Murphy's Multiverse

Category: Features

  • The Aftermath of ‘Eternals’ May Lead Into ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’

    The Aftermath of ‘Eternals’ May Lead Into ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’

    Marvel Studios continues to expand in new and creative ways. We’ve seen the MCU’s version of Earth changing in ways we never thought possible, such as now a giant Celestial sticking out like marble from the ground. Tiamut the Sleeper has now become a fixture within the MCU after the release of Eternals and his awakening might have led to some curious ripples across the world. With rumors hinting at Atlantis and Namor playing an integral role in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, there’s a good chance this event might cause the unearthing of Atlantis.

    In Eternals, we learn that Earth is actually an egg. The otherworldly Celestials are born when planets reach a certain level of population and then bring entire galaxies to life as a result. Tiamut would’ve joined their ranks if the Eternals (which a little help from the Celestial himself) kept him from, well, hatching. The build-up to that moment was in the form of countless earthquakes hinting at the arrival of the event known as The Emergence. The fact that his hand and head start popping out of the planet will certainly leave behind cracks in the planet. So, if Atlantis was hidden away for so long, there’s a chance his awakening might’ve opened up the crack that kept the underwater city hidden.

    Of course, if there’s an Earth-altering event that may change the ecosystem we know and love, any scientist is going to explore the aftermath to make sure our planet isn’t falling apart. This might become the catalyst that unleashes the Atlanteans, most notably Namor, out into the world. They are no longer safe from outsiders. Who knows how the Emergence may have also affected their city, as most of the earthquakes seemed to be underwater. Desperation will push anyone to a darker path and if they hint at a Vibranium connection, a conflict is inevitable.

  • ‘Cowboy Bebop’ Finally Introduces Radical Edward

    ‘Cowboy Bebop’ Finally Introduces Radical Edward

    Please note, the below article includes spoilers for Cowboy Bebop.

    When it comes to adapting popular titles, changes are always expected. This is because it’s important storytellers are allowed to craft something unique for fans. Merely adapting a title scene-for-scene makes it difficult for the creatives involved to leave their mark. When it comes to adapting popular animes, though, Hollywood hasn’t exactly had the best track record. Cowboy Bebop, unfortunately, falls into the latter group.

    Ever since it was revealed Netflix would be adapting Cowboy Bebop in live-action, fans have been eagerly awaiting news regarding the casting of a certain fan-favorite. While cast members for Jet Black (Mustafa Shakir), Spike Spiegel (John Cho) and Faye Valentine (Daniella Pineda) were announced, there was radio silence regarding Edward’s involvement. It was a strange move, especially given how popular of a character Radical Edward is and how important she becomes to the rag-tag group of heroes. However, with the Netflix series telling its own take on the beloved anime, fans were hopeful Edward would appear in some capacity.

    And she does… just not in the capacity fans were probably hoping.

    The first season of Cowboy Bebop consists of 10-episodes. While it takes pointers from the anime, often incorporating bits from some of its more popular episodes, none of the episodes truly follow the anime exactly. On one hand, it’s a smart move because it allows for creative freedom. On the other hand, though, too much creative freedom when adapting a popular title could result in a tale that barely resembles its source.

    Throughout the first season, Edward is missing. She’s mentioned for a brief moment in the sixth episode. It happens when Jet and Spike discuss the hacker Radical Edward, but that’s it. Until the final episode, that is. In the final minutes of “Supernova Symphony,” Edward finally makes her grand entrance alongside Ein, who the group abandoned in an earlier episode.

    Her entrance is not explained, nor is it explained how she came upon Ein. However, it’s clear she knows Spike as Edward calls him by his first name. He’s passed out on the ground after getting drunk at a nearby bar. Earlier in the episode, we saw the group go their separate ways as Spike’s past finally becomes known to Jet. It’s a surprising ending, as in the anime, the group doesn’t split until the final episodes. Spike, in true Spike fashion, seems to be seeking an escape through alcohol. Unfortunately for him, though, Edward is not one to give up.

    When he initially tries to ignore her, Edward explains she’s come to him because she has a bounty for him. As the cameras pan out, we see Edward trying to wake a drunken Spike from his slumber much to his dismay.

    For a character as popular as Edward, and one Netflix seems to acknowledge is popular among fans, it makes little sense as to why she gets all of 4 minutes of screen-time in Season 1. Furthermore, her entrance just as the team falls apart after enduring some of their toughest missions makes little sense. Edward may be a bit loud and a bit strange at times, but she’s as core to the group as Ein. More importantly, she helps the team on more than one occasion. Her near erasure from Season 1 makes little sense.

    Hopefully, when Season 2 happens, Edward receives a larger role, because a Cowboy Bebop show without Edward just feels wrong.

    Cowboy Bebop is now streaming on Netflix.

  • EXCLUSIVE: Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Music Helped Shape the Characters of Encanto

    EXCLUSIVE: Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Music Helped Shape the Characters of Encanto

    The upcoming coming-of-age fantasy story about a girl without powers living among a superpowered family will introduce us to the many facets of Colombian culture in Encanto. Directors Byron Howard and Jared Bush return to bring us a different kind of story with the help of songs written by Hamilton‘s Lin-Manuel Miranda. He’s had a hand in various 2021 projects such as In the Heights, Vivo, and the upcoming release of Tick, Tick… Boom! So, it’s been a big year for him. Now that he is also lending his musical talents to the latest animated Disney film, it opens up the question of how much input he also had in bringing these characters to life beyond just their musical accompaniment.

    Luckily, our own Hunter Radesi had the chance to sit down with the directors of the film and discuss exactly that. When asked how much input Miranda had into bringing these characters to life, director Jared Bush offered some interesting insights into their approach to the music and even how they integrated the many sides of Columbian genres.

    He’s super super collaborative. That is one of the really great things about working with him. […] We would have these great deep character conversations. We knew with all these different characters that we wanted to get to know all of them, that we wanted to see different facets of them. But also that we wanted the music to separate and to give them an identity. And that music, even within the genres of Columbia, we wanted that to makes sense with the character that would be singing it.

    Jared Bush

    It’s really interesting how they try to use the different genres of music that exist in Columbia to make the characters stand out. He does also offer an example with the character of Luisa Madrigal’s song “Surface Pressure” which tried to explore her backstory. He highlights how writing the story is what grounded it was some real-life inspirations that were brought to life through music. It shows how many aspects make a film truly come to life.

    Encanto release on Nov. 24th. It is directed by Byron Howard, Jared Bush and Charise Castro Smith. The film boosts an impressive cast that includes Stephanie Beatriz, María Cecilia Botero, Wilmer Valderrama, Diane Guerrero, Rhenzy Feliz, Carolina Gaitán and John Leguizamo.

  • EXCLUSIVE: Charise Castro Smith Talks About The Initial Pitch for ‘Encanto’

    EXCLUSIVE: Charise Castro Smith Talks About The Initial Pitch for ‘Encanto’

    Disney’s latest film, Encanto, is nearing its release as we explore the story of a Colombian family with unique powers. Among them is Stephanie Beatriz‘s Mirabel Madrigal, who is the only member of her family without any actual magical powers. Once things start going wrong, she sets out on a journey to find out what is happening to her family. The film’s writer duo, Jared Bush and Charise Castro Smith, get to explore the meaning of family and what it means to be normal among special.

    Our very own Hunter Radesi had the chance to sit down with the creative team to discuss how they approached this project and especially how it was for Charise Castro Smith to tackle her first project. She went on to share how she ended up joining the project and that it was directors Jared Bush and Byron Howard that pitched her the initial idea.

    My background is really as a playwright. I worked in a lot of TV and my agents had sent a play of mine to Disney Animations. I thought I was meeting with them in general and it turns out I was not. I was meeting with Jared [Bush] and Byron [Howard] about this movie, they were looking for a writer. As soon as they explained to me this concept, this idea they had, about a magical house and a family where everyone had powers except for this one girl and the movie is about her, I was like: ‘I am sold. I am on board’ and I haven’t looked back since.

    Charise Castro Smith

    It must’ve been quite the shock when she sat down with the directors of Zootopia, Tangled, and Moana to discuss a potential project. We’ve learned back in 2016 that the initial pitch was made to Lin-Manuel Miranda, who wrote music for the film, and Byron Howard just as they were promoting Moana at the time. It’s great to see it bear fruit after all this time.

    Encanto release on Nov. 24th. It is directed by Byron Howard, Jared Bush and Charise Castro Smith. The film boosts an impressive cast that includes Stephanie Beatriz, María Cecilia Botero, Wilmer Valderrama, Diane Guerrero, Rhenzy Feliz, Carolina Gaitán and John Leguizamo.

    Source: Vulture

  • Trailer Analysis-‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’

    Trailer Analysis-‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’

    Anthony Canton III and Dalbin Osorio break down yesterday’s No Way Home trailer which was filled with villains and lacking heroes. Did it live up to all the hype? Check out their thoughts in the video and follow our YouTube channel!

  • New ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’ Trailer Reveals the Origin of Doc Ock’s Stark Tech Upgrade

    New ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’ Trailer Reveals the Origin of Doc Ock’s Stark Tech Upgrade

    The latest Spider-Man: No Way Home trailer has finally arrived. It offered a clearer look at the returning villains from across the multiverse that’ll make the life of Tom Holland‘s Peter Parker a living hell. Alfred Molina‘s Doc Ock took most of the focus in the earlier promotion and we even had a tease that he might get an upgrade to his iconic arms at some point. Well, the latest trailer may have given us a clear insight into how he got his hands on it and it’s actually been in our voice the entire time.

    When we first saw the upgrade, its red and golden lighting made everyone make the connection to Tony Stark’s Iron Man. So, we thought that perhaps he stole technology from Stark Technologies, but the answer may have been simpler than we assumed. It actually was in our face the entire time since the first trailer’s release. When Peter faces off against Doc Ock, he is wearing his Iron Spider suit from Avengers: Infinity War.

    In a brief sequence, we see the suit’s nanotech reveal his face. It turns out the reasoning is simple, part of his chest piece was ripped out. So, just like with Iron Man’s suit, it had to adapt, or else he would’ve broken more than just a few ribs. There’s also a great detail of his tie also hanging out as we know he was wearing a suit before he put on the armor.

    The way it also spreads in the trailer hints at the fact that it is the same nano-technology. It’s unclear how exactly he manages to take over the technology so the suit adapts to him, but we get a hint that his arms have regained their sentience. So, they might’ve “hacked” into the suit and managed to steal some elements while Peter was wrapped by his arms, which we saw in some of the promotional material. It’ll be interesting to see how his upgrade might tie into the film’s overarching narrative.

    Source: YouTube

  • What Was Missing From the Latest ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’ Trailer

    What Was Missing From the Latest ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’ Trailer

    The Spider-Man: No Way Home trailer arrived last night and what was NOT in the trailer is probably as noteworthy as what is. Yes, we got a great look at the film’s villain, including looks at upgraded Electro, Green Goblin and Doc Ock costumes. What we didn’t see, however, is probably just as big of a story. Notably absent from a trailer that featured the villains from previous big screen iterations of Spidey were the Spideys from those iterations.

    Fans were hoping Andrew Garfield and Tobey Maguire would show up not only in the trailer but, perhaps, in person at the trailer event. Neither of those things happened for either of those actors, unfortunately. Charlie Cox’s Matt Murdock didn’t show up either and so it looks like we’ll spend the next month continuing the debate as to whether or not these characters are actually going to appear in the film.

    While having that debate, make sure to analyze a ridiculous piece of footage that Sony CHOSE to include in the trailer. In the footage, seen below, Tom Holland’s Spidey jumps into action against 3 villains: Electro, the Lizard and Sandman.

    https://twitter.com/OwenWithoutFear/status/1460785265694363654?t=eNcHh9b5bT4CqHUhZYP-FA&s=19

    In the U.S. version ,as @owenwithoutfear so deftly points out, bro, it’s clear enough that while Spidey is jumping out, not all the villains are reacting to him. It seems incredibly likely that, in this clip, a couple of other characters may have been edited out to be saved for the film as a “surprise.”

    But wait, there’s more. To make matters worse, Sony chose to keep an EXTENDED version of the same scene in an international version of the trailer. In the extended clip, Lizard clearly reacts as if being struck in the face.

    https://twitter.com/CrisMovieCorner/status/1460785646964989960

    Much like we can only infer the presence of a black hole by how it effects the matter around it, we can infer that Lizard just got hit in the mouth. Was it Hawkeye? Was it Ant-Man? It is far more likely that what we see here is a scene in which 3 Spidey villains take on 3 Spider-Men and one of them swings out and punches or kicks Lizard in his newly designed mouth.

    Of course the absence of something cannot be considered evidence of something, so fans are going to keep on debating whether or not Garfield and Maguire will show in the film. Fortunately, we don’t have much longer to have to find out for certain.

  • Murphy’s Team-Up, Volume 7: ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’ Trailer Thoughts

    Murphy’s Team-Up, Volume 7: ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’ Trailer Thoughts

    Mary Maerz

    Was it worth the dramatic wait? Not really. Was it worth some kind of wait? Sure. By (unsurprisingly) not giving away any of the BIG reveals, it still kind of feels like a bit of a let down to me. Even though not much will actually be a surprise at this point, I still would have liked to see a bit more of a tease to the other Spider-People. I do really like the more sinister tone going on, and the references to all the villains’ fates being death by other Spideys (and Peter presumably not wanting to send them back to their deaths) gives it a bit more of a plot, BUT it’s still very fluffy and vague since they are avoiding a lot. But yay, action action. Doctor Strange is weird to me still. It bothers me more than anything, but his at least partially-antagonistic role is cool.

    Hunter Radesi


    The first full length trailer for Spider-Man: No Way Home delivers on all the promises the studio already made, but none that the fans had been holding out hope for. It’s definitely a good time, and I found myself grinning like an idiot when all the villains of Spider-Man past made their big debut, but something about it almost felt a little less grand than expected. I’m hoping that simply means Sony has learned to save the good stuff for the actual movie.

    Oh, and that quick look at Electro has me buzzing more than anything else. Bring on the goofy comic book goodness!

    Charles Murphy

    Since finding out what this movie would be all about, I haven’t really been excited. I really wanted this film to be a showcase for Tom Holland as Spider-Man, exploring parts of the character that we haven’t seen so far. I’ve been worried that we wouldn’t get that. This trailer does seem to indicate that we will get a much bigger dose of that than I thought. I’m still not super hyped up to see the movie (though I absolutely loved the Foxx’s new look as Electro), but I do have more hope for it being a story about the MCU’s Peter Parker than I did before.

    Joao Pinto

    I have just two major takeaways after watching the trailer. One is an interesting development where Doc Ock appears not to be an outright villain and even though he’ll play Peter’s antagonist he might also play a part in helping him both understand and get through the situation he finds himself in. The other one is the omission of all the characters that will help to even the playing field in Peter’s favor. The trailer already does explain a lot of what’s going on: the reason why so many characters from other franchises show up, who’s to blame for that and why they all seek Peter so it’s good to still have a few things to look forward to. Other than that, it does do a good job hyping up the movie. See you in a month’s time.

    Filip Manka

    I was looking forward to the second trailer of NWH because the first one left me unsatisfied. And the second one… also. I’m not a fan of this trailer. It lacks structure and there is a lot of narrative chaos in it. The CGI and the teaser for the 3rd act looks pretty weak and I hope it looks better in the movie itself. The parallels to “The Amazing Spider-Man 2” on the other hand are cheap nostalgia bait for the fans. On the other hand, there are some nice shots and it feels like it will be an emotional culmination of the trilogy. I am once again confused and wish the movie itself would positively surprise me.

    Anthony Canton III

    The two biggest things about this trailer are firstly Tom’s Peter Parker story. We have something to grasp on now as he tries deal with the idea of letting these villains die. How that plays into the conflict with Dr. Strange will be incredibly fascinating. The other is the fate of one of Peter’s loved ones. It feels like by Peter interfering with destiny he’s going to be responsible for a death, and it’s going to be heartbreaking for him, and heartbreaking for us.

    Arlyn Murphy

    The trailer made me overly excited for the movie to come out. I really liked that they brought in different characters that are from the other two universes. Seeing them tie in the previous Spider-Man stories into the MCU is very exciting for me. With all the villains from the previous movies in the film I expect Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield to show up too.

    Nathan Miller


    I’ve seen mixed responses to this trailer, which I think I share. In some ways it’s a perfectly Peter Parker scenario that Spidey finds himself in. Feeling obliged to try and save antagonists from their fate, that he, or his variants, may be responsible for. I like the Alfred Molina content in this trailer. In that sense, it’s a brilliant trailer for casual viewers who don’t know what else might be coming and will be truly surprised in the cinema when they see it. On the other hand, with all the hype surrounding the film the lack of freshness means more waiting for the excitement to be pushed forward, in which case it might be best to check-out of paying attention to the marketing for now, until tickets go on sale.

  • How ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’ Could Set Up a ‘Daredevil’ Soft-Reboot

    How ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’ Could Set Up a ‘Daredevil’ Soft-Reboot

    It’s looking more and more plausible that Daredevil is becoming a reality in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Charlie Cox will make his return in Spider-Man: No Way Home and there are already strong hints that a new project is in its earliest stages of development. With the next trailer for Sony’s multiversal adventure nearing, it seems like the perfect time to explore what an adaptation by Marvel Studios could do to make it build upon what came before while also adding its twist to the character. In a way, they could do that literally by taking inspiration from the comic line Shadowlands that could be perfectly set up through the events of No Way Home.

    Marvel's Daredevil | Netflix – offizielle Webseite

    We’ve already been introduced to the Hand in the Netflix series. While its canonicity remains a mystery, it might not be too difficult to introduce the organization as one pulling many strings throughout New York City. Yet, as they are likely to soft reboot some aspects of the original three seasons, they could make that very apparent by taking inspiration from the series’ first season. In 2015, one of the main plotlines revolves around Wilson Fisk buying up real estate throughout Hell’s Kitchen. He planned to destroy and rebuild it. How about in this reintroduction, he did exactly that.

    Hell’s Kitchen is being torn down and Matt Murdock can hardly recognize it anymore. He starts an investigation to find out what is going out, as the rework of his home has raised criminal activity. In his investigation, he uncovers that this is more than just Fisk. The Hand, an old foe, has been one of the main investors in this new development, as they’ve taken over quite a few of the buildings. The NYC landscape is changing with so-called Shadowland temples being erected. Daredevil feels somewhat hopeless as non of his actions are stopping it.

    Shadowland revealed! | The Other Murdock Papers

    In a way, the series becomes an allegory on taking the familiar from Netflix but adding a new paint job to make it feel fresh. We have a familiar foe with the Hand, but their objectives are a bit more specific. We once again dive deep into Murdock’s psyché throughout these events, as he slowly realizes that he might be more closely involved than he might expect at first. They start to toy with him, as they either cause more damage or even push him beyond his limits.

    This adaptation would also fit nicely in the current theme of MCU projects reshaping the MCU as we know it. Shang-Chi introduced us to a new dimension, WandaVision turned an unknowing town into a pocket dimension and Eternals added a new landmark to Earth. So, it’s safe to assume Spider-Man: No Way Home might also unleash some lasting changes upon an unsuspecting NYC. It’ll probably sustain enough damage from the battle aiding Kingpin and the Hand’s efforts. Hell’s Kitchen was already falling apart and might not quite recover from this one like they did the Incident so long ago.

    SPIDER-MAN: NO WAY HOME | Sony Pictures Austria

    So, the aftermath of Spider-Man‘s third film, which also serves as our reintroduction to the character of Daredevil, sets up his story that reshapes a world we’ve come to love back in 2015. Yes, things will likely change but by embracing the first season’s core elements we’re putting the character on a similar yet different path. Some elements might repeat and could be twisted in new directions, but it would finally bring Daredevil back into the fold.

  • ‘Cowboy Bebop’ is an Important Stepping Stone for Live-Action Anime

    ‘Cowboy Bebop’ is an Important Stepping Stone for Live-Action Anime

    The first reviews have hit for Cowboy Bebop. Netflix’s latest attempt at a live-action adaptation has arrived and might just be the beginning of their future venture. There’s a noticeable trend among many that the series doesn’t quite live up to the original, which it doesn’t, and in many ways never could. Yet, there’s something rather interesting surrounding the discussion of it. The inspiration of that very discussion is a simple question on the live-action adaptations reasoning to exist, such as how Brian Lloyd of entertainment.ie put it in his review: “Why bother with this when the original anime is on Netflix?”

    It’s a fair question, especially with many adaptations, especially of anime, seemingly not living up to the highs of the original. Netflix kind of pushed this very question when it announced that the original 1999 anime was going to release ahead of their live-action adaptation. If they’re going to provide the classic, why invest all that money into a separate adaptation that will very likely never live up to the original due to the relevance it holds to this day. Hell, they’re going even further with a live-action adaptation planned for other beloved classic anime like One Piece, Pokémon, and even Mobile Suit Gundam.

    Cowboy Bebop review: Netflix's adaptation has heart, style, and some rough edges - The Verge

    The series is far from where we were with projects like Death Note or the best-forgotten Dragonball Evolution. In a way, there’s a long path ahead of any of these adaptations due to fan expectations. It took years before Marvel Studios got to the point that they create believable adaptations of their comics that don’t fall into the valley of ridiculous. I mean, could you imagine ten years ago that we’ll have a film featuring a wizard traveling through the multiverse potentially facing a Lovecraftian tentacle monster as a May-opening blockbuster? We’re at a point where no one proclaims anymore: “Why not just read the comics?” but rather: “How and when will they adapt this story?” The curiosity has spread to those that don’t even read comics and created a new generation of potential readers.

    Cowboy Bebop took risks while also trying to play it safe. It’s kind of almost every adaptation does, but there’s a spark there of people that loved the original. It doesn’t always translate so easily but it does inspire. Even if this series isn’t perfect, it’s something that’ll introduce people that otherwise would have no interest in it. Yes, the original anime is available but not everyone is willing to watch everything that is out there. Countless people still downplay the relevance of storytelling through animation outside of the classic Pixar or Disney films. Anime has become more mainstream, but there’s a strong focus on specific franchises rather than the genre as a whole. Just like people didn’t take comics seriously due to it just being for “kids” for quite some time.

    Cowboy Bebop review: "A stellar remix that hits all the right notes" | GamesRadar+

    To give an example, One Piece is a deep series of characters going through extreme hardships at times, but its cartoony exterior may keep many from wanting to check it out. The same might go for those that may be a little anxious about the more methodical pace of the original Cowboy Bebop. It’s a bounty-of-the-week series that is more philosophical and far beyond classic understandings of genre. While streamlining this story may feel far removed from the original and make you question its existence, its easier-to-digest nature is a gateway for those unwilling to check out something they may have trivialized as a “cartoon from Japan.” A flawed adaptation that comes from the right place and made by fans of the original will play an integral part as the first stepping stone where quality meets intention.

    Source: Entertainment.ie