Category: Features

From Page to Screen: Namora, the Sea Queen

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is now in theaters, and when audiences get their chance, they’ll also meet all the new characters introduced within it. While much of the discussion surrounding the film has been focused on Namor and Riri Williams, there are also a handful of other Marvel Cinematic Universe debuts quietly included in the highly-anticipated sequel. Among the less-talked-about is Mabel Cadena‘s Namora, the cousin of Tenoch Huerta‘s undersea monarch and a character with rich history in Marvel’s comics. Of course, Namora doesn’t get quite as much time to shine onscreen as her more-popular relative, but she does manage to leave a mark worth exploring. As such, Murphy’s Multiverse will handle the duties of dissecting her origins from some of America’s earliest funny pages and comparing them to what fans see in Wakanda Forever. It’s humble work, but somebody has to do it.

Comics – Namora, the Sea Queen

Namora’s early days of existence are a bit wonky, considering where she would end up decades later. When she debuted in 1947’s Marvel Mystery Comics #82, nearly 20 years after the first appearance of Namor, she was not portrayed as being related to Namor at all. In fact, there was even some romantic chemistry established between the eventual cousins. Fortunately, this was retconned and cleared up in later books, which instead revealed a familial history between the two. Originally named Aquaria Nautica Neptunia, the future “Sea Queen” was, much like Namor, born a hybrid mutant to an Atlantean father and a human mother. Biologically the cousin of the great Prince Namor, the young Aquaria soon had her name changed to reflect her heritage. Namora, based on the Atlantean term for “Avenging Daughter”, after Namor, the Atlantean term for “Avenging Son.” As is apparently common in her family, Namora also had pink skin, which she inherited from her mother in the same way Namor inherited his human appearance from his father. Although, unlike Namor, Namora’s skin only faded to pink from blue once she reached adulthood.

Namora spent most of her early years as Namor’s close friend and adventure companion, after earning his respect as the only person in Atlantis who could match his strength and wit. However, where Namor confined himself to the oceans and maintained his loyalty to Atlantis, Namora was often more intrigued by her human origins and eventually made the move out of Atlantis and onto the surface world. After years of fighting strictly at the side of her royal cousin, Namora finally went on a journey of her own, taking a more heroic stance than Namor and saving lives across the globe. This period would see Namora on a wide variety of escapades that included battling fascist forces, teaming with Earth’s Mightiest Heroes, joining Ulysses Bloodstone’s fabled Monster Hunters, and even finding love with two different men – Talan, an honorable Atlantean, and, believe it or not, the famed Russian hunter Sergei Kravinoff.

Eventually, Namora would become involved in a conflict that would cost her life. After a fiasco with Talan and the pressures of marriage left her feeling unwelcome in Atlantis, Namora relocated to the neighboring Lemuria, an underwater home for an ancient race of Deviants, with a newborn daughter (actually a secret clone named Namorita) in tow. There, she found herself targeted by Llyra, a mutant inhabitant of Lemuria who saw Namora as competition. Llyra would eventually poison Namora, sealing her corpse in a coffin, where it would lay for decades before being discovered by Jimmy Woo and the Agents of Atlas. That group manage to resurrect Namora in modern times, where she becomes a member of their team, discovers he “daughter” has taken her place on Earth for the last several years, and becomes involved in many major events that define the time period, such as World War Hulk, Secret Invasion, and the following Dark Reign. She even took action against her cousin during the Secret Empire era, leading a rebellion against his tyrannical rule and ultimately overthrowing him.

MCU – Namora

Namora’s presence in Wakanda Forever is a far cry from her storied history in Marvel lore, but it’s likely only the beginning for the character in the MCU. Her backstory as Namor’s cousin is not explored or elaborated on, but the fact the film maintains her name as Namora instead of Aquaria is a good sign the familial relation is still there. Much like the early source material, Namora appears to be a bit younger than Namor, and functions primarily as his second-in-command of Talokan. She seems to be his confidant and closest ally, and the only one able to question him to his face. Unlike her comic counterpart, Namora is not a mutant and is featured with blue skin when active on the surface world. She cannot breathe surface air without a mask, and it’s unclear if she is as powerful as Namor, furthering her from the abilities she possesses in the books. There is also a line in which Namora mentions always having wanted to fight by Namor’s side, implying that they did not spend their youth adventuring in the way they had in Marvel’s comic universe.

The end of the film hints that Namora could have a larger role to play in the future of Talokan, but for now, she’s mostly just a formidable warrior and a trusted member of Talokan’s hierarchy. Alongside Attuma, she is often sent to do the work unfit for Namor himself. She is involved with the initial attacks on the United States government and Wakanda and is a key player in the taking of Shuri and Riri Williams from Massachusetts to Talokan. While in the comics she is more open to the surface world, the MCU version of Namora is far more nationalistic and is unable to understand why, in the end, Namor chooses to trust Wakanda and rescind his attack on land-dwellers. Luckily for fans of the character, there is plenty of room for her to grow, and Wakanda Forever serves as an excellent base for Namora in the MCU.

November 12, 2022
From Page to Screen: Namor, the Sub-Mariner

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever has finally hit theater screens, and it’s brought a few new characters along with it. Perhaps the biggest name to make their Marvel Cinematic Universe debut is Tenoch Huerta‘s Namor, the King of Talokan and one of the fiercest warriors Earth-616 has ever known. The character makes his highly-anticipated first appearance on the big screen after decades of failed attempts, and the result is radiant. However, the Sub-Mariner’s live-action interpretation is a little different than his original comic book take. Not better or worse, per se, but definitely not the same. As such, it becomes the duty of Murphy’s Multiverse to inform its readers of the history of Namor – as it happens on both the page and the screen.

Comics – Namor McKenzie, the Sub-Mariner

Much like his portrayal in the MCU, Namor is initially introduced to the world of Marvel comics as a terrifying vengeance from the deep. Along with the original Human Torch, the “Sub-Mariner” was one of the first Marvel characters ever to grace the page. Namor debuted in 1939’s Marvel Comics #1, in a story that saw him as an enemy of the United States. However, his true cause was not completely unjust. As King of Atlantis, and lifelong inhabitant of the ocean, Namor has always been most faithful to his people and their way of life. If the surface world were ever to endanger this, Namor would not hesitate to take action against the rest of Earth’s civilization.

The future monarch was born in the Atlantean capital to Fen, the daughter of Emperor Thakorr, and Leonard McKenzie, an American sea captain. Fen and McKenzie had fallen for each other while the former was infiltrating the latter’s ship, and produced a half-blooded mutant son with pink skin and feathered ankles. The Atlanteans did not take kindly to this, quickly killing McKenzie and forcing Fen back to her home. Namor would then be raised as the Prince of Atlantis, building a strong relationship with the underwater nation while occasionally popping to the surface world and handling scenarios involving oil spills and attacking foreign powers. Growing into adulthood, the Sub-Mariner gained incredible strength and durability, as well as other powers including flight, Marine life telepathy, and hydrokineses.

Namor rose to further prominence during the Second World War, when he joined Captain America and the Allied Forces as part of the Invaders – a superhero team formed to bring down the Nazis. This period would cement Namor and Atlantis as a world power, bringing McKenzie into contact with several notable leaders and members of the superpowered community. It was during WWII that Namor first met the Black Panther and visited Wakanda, who he and Atlantis would eventually develop a lasting back-and-forth with. After the war, Namor became further integrated into the Marvel universe, encountering the likes of the Fantastic Four and the Avengers. His status as friend or foe was always dependent on the situation, even after helping to found Marvel’s version of the Illuminati and save the planet on multiple occasions.

MCU – Namor, the Feathered Serpent God

The MCU’s version of Namor is similar in spirit, if not in detail. He maintains his nationalistic attitude and undying devotion to his people and is still very much a jerk when the scenario calls for it. However, in Wakanda Forever, the undersea ruler is not from Atlantis but is instead from the nation of Talokan. He is also not born into a royal bloodline, with his homeland alternatively finding life at the same time as him. As explained in the film, Namor’s people were driven from their land on the surface world by diseases, specifically, smallpox, brought on by colonizers. Luckily, the future citizens of Talokan discovered a reserve of vibranium in the waters off their shore, and a form of Heart-Shaped Herb growing above it.

Taking the Herb, Namor’s people were able to recover from their illness. Unfortunately, they also found themselves unable to survive on land and were forced to retreat beneath the waves. They built a new city underwater and began to thrive. Namor’s mother took the Herb with Namor still in the womb, and as a result, he was born a mutant with astonishing abilities. Winged feet, human skin, and immense strength led to his crowning as the prophesized ruler of Talokan, better known to its people as K’uk’ulkan – the “Feathered Serpent God”. Aging at an incredibly slow rate, Namor would rule over Talokan in secret for centuries.

It’s not until T’Challa, King of Wakanda, reveals the presence of vibranium to the world, and Riri Williams, a gifted student from the United States, creates a machine that detects vibranium, that Namor feels the need to make himself known. In an effort to protect his country, Namor wages war on Wakanda and lays waste to its lands and royal family. Every bit as aggressive as his comic book counterpart, Namor makes sure everyone knows not to trifle with Talokan, and founds an uneasy alliance with Wakanda in the process.

November 12, 2022
What the ‘Wakanda Forever’ Post-Credit Scene Means for the Future of the Franchise

If you thought you were done crying when the credits for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever began rolling, you were simply fooling yourself. As newly-minted Black Panther Shuri symbolically moved past her grief by burning her mourning garments, the post-credit scene to the film stirred a whole new batch of emotions. If you haven’t seen the film yet and wish not to be spoiled, turn back now as we’ll take a look at what the surprising PCS might mean for the future of the franchise.

The PCS reveals that Nakia hasn’t just been hiding out in Haiti mourning the loss of her lover, King T’Challa but rather has been raising their son, Prince T’Challa. As Shuri and the audience learn all about the royal son, who goes by the name Toussaint in Haiti, it becomes clear that the young Prince has been taken away from the craziness of succession in Wakanda but is being prepared to ascend to the throne one day. Only 6 years old, Prince T’Challa has a long road ahead of him before he’s ready to become King and Protector of Wakanda, not to mention the backlash and political ramifications of revealing his existence to Wakanda. What could his existence mean for the future of the Black Panther franchise?

According to Executive Producer Nate Moore, there are multiple D+ projects being developed within and adjacent to the World of Wakanda. The events of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever could easily lead to several such projects. While fans might be familiar with rumors of an Okoye-centric project (which could become a Midnight Angels), the PCS of Wakanda Forever could turn into another project sometime down the road. With Marvel Studios Multiverse Saga slate pretty full, there might not be room in it for a third Black Panther film and director Ryan Coogler isn’t quite ready to make the decision about whether he wants to sign on for it or not, but the longer it takes for Black Panther 3 to hit theaters, the older Prince T’Challa gets to be. Is there room for a streaming project about Prince T’Challa between now and when Black Panther 3 hits theaters? Or, perhaps it’s better to ask if there’s room for one between now and when Avengers: Secret Wars hits theaters?

Ultimately, the PCS of Wakanda Forever doesn’t truly feel like it’s setting up much of anything as much as it’s making a statement in line with the film’s subtitle: the legacy of T’Challa, and Wakanda, will continue on. With the deaths of T’Challa and Ramonda, Shuri stood as the last member of the family who had ruled Wakanda since their ancestor, Bashenga, became the first Black Panther and united four of the five tribes of Wakanda into one nation. Prince T’Challa serves as a promise that the line will continue for another generation. But will audiences ever see the Prince become the Black Panther?

It’s a tough question to answer because, in the comics, 616-T’Challa doesn’t have a son. Some alternate universe T’Challas have had children, but for the most part any story involving Prince T’Challa will be an original. And again, whether or not those stories end up being told is a big question. It’s possible, maybe even likely, that while Marvel Studios chose not to recast Chadwick Boseman in Wakanda Forever, the potential to do so down the road a few years in Avengers: Secret Wars remains tempting. A post-Secret Wars MCU could potentially be built around one new universe in which characters from others find themselves together. In that case, a new actor coming in as a Variant T’Challa provides opportunity for Marvel Studios to have the character working alongside the Fantastic Four and, yes, the X-Men where a potential relationship with Storm can finally come to the big screen.

That’s not to say Marvel Studios may not chose to keep Prince T’Challa in the plans. A D+ series about the young Prince, his mother and aunt could be a way to continue to explore the rich history of Wakanda or another film, 5+ years down the road set in Wakanda could end up exploring the changing political landscape of the country, a theme that’s often been explored in the comics. So while it’d be great to “know” just what Prince T’Challa’s appearance means for the future of Wakanda, all it really does is ensure that there is one.

November 12, 2022
5 Spidey Suits We’d Like to See in the MCU Following Tom Holland’s New Deal

Rumors persist that Tom Holland and Marvel Studios have struck a deal that will allow the actor to reprise his role as Spider-Man in a bevy of upcoming MCU projects. If that’s true, there’s one thing above all others that fans can count on: new suits! New suits sell toys and there’s nothing Disney loves more than that.

Now all on his own within the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Peter Parker has to fend for himself and that means creating his own suits. He put together a very nice-looking one at the end of Spider-Man: No Way Home and that’ll almost certainly be the one he’s wearing when he’s first seen in his next appearance. However, Marvel Stuios has done a pretty great job of incorporating some of the most memorable Spidey suits into their films, even if they’ve not all been Peter’s and not all been entirely comic accurate. With that in mind, we take a look at five comic-book suits that might inspire Peter’s wave of costumes in the MCU!

Spider-Armor

At SDC ’22, Marvel Studios One-Above-All Kevin Feige listed Spider-Man and Daredevil as headliners of the MCU’s street-level heroes. Being a friendly, neighborhood Spider-Man means spending a good deal of time in the streets and less in space, and it’s pretty likely that’s exactly what will happen in Holland’s fourth MCU-based Spidey film. Battling crime on the streets, especially with the likes of a guy like Kingpin and his goons, almost certainly means coming under gunfire. With that in mind, it seems like it would be a pretty good idea for Peter to put together an armored suit. The comics provide inspiration for a few different choices, but the very metal silver and black MK1 that he first donned in 1993’s Web of Spider-Man #100 would look great on screen and serve as a nice contrast the bright red and blue of his default suit.

The Symbiote Suit

Everyone wants to see Holland’s Parker bond with Venom and bring the Symbiote Suit to the MCU. The post-credit scene of 2021’s Spider-Man: No Way Home set the stage and it’s likely that Holland’s new contract will have him signed on for Avengers: Secret Wars, meaning if Marvel Studios chooses to, they could pay homage to the comics by having him bond with the symbiote for the first time in the the 2026 conclusion to the Multiverse Saga.

The Bombastic Bag-Man Suit

With Marvel Studios Fantastic Four film set to come out in 2025, Holland’s new contract could work him into the film in a larger-than-a-cameo-but-still-pretty-small-role. If that’s the case, there’s no more MCU-type gag that Matt Shakman and the creatives behind Fantastic Four could play than having Peter suit up as the Bombastic Bag-Man for a scene. If Marvel Studios can give Peter a new suit by making him turn one inside-out, they can definitely come up with a way for him to need to borrow one of the FF’s suits and put a paper bag over his head.

The Future Foundation Suit

A much more iconic suit that Peter could wear a bit longer in either Fantastic Four or something like Avengers: The Kang Dynasty, the Future Foundation suit seems like a must to shove Holland into over the next 6 years. The suit has been featured heavily in video games, Marvel Legends and in the comics. It’s a fascinating design and the colors can be inverted at will, meaning Disney could go two-for-one as far as getting toys out of a suit. Keeping in mind that just because it’s called the Future Foundation suit in the comics doesn’t mean there needs to be a Future Foundation in the MCU, this seems like the second surest bet on this list.

The Big Time Suit

Another suit that gamers are already plenty familiar with is the Stealth Suit, aka the Big Time Suit. It could be argued that Peter already had a Stealth Suit in Spider-Man: Far From Home, but that’ll almost certainly go down in memory as the Night Monkey Suit. The Big Time Suit could show up down the road in Spidey 5 or 6 after Peter has had some time to build on his already impressive engineering skills. Interestingly enough, Peter first wore it in the comics to help defend him from Hobgolin, a villain who has yet to appear in any Spider-Man films but who could pretty readily be worked into the MCU.

Ultimately, it was tough to choose just 5 suits. Outside of Peter’s vast array, there are the iconic looks of Ben Reilly, Miguel O’Hara, Kaine Parker and, of course, Miles Morales. Of those characters, it doesn’t seem like more than one could ever have a future in the MCU, so should Marvel Studios choose to do so, they could work some of those into the next half-dozen or so appearances by Holland. In all likelihood, whatever suits they do choose to adapte, we won’t see the same one twice!

November 10, 2022
The New Deal: A Look at Tom Holland’s Future as Spider-Man

Though it hasn’t been officially announced, the buzz around Sony and Marvel Studios reaching a new deal to continue their collaborative efforts to co-produce Spider-Man films has been at an all-time high this week. The deal, should it be reached, would allow Marvel Studios to get to work on developing new Spidey films with Sony and for them to negotiate a deal with star Tom Holland that would allow him to appear in non-Spidey films. As we wait for word to come down that Holland is ready to get back to work, we take a look at how Tom’s New Deal might play out over the next several years.

Spider-Man: Brand New Day (2024)

Once the new deal is announced, expect things to advance pretty quickly on the first new solo Spidey outing. In late 2021, Kevin Feige admitted that he and Amy Pascal had already begun developing the story for the fourth MCU-based Spidey film. Even though the film hasn’t been officially given the green light yet, the fact that a story has been in the works for nearly a year means that some of the principal talent involved might be privy to some of that info. Feige announced at SDCC that Spider-Man and Daredevil were going to lead the way as street-level heroes and Tom Holland, Charlie Cox and Vincent D’Onofrio have all dropped some breadcrumbs along the way that make it sound like the fourth MCU Spidey film might feature Spidey and Daredevil teaming up to take on Mayor Fisk. Of course, it’s also time for Peter Parker to complicate his life by adding a new love interest and there’s no better time than now for that to be Felicia Hardy, aka Black Cat.

Fantastic Four (2025)

Undoubtedly, part of Holland’s New Deal will include stipulations that allow for appearances in non-Spidey MCU films. Given that the New Deal will coincide with the Fantastic Four finally making their way into the MCU and that one of Peter Parker’s longest-lasting and most important friendships in Marvel Comics is with Johnny Storm, it’s nearly impossible to think he wouldn’t show up in their film.

Avengers: The Kang Dynasty (2025) and Avengers: Secret Wars (2026)

Spider-Man is among Marvel’s most valued and beloved characters, so it’s all but a sure thing that they’ll want Holland’s New Deal to include appearances in both their upcoming Avengers’ films. Secret Wars is probably the most ambitious project Marvel Studios has ever attempted and it’s likely to take inspiration from Jonathan Hickman’s 2015 version, which means that another Spider-Man could potentially be introduced here, setting the stage for the remainder of Holland’s time as the Wall-Crawler. It also allows for Marvel Studios to make good on the symbiote suit tease in the post-credit scene of Spider-Man: No Way Home, allowing Holland to get at least one go around in the beloved black suit.

Spider-Man: One More Day (2026)

Assuming Sony wants to keep churning out new Spidey films every 2 years as they did during the first deal, Holland’s next MCU-based Spidey film will hit in 2026. Assuming the rumors of Sacha Baron Cohen signing on as Mephisto for multiple projects are true, it’s likely that at least one of those appearances would be for a major film and it’s also likely he didn’t sign on to something that would keep him busy for a decade or more. In the comics, Spider-Man made a deal with Mephisto that had long-lasting ramifications for the character. It’s not out of the question that Peter’s MCU story could see him try to find a way to have “one more day” with MJ. Mephisto is just the guy to grant that kind of wish to Peter, but at what cost?

Spider-Man: End of Days (2028)

Unfortunately, Holland can’t and won’t go on forever as Spidey; fortunately, the comics provide a fantastic road map for what to do next and both Sony and Marvel Studios would be foolish not to take advantage of it. Miles Morales is one of the most important Marvel Comics’ characters not just of the modern age but of all time. Giving Peter and Miles time to get to know one another after meeting in Secret Wars would deepen and enrich both characters, make Peter’s death feel like an even great loss and set up Miles as THE Spider-Man for the next decade.

6 projects in 4 years for Holland seems crazy, but obviously, this is all just speculation and no dates are set in stone, not even, as we’ve seen, those for movies as big as Fantastic Four and Avengers: Secret Wars. However, whether the dates are even remotely correct or not, Holland’s New Deal will certainly keep him incredibly busy over a very short amount of time.

November 10, 2022
REVIEW: ‘Andor’ Episode 10

Sacrifice for the greater good has always been a central theme of Star Wars. From Obi-Wan becoming one with the Force in his duel with Vader in a New Hope, to Luke doing the same in The Last Jedi and Ben Solo giving his life for Rey in The Rise of Skywalker, sacrifice has been consistently present in the franchise. Episode 10 of Andor, “One Way Out”, continues that thematic resonance while illuminating just how circumstantial the nature of sacrifice can be. Andor isn’t about a fantastic moment where a Jedi becomes one with the Force for the good of the Rebellion; it is in large part, about much less spectacular characters losing bits of themselves by the day. And no episode of Andor hammers that point home more than “One Way Out.”

Thought the prison break serves as the beautiful center of the episode, it’s the back alley conversation between Luthen Rael and his Imperial spy, Lonni, that stands out not only in the episode and the series, but also the franchise as arguably one of the most inspired and impassioned explanations of the true cost of the Rebellion. At this point, it’s hard not to think of Rael, a character new to fans just a couple of months ago, as one of the most integral figures in the Rebellion. Per his own words, however, his choices have damned him and he knows that he is fighting “to make sunrise” he knows he will never see. So when the galaxy celebrates its heroes at the end of A New Hope, nobody will to be grateful to Rael, nor to poor Lonni, nor to Anto Kreegyr, who Rael is so willing to sacrifice to keep things on track. While it’s ultimately heroes such as Luke, Leia, Han and Chewy who become the face of the Rebellion, Rael now must stand as its backbone. Stellan Skarsgård‘s work as Rael is among the most complex and brilliant in recent memory in a franchise that has all too often dipped into the well of bringing back familiar faces. In Rael, Tony Gilroy has created a new character that’s given more the the future of the galaxy than anyone will ever know.

As Rael readily accepts that there’s no way off the path he’s chosen, Mon Mothma finds herself at a crossroads from where it seems there is no gentle path for her to take. Desperate for funding, the Senator finds herself in league with the gangster Davo who proves more than willing to provide her with the money she needs, but in exchange for a detestable cost: the apparent betrothal of her daughter to Davo’s son. Though Mon is quick to dismiss it, Davo doesn’t believe she’s quite as disgusted as she puts on. The series has gone to some lengths to show that Mon’s work has already come at the cost of familial relationships but Episode 10 leaves the audience to wonder just how far she’ll go to finance the Rebellion. Andor’s creatives have done fascinating work with Mon. Originally a minor character who seemed to stand out as a beacon of everything bright and shiny about the Rebellion, the series has fleshed her out and painted her in a much different light.

Given the way the episode laid bare grim repercussions for Rael and Mothma, Cassian’s time in prison hardly seems like much of a sacrifice at all. In fact, it’s Andy Serkis‘ Kino Loy who had the most interesting journey in the prison arc. Initially a “company man”, it’s Loy who makes the episode’s most grandiose example of sacrifice, risking his life to lead the prison break with the knowledge that the “one way out” meant he would never be free. Unable to swim, Loy stands back while the other, including Cassian and Melshi, who turns up alongside his escape buddy in Rogue One, swim to freedom. The final shot of the episode, which shows Cassian and Melshi running across barren plains, is rich with symbolism. Cassian has no prospects ahead of him as he runs from his past. He has no safe haven to which he can return. The entire galaxy is after him. What comes next over the final two episodes will almost certainly remedy that and cement his place in the Rebellion, but given the job the series has done setting up the fractured nature of the fledgling alliance, it’ll be most interesting to see in which group he finds his way.

November 9, 2022
INTERVIEW: Justin Miller and Bill Reick Talk ‘Sleep. Walk. Kill.’ and the Challenges of Horror Comedy

Think Night of the Living Dead, but with Adderall! Sleep. Walk. Kill. is a funny, campy horror film built on a fresh concept and worth toughing out through its slow opening. When a strange alien sound blares across the skies of Yardley, Pennsylvania, folks rise from their sleep with murder on their minds. Wives butcher husbands; children murder parents; and, presumably, the only way to stay alive is to stay awake. Though at times it feels like the cast is still finding its footing in the early minutes, there’s plenty of tension and compelling storytelling worth staying through the third act. I spoke with Director and Screenwriter Justin Miller and lead actor Bill Reick about the creation of the film and the comedically-talented cast in this independent horror debut.

Tell me about the creation of Sleep. Walk. Kill. How long has this project been in the works?

Justin Miller (JM): It was actually shot three years ago. About a year before that is when I started to write it. I’ve always been fascinated with dreams and night terrors and people talking in their sleep (like my wife sometimes does). But what really got me to write a script I could shoot was I wrote comedy for a theater in Philly and my daughter never really got to see that. But I’d watch movies when I was home and she’d refer to me as “the guy on the sofa.” (laughs) I didn’t want to be that to her! So I started writing something I could shoot. I knew I was going to have to do a lot of it and thank goodness I had a lot of help on this project with Bill (Reick) and Samantha Russell. So that really got me started on it.

That’s a good motivation! Not being the guy on the sofa. (laughs)

JM: Exactly! (laughs) I showed her hard work. It was really hard work. Everyone put in a lot of time and effort on this.

So you shot this film three years ago. Was that at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, or just before?

JM: Just before. We finished shooting about two months or so before the pandemic. We were pretty fortunate in that respect because there’s no way we could have shot in that tiny, cramped basement during the pandemic.

Sleep. Walk. Kill. is sure to invoke memories of Night of the Living Dead with its taut basement scenes.

The basement scenes especially were very reminiscent of some of my favorite horror films. Night of the Living Dead comes to mind. Maybe Shaun of the Dead? That forced closeness always ratchets up the tension between people who are confined together. What were your biggest influences for the film?

JM: Definitely Night of the Living Dead. I try, though, when I’m writing to not specifically think of “I want to make it seem like this…” but it definitely has a strong Night of the Living Dead feel. I can see the connection also between Shaun of the Dead. The Thing. John Carpenter is definitely a big influence. I just wanted to show what happens to this family when they’re put in extreme circumstances.

Yeah! Very fun practical effects in the film, speaking of The Thing and John Carpenter. And speaking of Carpenter, is it true that you also did the score, Justin?

JM: Yes, that is true. You know, pretty much everyone on this film—actors included—did more than just one thing. (laughs) They’d be like, “Hey I’m not in this scene, hold this light.” Or “Pour blood on somebody.” Everyone worked pretty hard on this!

You have a very talented and funny cast that assembles in that basement. Those later scenes are a lot of fun. Ellen Boscov is fantastic as Edgar’s Mom—funny, annoying, frustrating—I mean that in the best of ways.

JM: Yeah, if you hate her than she did her job.

Yes! And The Legendary WID, who maybe had some of the best one-liners in the film. And of course Bill, who plays Edgar, who has to bounce off each of these characters in different ways. Tell me a little bit about assembling this cast and what it was like wrangling their comedic skills into a horror film.

JM: Samantha Russell, she’s a sketch director from Philly, she helped assemble the cast. She did an amazing job. Actually the first thing she said when she read the script was, “I thought it would be funnier.” (laughs) But I wanted to write a horror movie that had comedic elements, not specifically a comedy, though that’s what we do in sketch writing.

I had a few people audition for the dad and one of the people I was considering was Bob Quintana. I knew he was in theater productions around the area and he knocked it out of the park. And working with them was such a blast. We had such a fun time on set—sometimes a little too fun. (laughs) When it was time to get serious everyone turned it on and did an amazing job.

I think maybe that’s who we’re aiming for. People who’ve been left a little bit cold by multi-million-dollar productions and want something a little more human and a little less decided by committee.
Bill Reick

Bill, can you talk a little about the role of Edgar and your approach to it, and also riding that line between horror and comedy?

Bill Reick (BR): Well the character is a real slob so I didn’t really have to try to get in the role or anything. (laughs) I can be a loser. That’s not too far out of my wheelhouse.

The only real adjustment I had to make is on set is when Justin would say, “Hey thank you for that last take. It was really funny. But let’s make it serious this time. Let’s convey that somebody just died. Let’s give it the weight it deserves.” (JM laughs) Justin did a really good job of helping me tune things into what he was looking for.

It’s interesting to hear that the approach was more horror film with comedic elements because you did have a very funny cast. I imagine that almost might have been a bit of a challenge with that team to work with.

BR: Yeah it was definitely a bunch of cut-ups in there. It was going to be a funny movie whether Justin set out for it to be or not, just because of who he put in it. It was definitely great to be able to utilize that. But everyone was talented enough to be able to fine-tune their approach so that if a given scene wasn’t calling for a comedic approach, Justin was able to step in, like any great director, and say “hey, let’s dial it this way,” just so we could keep a more consistent tone.

Sure. And it seems like Edgar has quite the arc in the film.

BR: Oh my gosh, does he.

Maybe he starts off as a slob, but especially toward the end he becomes our point person and our sort of a savior. But Edgar definitely does get a little beat up in the film emotionally.

BR: Oh, and physically.

And physically. Do you have a lot of experience with physicality in your roles or with horror?

BR: Oh, definitely I have a lot of experience being physical on stage. Prior to this film—and during, and after it—I was doing a lot of sketch comedy. If there’s a chance I could get one person to laugh, I will grievously injure myself at the drop of a hat. (JM laughs) It was nice to be able to take those… skills? (laughs) and apply them to a recorded medium where I don’t have to hurt myself every time to get the laugh. They can just press play.

(laughs) Any injuries sustained on set for this one?

BR: Oh plenty! (Thinks for a moment.) Yeah, none that… Maybe… Well, I don’t think I should have gone to hospital for any of them. (JM laughs) But definitely lots of really, really solid bumps and bruises where I’d come home and my girlfriend would say, “I thought you were making a movie.”

Ellen Boscov delights and annoys as Edgar’s mom in Sleep. Walk. Kill.

There’s very much a lot centering around how Edgar relates to his mom and his ex-wife in the film. Which relationship was maybe most fun to work with?

BR: Ellen Boscov was just a howl to work with. We knew each other and we’d bump into one another in Philly, but as soon as we started to work on this project—she must have some crazy acting training I don’t have—because she was getting herself super in-the-zone and treating me like her son right away. She’d come up to me and give me big smooches. (laughs) She made a scrapbook, like a photo album, and she found pictures of me that I’d never given her. And that was really cool, really interesting.

I was definitely one of the least experienced people on set. Everyday was a lesson and everybody was a teacher. I was super grateful to learn by watching John Reshetar and Melanie Rosedale, same with Raquel Watson, who auditioned to be in this film. They were actors. I got to say, “Oh hey they did that. That worked well. Maybe I’ll apply that next time.”

Same with (Bob) Quintana too. I feel like I learned how to deliver dialogue by just watching him because he’s tasked with explaining the science of the story and it was quite a monologue. But he was able to handle it with the gravitas that it deserved. I learned so much from just observing everybody.

Ellen Boscov showed up with a scrapbook? Was that the scrapbook that’s in the film?

BR:(laughs) Yeah she showed up with it.

JM:Yeah it’s in the script, but she… (laughs) she showed up with a scrapbook full of memories.

That’s amazing! (laughs)

BR: It was a trip to see this other life with my face on it. (BR and JM laugh)

No spoilers, but as we approach the end of the film, we really see that relationship with Edgar’s mom… blossom. (BR laughs) How did you feel about the gore? Was it fun? Was it gross?

BR: Oh, I was there for the gore. I was showing up early for the gore. (laughs) Allison Goetz was the professional who did all of our makeup effects and blood spray… She was just really fantastic in making blood go where it needed to be.

The only parts that were gross were at the end of the day when I’d go to peel something off (laughs), when I had dried, peeled up, fake blood and it would get caught in my arm hair. That was a little nasty. But as far as everything on camera, no I’m a gore-hound. I love it.

Actor Bill Reick as Edgar with Samantha Russell as Ady in Sleep. Walk. Kill.

So for the both of you, I’m curious, promotion about the film includes the line “This is a message-in-a-bottle we hope will reach like-minded misfits.” Who do you have in mind as fans for this film? Who do you hope sees this film?

JM: Anyone who dreamed of making a movie and wants to go out and do it no matter what. It didn’t matter if I hired 10 people and they all backed out, I was going to get this done. It didn’t matter the budget. I hope it just inspires people to go out and make something. Make something because they want to because it’s something they’ve always wanted to do. What do you think Bill?

BR: That piece of artsy-fartsy copy came out of me. (BR and JM laugh) I really see this movie as a flare going off from Yardley, Pennsylvania. I just hope somebody else sees this and goes “Oh yeah, I could do that.” And I think that’s what I love about a lot of horror movies, some of my favorites being Dead Alive, Evil Dead 2… There’s a quality about it that says it’s not the traditional studio system. So I think maybe that’s who we’re aiming for. People who’ve been left a little bit cold by multi-million-dollar productions and want something a little more human and a little less decided by committee.

That’s an aspiration worth reaching for. You can check out Sleep. Walk. Kill. streaming now on Vudu, Google Play, and Amazon Prime, and coming soon to Tubi and other platforms.

November 8, 2022
Netflix’s ‘One Piece’ is a Cinematic Ocean of Potential

The following article exploring the potential cinematic potential of Netflix’s One Piece adaptation was inspired by chatting with some great people on the Discord fan page for the live-action adaptation. If you want to join the conversation, you can check out their Discord by clicking here or following @OPLAfandom on Twitter.

Netflix has been anxiously looking for its next major hit by investing quite a bit into upcoming projects. Right now, Jonathan Entwistle has been quite busy developing a cinematic universe based on the popular Saban superhero team, the Power Rangers. They are actively looking for their next Stranger Things, as it not only became quite the rating hit in its fourth season but also is now set to build its own cinematic universe. With three candidates on their radar to take that duty, it does seem like the upcoming live-action adaptation of One Piece may be exactly what they are looking for.

As of now, showrunners Matt Owens and Steve Maeda are working on the first season of the series with no announcement of future seasons hinted at so far. There have been talks of the budget for this series to potentially rival Marvel Studios’ outings, which hints at the hope for this project to become a tentpole of the streaming service. So, it does seem safe to assume that there’s hope to build more out of just the base series once the newly formed Straw Hat pirates enter the Grand Line.

Netflix’s upcoming series will be an ambitious adaptation of a series that is currently still running and has over 1,000+ chapters under its belt. Eiichiro Oda has become well known for his ambition and love for worldbuilding which is reflected in his work. Even as we visit various islands alongside the Straw Hats’ journey, we also meet others that are following along on their very own journeys. These have commonly been slowly revealed with each new chapter release.

The first season will seemingly include the cover story focused on Helmeppo and Coby’s adventures becoming Marines, as they’ve also announced the casting of Garp who doesn’t directly appear in the original East Blue Saga. Yet, there are some other stories that may not fit into the overarching storyline to further develop characters that become especially relevant later down the line. One of the most recent cover stories even managed to tie directly into the events that are unfolding in the story.

In a way, some stories might be worth their own exploration as spinoff series or specials from the main storyline. Portgas D. Ace’s story after reuniting with Luffy in Alabasta could act as a bridge to his future appearance while also exploring his backstory as a member of the Whitebeard pirates. It would help further establish characters that usually only get a short amount of screen time while further building the mystique of who they are and what role they have in the story.

There’s also the aftermath exploring what the Baroque Works members are up to after Alabasta, which could become its own project. While there’s no necessity to create a cinematic universe based around One Piece, the original manga sets up enough opportunities to do so. The Grand Line is filled with possibilities and it wouldn’t be too surprising if the potential of expanding this series might be a selling point for Netflix.

If cinematic universes are what streamers are looking for nowadays, One Piece has the most potential based on the existing material alone. Its creator is also involved with the project and they could potentially establish their own stories that further expand the world we live in. Perhaps getting a chance to explore the different sides of the Marines with a series that introduces some of the recurring members we meet throughout the Straw Hat journey.

The biggest challenge the series will face is establishing a completely new island with its own politics, history, and so much more. Perhaps taking some of that weight off by using spinoff projects to build up some elements that could muddy the experience. We don’t need to know the full structure of the Marines’ internal hierarchy if another project already covers the details through the lens of a member building his path through the ranks; potentially even hinting at a story element we wouldn’t see until further down into the New World.

While the direction of this series also strongly depends on how popular the first season ends up being, there definitely is a potential to do so. The upcoming live-action adaptation will set the groundwork for where this project goes and how it adapts the original manga series. If the first season is a success and viewers end up falling in love with the world, there’s a lot more to show them why they should stick around to uncover all secrets of the Grand Line.

November 5, 2022
The Sunday Paper—November 6, 2022

Welcome to another edition of Murphy’s Multverse’s Sunday Paper. With endless news and content coming to you throughout the week, the Sunday Paper is here for anyone who wants an overview of what happened in the past week. Whether you missed it all, or just want to catch up, this is the article for you. Remember to follow us on Twitter, subscribe to our YouTube channel, and check out our website to stay up to date. Check out last week’s Sunday Paper here.

Perhaps some of the week’s biggest news comes from two upcoming Marvel Studios Disney+ series. Despite having no release date, Wonder Man has made headlines due to some major casting announcements. For starters, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II is in talks to star in the titular role. He is well-known for his roles DC’s Black Manta in the Aquaman films has also starred in HBO’s Watchmen, The Trial of the Chicago 7, Nia DaCosta‘s Candyman, and The Matrix Resurrections where he played Morpheus. Not only that, but Better Call Saul’s Bob Odenkirk is also reportedly being eyed for a role in the series, and we have a theory as to who he could play.

Agatha: Coven of Chaos continued to make news this week with casting announcements as well. Aubrey Plaza was confirmed to be joining the WandaVision spinoff, apparently as a villain. But who? Check out our look at five characters that could be perfect for Plaza. Heartstopper actor Joe Locke was announced to be part of the cast as well. While it is unknown who he is playing, it seems likely that it could be an aged-up Billy, aka Wiccan. It was also reported this week that Ali Ahn (Raising Dion) and Maria Dizzia (The Staircase) have joined the series. Lastly, the series reportedly will have a rare nine episodes on Disney+, and Jac Schaeffer and Gandja Monteiro may direct at least one episode each.

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. © 2022 MARVEL.

Of course, in the final week before Black Panther: Wakanda Forever releases in theaters, there were plenty of news and interviews that dropped. Director Ryan Coogler discussed the original plot of the film before Chadwick Boseman passed away, and he opens up about the emotional journey on the new Wakanda Forever: The Official Black Panther Podcast. Interestingly, it seems as though Coogler long ago reserved the right to bring Namor into the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and Tenoch Huerta revealed that he could not swim before playing Namor in the film. Producer Nate Moore gave an update on the Wakanda spin-off project, and he suggested that it is not as far along as some fans might think. He also answered everyone’s favorite question: where is Wakanda Forever in the MCU’s timeline? Apparently, it is clear after Spider-Man: No Way Home and Eternals, and more or less concurrent with Thor: Love and Thunder and Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania.

Moore was also kind enough to specify that the upcoming Ironheart series takes place after Wakanda Forever, rather than as a prequel. In other Ironheart news, a set photo adds to speculation that a Doctor Strange comics character will appear in the series, and the series appears to have wrapped production.

For final Marvel news, a new rumor suggests that Sony and Disney have apparently been at the negotiating table and are closing in on a new collaborative arrangement for Spider-Man films. The rumor states that once closed, the two studios could then begin working with Holland on sorting out the terms of his deal, which would likely consist of another Spider-trilogy of Sony films produced by Marvel Studios in addition to scheduling him for appearances in Marvel Studios films.

Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav had some things to say this week. While he teased the “united creative approach” of the two new co-CEOs of DC Studios, he also made an odd comment about how Warner Bros. Discovery will be focusing on franchises in the future by incorrectly stating how long it has been since a Superman or Harry Potter film. While that has yet to be seen, we do know that Stargirl has been canceled, The Sandman has been picked up for a second season on Netflix, Cristin Milioti has been cast as Sofia Falcone in The Penguin series, Dead Boy Detectives added Caitlin Reilly and Max Jenkins to its cast, and Joker: Folie á Deux is set to start production next month.

This week a rumor circulated that Logan star Dafne Keen will join the cast of the upcoming The Acolyte. It was revealed that Ariel Kleiman, Janus Metz, and Alonso Ruizpalacios will direct episode blocks of Andor for the show’s second season. They’ll take over for Toby Haynes, Susanna White and Benjamin Caron who directed episode blocks of the show’s first season. It also looks like Andor Season 2 will revisit the planet Yavin, a primary location for the climax of A New Hope. Disney+ Italy also accidentally leaked a future The Mandalorian short film focused on Grogu.

Murphy’s Multiverse exclusively reported this week that Amazon Studios is developing Jeff Lemire’s The World of Black Hammer into a shared cinematic universe. Also this week, the Russo Brothers suggested that they will not work on another Marvel Studios project until the end of the decade, and they also made a disturbing comment that Disney’s upcoming live-action Hercules remake would be inspired by TikTok. HBO canceled Westworld after four seasons, The Last of Us is eyeing a January premiere, and Peacock is developing a Friday the 13th prequel series.

Raya and the Last Dragon director Carlos López Estrada set to direct a Your Name live-aciton remake. Meanwhile EA and Marvel are collaborating and working on three new games, one of which is the already-announced Iron Man game. The live-action One Piece series added a key Arlong Park character, and One Piece Film Red more than tripled 2019 Stampede’s entire U.S. domestic box office on opening day.

November 5, 2022
5 Characters Just Right for Aubrey Plaza in ‘Agatha: Coven of Chaos’

Aubrey Plaza has joined the MCU. The actress has landed an as-yet-unnamed role in the Disney Plus streaming series Agatha: Coven of Chaos, which will reportedly kick off production with a short stint in 2022 before really getting the wheels turning in January 2023. Though the plot of the series has yet to be revealed, it’ll feature the return of Kathryn Hahn’s Agatha Harkness, who fans fell in love with in 2021’s WandaVision, and likely continue to flesh out the mystical corner of the MCU. With that in mind we decided to take a stab at which powerful magic user Plaza might portray!

Morgan Le Fay

Morgan Le Fay stands as the top choice for Plaza and, in all honesty, any other option will be a little disappointing. Morgan is one of the oldest and most powerful mystics in the Marvel Universe and, should Jac Schaeffer and the creatives behind Agatha: Coven of Chaos choose to use it, has a comic book history with something Agatha held dear: the Darkhold. In the comics, it was Le Fay and her followers, the incredibly creatively named Darkholders, who originally bound Chthon, the Elder God of Chaos who wrote the Darkhold, to Mount Wundagore. The potential connectivity to the individual and collective histories of both Agatha and Wanda Maximoff make Morgan a great choice for the show and Plaza seems a wonderful fit for the ageless, sultry sorceress.

Jennifer Kale

Though not a villain, Jennifer Kale is a prime candidate to show up in Agatha: Coven of Chaos for multiple reasons, her being a witch among them. Kale comes from a long line of family connected to the Cult of Zhered-Na. One group of cultists led by Jennifer’s father, held in their possession a collection of magical scrolls whose power may have been on par with that of the Darkhold. Kale also has ties to a number of mystical and magical beings in the comics including Man-Thing and a pair of Ghost Riders. Having a strong witch like Kale introduced in the series would allow the character to pop up again as Marvel Studios builds out that corner of the MCU. Plaza could fill that role nicely and set a few appearances on her schedule.

Satana

Maybe the longest of long shots, but also maybe one of the most potentially entertaining fits for Plaza would be Queen of Hell, Satana. In the comics, Satana is a succubus and a human-demon hybrid fathered by the demon Marduk who believes himself to be the Satan. It doesn’t really matter what Satana does, what’s important is that she always has fun doing it. Plaza would knock this role out of the park, even if it’s a little hard to imagine this character in the MCU at the moment.

Natalya Maximoff

One interesting possibility that doesn’t necessarily fit the bill of “villain” is Natalya Maximoff, the biological mother of Wanda and her predecessor as the Scarlet Witch. Introduced in James Robinson’s fantastic Scarlet Witch solo series, Natalya is integral to Wanda’s journey along the Witches’ Road. While the legacy of the Scarlet Witch seems a little different in the MCU than the comics, it’s still possible to introduce the character and shine a little light on how Wanda came about her natural affinity for magic.

Lilith

A pretty popular choice for the villain role, Lilith, the Mother of Demons, is as powerful of a sorceress as anyone from the pages of Marvel Comics. She served as one of the main antagonists of a Marvel Comics mini-series entitled Witches that delved into some of the history of witchcraft in the Marvel Universe. She has produced an entire race of demon-spawn, the Lilin, who have long been at war with humans. Should Agatha: Coven of Chaos look to put a little more positive spin on Agatha Harkness, she could find herself and her coven up against Lilith and her children. Or, should they want to keep Agatha a little shadier, she could be working with them.

As with any list like this, there’s a better chance of Plaza playing a character who is not on it rather than a character who is. With filming set to kick off over the next couple of months, we can hope word or set photos trickle out that offer some clues as to who the talented actress might be!

November 5, 2022