Lockley.

    Most importantly, Moon Knight introduced audiences to the first Egyptian hero — May Calamawy as the Scarlet Scarab. Calamawy co-starred alongside Isaac as Layla El-Faouly, the estranged wife of Marc Spector. Instead of being just a love interest for the main character, Moon Knight empowered El-Faouly to be independent and powerful on her own as her story in the Disney+ showcased.

    In a recent interview with Yasmine Kandil from Discussing Film, Calamawy was asked if she like feels like there has been a recent shift in MENA representation both in front and behind the camera. Here’s what she had to say:

    I really do. I experienced it on Moon Knight and I’m lucky to experience it also on Ramy, there are Arabs on that show which is a testament to Ramy [Youssef], he’s very selective with who he brings on board. With Moon Knight, it’s a testament to Kevin Feige and that whole team for creating that space. We are in a time where I think we’ve realized that the only way to get closer to how a region really feels is to have people most intimately bring it there, and usually that will be either people who’ve lived there or understand it at a very deep level. 

    May Calamawy

    She goes on to also compare how creating these spaces for all is important and how opening beyond Western beauty standards also further anchors the importance of modern representation.

    I know so many women who are from the Middle East, one of my best friends is from Pakistan, we’re all actors working on our craft and I really want there to be a space for us all. I never want someone to question if they are pretty enough because I went through thinking I wasn’t pretty enough to be in a Western production and it’s an embarrassing thought to have, but I’m not going to say it wasn’t there. Often Western beauty standards don’t include how everyone around the world looks and representation is going to help us to feel that freedom and I think that’s happening more and more.

    May Calawamy

    Calamawy also discussed her decision to keep her curls for the show, which is something she said she struggled with growing up:

    One thing that’s been amazing to see is that so many women have posted that they are wearing their hair curly, or that they’re throwing out their hair irons and that’s what makes me happy because I had to go through my own journey of accepting my curls and feeling beautiful. There was a time when I left them curly and I can’t say I felt beautiful, looking back it pains me. I went through that and thank god I feel good in my curls now, but I wish everyone grew up that way. If that’s something Layla can bring to others, then I’m so happy.

    May Calamawy

    She highlighted that she brought in a hairpiece that mimicked her hair during production. It mostly served as a way to keep continuity.

    They brought in a hairpiece that mimicked my hair. In the beginning, they even suggested we straighten it and I did that too much growing up. I didn’t want to go back to that, so I was really adamant about them getting a hairpiece for continuity’s sake because curls, they will do what they want. Marvel really delivered because I loved it and they could just put it on and my hair was ready. It really helped me step into Layla and it was bigger than my own hair which was really fun.

    May Calamawy

    As for the future of the Scarlet Scarab in the MCU, no project has been officially announced involving the character. While there have been rumors of a Moon Knight Season 2, nothing has been revealed. But with the cliffhanger ending to the first season, it would not be a surprise to see these characters on-screen again in the future.

    Source: Discussing Film

  • ‘Ms. Marvel’ Certified Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes

    ‘Ms. Marvel’ Certified Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes

    We are only three episodes into Marvel Studios’ latest Disney+ series Ms. Marvel, but the show is already a huge hit among critics and fans. With a total of 202 critic reviews, Ms. Marvel is now officially “certified fresh” on Rotten Tomatoes “Tomatometer” at a staggering 96 percent.

    The 96 percent rating makes Ms. Marvel the highest-rated show in the MCU on Rotten Tomatoes, surpassing What If
? (94 percent) and Loki (92 percent). As well as being the highest-rated show, Ms. Marvel is tied with Black Panther as the top Marvel project on Rotten Tomatoes.

    The “Critics Consensus” on Rotten Tomatoes writes: “Ms. Marvel is a genuinely fresh addition to the MCU — both stylistically and substantively — with Iman Vellani ably powering proceedings with her super-sized charisma.”

    The certified fresh rating has to be a triumph for those involved with Ms. Marvel as doubt was cast on the show even before the first episode aired. When it was revealed that Kamala Khan’s power set was going to differ from the comics, some fans expressed frustration that the on-screen adaptation was going to be unsuccessful.

    In the comics, Kamala is exposed to Terrigen Mist, which in turn activated her latent Inhuman powers. Kamala is mostly known for her polymorphic abilities — akin to Reed Richards — allowing her limbs to grow in many shapes and forms. But with the Inhumans not a factor in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the decision was made to align Iman Vellani‘s Kamala Khan powers with her hero, Captain Marvel.

    It looks like that decision is paying off as we have already seen Kamala display embiggening powers, a trademark of her wildly popular character from the comics, and the connection to Carol Danvers is building in each episode as the story unfolds. Audiences are clearly loving the show’s vibrant cinematography and upbeat attitude with the certified fresh rating.

    Ms. Marvel is currently streaming on Disney+, with new episodes releasing each Wednesday.

    Source: Rotten Tomatoes

  • First Look at “The Santa Clauses” Released by Disney+

    First Look at “The Santa Clauses” Released by Disney+

    With roughly six months to go until Christmas Day, Disney+ is getting in the holiday spirit a bit early this year with the first look at official images of their upcoming series The Santa Clauses.

    The images were released as part of Disney’s Halfway to the Holidays marketing campaign, giving audiences an idea of what to expect when the Calvins are back on the screen.

    Tim Allen and Elizabeth Mitchell are both returning in their starring roles as Santa Claus, Scott Calvin, and Mrs. Claus, Carol. The pair will be joined by Austin Kane and Elizabeth Allen Dick, who will be playing their two children, Cal and Grace. Elizabeth Allen Dick won’t have to stretch her imagination to far to imagine Scott Calvin as her on-screen father as she is the real-life daughter of Tim Allen.

    As well as the Calvins, audiences will also be introduced to a new batch of characters. Kal Penn will be playing a character named Simon Choski, a single father who is an ambitious game inventor and product developer. Choski visits the North Pole, which turns out to be a life-changing trip for him. Alongside Penn will be Rupali Redd, described as Choski’s “angelic daughter with a love for Santa and all things Christmas.”

    Would there really be a North Pole without elves? Of course not. Devin Bright is cast as Noel, Santa’s trusted right-hand elf. Matilda Lawler will be playing Betty, Santa’s demanding Chief of Staff and a “job-oriented Elf.”

    The plot for The Santa Clauses is set an unspecified time after the events of the 2006 film The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause, in which Jack Frost (Martin Short) attempted to become Santa Claus himself. The series picks up with Scott Calvin approaching his 65th birthday. Scott realizes he cannot be Santa forever as his magic suddenly starts to disappear, so he begins a quest to find a proper replacement and get his family ready for a life outside of the North Pole.

    No official release date has been given yet, but the Disney original series will be streaming soon on Disney+.

    Source: Disney Parks

  • Kit Harrington Creating ‘Jon Snow’ Spinoff, George R.R. Martin Consulting

    Kit Harrington Creating ‘Jon Snow’ Spinoff, George R.R. Martin Consulting

    In a shocking reveal, The Hollywood Reporter reported last week that HBO was developing a Jon Snow-centric Games of Thrones spinoff show. After the controversial ending to the critically-acclaimed show, it seemed unlikely that a sequel series would be considered. But, it’s now a reality that a post-Battle of Winterfell Westeros will soon be on the TV screen again.

    While the reveal of the Jon Snow show may have come as a surprise to most of the world, Harington’s co-star Emilia Clarke was already in the know. In an interview with the BBC, Clarke said:

    He has told me about it. And I know it exists. It’s happening. It’s been created by Kit as far as I can understand, so he’s in it from the ground up. So what you will be watching, hopefully, if it happens, is certified by Kit Harington.

    Emilia Clarke

    Clarke revealing that Harrington came up with the show’s concept is an interesting bit of information as it seemingly adds a layer of authenticity to the project. Some fans may have fear of this show being a straight cash-grab from HBO, but the series is an idea straight from the actor himself.

    Backing up Clarke was Games of Thrones author George R.R. Martin, who confirmed the show’s existence in a blog post from June 23. Martin wrote that the show has the working title SNOW.

    It seems as though Emilia Clarke has already mentioned that SNOW was Kit’s idea in a recent interview. So that part is out. Yes, it was Kit Harrington who brought the idea to us. I cannot tell you the names of the writers/ showrunners, since that has not been cleared for release yet
but Kit brought them in too, his own team, and they are terrific.

    Various rumors are floating around about my involvement, or lack of same. I am involved [
] Kit’s team have visited me here in Santa Fe and worked with me and my own team of brilliant, talented writer/ consultants to hammer out the show.”

    George R.R. Martin

    Martin also mentioned that the show is currently in the script stage. “Outlines and treatments have been written and approved, scripts have been written, notes have been given, second and third drafts have been written,” Martin wrote. So, not only has Harrington formulated the show himself, he has already consulted with Martin as well.

    The last time audiences saw Snow on the screen he was heading into the Haunted Forest with his beloved direwolf, Ghost, and the Wildings, after being exiled from Westeros. No plot details have been given yet, but it seems likely the series would start right around this time as Snow begins a new life.

    Source: Variety

  • ‘Blade’ Star Comments on Character’s R-Rating in the MCU

    ‘Blade’ Star Comments on Character’s R-Rating in the MCU

    With the massive financial success of the Deadpool film franchise and Marvel’s upcoming reboot of Blade, the topic of R-rated superhero films is a passionate debate among fans. Some argue that in order to stay true to the origins of characters like Wade Wilson and Eric Cross Brooks and the source material they are based on, an R-rating is required.

    Wesley Snipes first suited up as the Daywalker in Stephen Norrington’s 1998 Blade, a cult classic film and the dawn of Marvel properties gracing the big screen. Part of the reason why the film is so beloved is due to the R-rating — there are no holds barred regarding the amount of gore that is seen.

    It has been 20 years since audiences last saw Blade in a movie. That will change soon as Marvel Studios announced at San Diego Comic-Con in 2019 that the character was going to be joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe and that Mahershala Ali would be starring as the Vampire Slayer.

    While the project hasn’t gotten into production just yet, Ali has already appeared in one Marvel Studios project. At the end of ChloĂ© Zhao’s Eternals, Kit Harrington’s Dane Whitman is seen approaching a strange-looking sword that has what appears to be black organic matter emitting from the weapon as reaches out with his hand. That’s when a voice emerges, “Sure you’re ready for that, Mr. Whitman?”, the mysterious voice asks. Fans speculated for a few days that it was Ali before Zhao herself officially confirmed it. Given that we know Dane Whitman’s history as Black Knight from the comics, it’s a good bet that the sword Dane is approaching is indeed the Ebony Blade, which possesses magical properties and grants it to those who wield it. It seems likely Whitman’s character will interact with Ali’s Blade given the nature of the sword and the connection established in Eternals‘ post-credit scene.

    There has been no official release date given for Marvel Studios’ Blade since it was first announced in 2019. And with the official introduction of the character into the MCU, fans are eagerly awaiting the studios’ foray into the world of vampires. The big question is: will the film receive an R-rating?

    In a recent interview with Adam Barnhardt from Comicbook.com, Snipes dished his thoughts on the matter:

    I think those kind of stories lend themselves to a wide range of dialogue and situations. Both adult and young adult. I don’t know, it seems like the R-rating and PG-13 base is sliding now because it seems that now the 13-year-olds can speak better words than the adults can. As long as it’s true and organic to the subject matter, the plot, and the world that’s created. If there’s consistency, I think it’s fine [to be PG-13].

    Wesley Snipes

    So, even Blade himself doesn’t necessarily think an R-rating is required in order for the portrayal to be successful.

    What about you, do you think that the MCU’s Blade has to be rated R? Leave your thoughts in the comments below.

    Source: Comicbook.com

  • Chris Evans Shares Thoughts on Returning as Johnny Storm

    Chris Evans Shares Thoughts on Returning as Johnny Storm

    Before he was the First Avenger in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Chris Evans suited up as Johnny Storm in Tim Story’s 2005 Fantastic Four. Evans has since become a central figure in the MCU with his role as the iconic Steve Rogers, last appearing in Avengers: Endgame.

    But with Marvel’s most recent theatrical release, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, and the introduction of Mister Fantastic, the MCU is much different than the last time audiences saw Evans. Possibilities that once seemed impossible are now much more plausible. So, with Evans stating it would be a tall order for him to return as Cap, it begs to question: would Evans be interested in returning to his first superhero role on the big screen?

    Evans was asked this question in a recent interview while doing press for his upcoming film, Lightyear, with MTV’s Joshua Horowitz. Here’s what Evans had to say:

    “No, no one’s ever come to me about that. I mean, I don’t look exactly the same anymore. That was 15, almost 20 years ago. Oh my God, I’m old. Yeah. Look, I would love it. I would love it. That would actually be an easier sell to me than coming back as Cap. You know what I mean? Cap is so precious to me. And you know, I almost don’t wanna disrupt what a beautiful experience that was. But Johnny Storm, I feel like he didn’t really get his day. That was before Marvel really found its footing. So I love that role, and you know, who knows.”

    So, not only would Evans love to come back as Johnny Storm, he also indicated he feels there’s some unfinished business with the character.

    With Marvel’s 2019 acquisition of Fox — in which the studio regained the rights to the Fantastic Four — and ripple effects of Loki and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, what seemed like a fan’s fantasy a few years ago is now something that could be reasonably explained to viewers. What do you think, would you like to see Evans don the blue and black one more time?

    Source: MTV News